PALM BEACH COUNTY--Hurricanes, especially if accompanied by a tidal surge or flooding, can contaminate the public water supply. Drinking contaminated water may cause illness. Individuals cannot assume that the water in the hurricane-affected area is safe to drink.

    In the area hit by a hurricane, water treatment plants may not be operating; even if they are, storm damage and flooding can contaminate water lines. Listen for public announcements about the safety of the municipal water supply.
If your well has been flooded, it needs to be tested and disinfected after the storm passes and the floodwaters recede. Questions about testing should be directed to your local or state health department.

WATER FOR DRINKING AND COOKING

    Safe drinking water includes bottled, boiled, or treated water. Your state or local health department can make specific recommendations for boiling or treating drinking water in your area. Here are some general rules concerning water for drinking and cooking. Remember:

• Do not use contaminated water to wash dishes, brush your teeth, wash and prepare food, or make ice.
   
• If you use bottled water know where it came from. Otherwise, water should be boiled or treated before use. Drink only bottled, boiled, or treated water until your supply is tested and found safe.
   
• Boiling water kills harmful bacteria and parasites. Bringing water to a rolling boil for 1 minute will kill most organisms.
   
• Water may be treated with chlorine or iodine tablets, or by mixing eight drops (1/8 teaspoon) of unscented, ordinary household chlorine bleach (5.25 percent sodium hypochlorite) per gallon of water. Mix the solution thoroughly, and let stand for about thirty minutes. However, this treatment will not kill parasitic organisms.

    Containers for water should be rinsed with a bleach solution before reusing them. Use water storage tanks and other types of containers with caution. For example, fire truck storage tanks, as well as previously used cans or bottles may be contaminated with microbes or chemicals. Do not rely on untested devices for decontaminating water.

    For more information, call the Palm Beach County Health Department at
561-514-5301 or visit www.doh.state.fl.us.

HOW DO I DISINFECT MY WELL?

    It is important to disinfect both the well and plumbing with chlorine bleach to ensure that all infectious agents are killed. If you have water treatment devices, remove all membranes, cartridges, and filters and replace them after the chlorination process is completed.

    The amount of chlorine and the length of time you allow it to remain in your system are equally important. Common unscented laundry bleach can be used effectively as a chlorine disinfectant. See the chart for the recommended amounts of chlorine bleach to use and follow these steps:

• If the water is discolored before chlorination, run the water until it is clear for up to 10 minutes.
   
• Turn off and then drain your hot water heater—chlorine is not effective in water above 105 degrees.
   
• Remove and replace charcoal filters after the chlorination process is completed.
   
• To avoid adding contamination to the well during disinfection, first clean the work area around the top of the well. Remove grease and mineral deposits from accessible parts of the well head and flush the outside surfaces with 1/2 cup of laundry bleach in 5 gallons of water.
   
• Turn off the pump. Remove the cap or the well plug on the rubber seal. There are many types of well caps and plugs. If you have questions, you should contact a licensed well driller. If you have a submersible pump, you may also want to contact a licensed well driller for advice on disinfection procedures.
   
• Consult the chlorine bleach chart and pour the recommended amount of bleach solution into the well.
  Try to coat the sides of the casing as you pour. If you get chlorine on the pump or wiring, flush it thoroughly with fresh water to prevent later corrosion. Your county health department may issue additional guidance for your area.
   
• Re-cap or plug the well opening and wait 30 minutes.
   
• Turn on and, if needed, reprime the pump. Open all of the faucets on the system one by one. Allow the water to run until there is a noticeable smell of chlorine. You may also want to flush the toilets. If you have outside faucets, you may want to direct the water away from sensitive plants. If you cannot detect a chlorine odor, re-chlorinate the well.
   
• Turn off all of the faucets and allow the chlorine to remain in the system for at least eight hours.
   
• Backwash water softeners, sand filters, and iron removal filters with chlorinated water.
   
• Again open all of the faucets and run the water until there is no chlorine smell—for up to 15 minutes.
  
  IS IT SAFE NOW?

    The only way to verify that the water is safe to drink is to have it tested. Although chlorine bleach is effective against microorganisms, it will not remove chemical contamination that may have gotten into your well. Contact your county health department for sampling instructions to get your water tested.

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