drilling site in the distanceRecently, rain has been quite abundant, especially for those of us living in California – near the Central Coast and Bay Area.  And, with so much water, flooding has became inevitable.  For those of you that experienced flooding near your water well, please read the following article from www.wellowner.org.  They provide some great tips that any well owner should consider –

After a flood, the owners of household wells should take certain precautions to make sure their water is safe and their well is in good operating condition.  An obvious concern is that flood water loaded with bacteria, chemicals or other pollutants may have gotten into the well.  A less obvious concern is electrical shock if a non-submersible pump or any part of the well electrical system is flooded.

After a flood one should:

  1. Stay away from the well pump while it is flooded to avoid electrical shock
  2. Do not drink the water from the well or use it for washing to avoid becoming sick
  3. Get help from a qualified water well contractor or pump installer to:
    • Clean and turn on the pump
    • Flush the well
    • Disinfect the well
    • Perform any other necessary maintenance.

Water wells are specialized systems that require knowledge and expertise to repair and disinfect.  If your well has been flooded, use bottled water or boil your water until a qualified water well system contractor can check out your well system.  Well owners also can benefit from reading the well maintenance and water quality sections of www.wellowner.org.

Be safe out there,

Mike