Drinking Water after Flood Disasters

There are some simple precautions you can take to protect yourself and your family from drinking contaminated water.

Florida Home Water Purification Systems: Some areas of the country are prone to flooding. Where flood waters cover a large area and may contaminate the ground water, well water, and drinking water in general there will be a directive from the local authorities to boil your water. That’s the usual course of events.

If the flooding has occurred in your yard and the authorities have no jurisdiction there, or aren’t aware of the problem, there are some simple precautions you can take to protect yourself and your family from drinking contaminated water.

You may have bottled water around for just such incidents. Use that, of course, unless the flood waters have covered the bottles. In that case, the bacteria and other undesirable organisms may be ingested when you touch the bottle and twist off the cap. Better not to take a chance.

“If there is a well on your property you should have the water tested. When the flood waters have receded you can have it disinfected if there is a problem with contamination.”

Boiled water will hold no germs if it is boiled long and hot enough. You can kill everything by boiling water for a full minute. Allow to cool, and cover. Store until you need to use it. Bleach can disinfect water quite effectively, too. In some cases you may not have the ability to boil the water.

For cloudy water filter it first through cheesecloth or other clean fabric. Once the water has settled down, pour off the clearest portion of water into a clean container. Use 8 drops of bleach to disinfect one gallon of water. Be sure to use bleach that doesn’t have scent added. Stir the bleach well into the water. Wait half hour before using the water. Always cover the clean water and store it in clean jars, bottles, or other containers.

If there is a well on your property you should have the water tested. When the flood waters have receded you can have it disinfected if there is a problem with contamination. There is usually an extension office or a health department that can help you to learn how to get your water tested. The extension office may be listed under the department of agriculture.

You may have a water filtration system in your home. Some are more powerful than others and you will need to know which contaminants are in your water after a flood. Then you can consult the manufacturer of the filter system to determine whether or not you will still need to treat your water in alternative ways before drinking and cooking with it.

Tagged with: Drinking Water Safety After Floods

Filed under: Water Articles

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