After Flooding, Private Water Supplies Could Be Contaminated

With all the recent flooding in Kanawha County, we want to make sure you know how to disinfect your private water supplies. 

Please use a commercial laundry bleach containing 5 ¼ percent available chlorine. Check the label. Prepare a 5-gallon batch of disinfectant by pouring 1 gallon of the laundry bleach into 4 gallons of water.
Once flood water has receded:
   Remove debris from water supply.
   Pour one half (2 1/2 gallons) of the disinfectant batch into the well, spring, cistern or reservoir.
   Start pump, hose down the inside of the well, and open ALL taps until water from each tap has a distinct chlorine odor. If supply has a hand pump, pump the water to waste until water coming from pump spout has a distinct chlorine odor. (If there isn't a pump on the water supply, pour the entire batch of disinfectant into the water supply.)
   Pour remaining batch of disinfectant into well and allow the solution to remain in water supply for 12 to 24 hours.
   Pump the supply to waste or until odor of chlorine disappears. Adjust the flow of water from the faucets or fixtures that discharge into septic systems to a low flow to avoid overloading the disposal system. (If there isn't a pump on the supply, use a bucket or bailer to remove the water from the water supply.) 
   Call KCHD to collect samples before water is used.
   Disinfection of an improperly protected supply will not ensure its safety.
Immediate steps should be taken to abandon or reconstruct such supplies so that they will be protected against further contamination.
   REMEMBER: This process of disinfection is only temporary. Only water in the supply at the time of treatment is disinfected. Fresh water entering the supply may be contaminated. To ensure the safety of your water supply, always have a slight taste of chlorine present in the water.
  KCHD Environmental Health 304-348-8050.

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Attend one of our mobile shot clinics in the area OR come into our Lee Street location in Charleston for a tetanus booster.

Call for an appointment: 304-348-8080.

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