Flooding is common in the US. Unfortunately, it poses a threat to the drinking water system and can cause contamination by flowing sewage and chemicals into the system. Biohazards may also spill into the floodwaters, causing health risks.
In this case, you may need to contact experts, like this biohazard cleanup company in MA, to do professional biohazard cleanup. If your region is a flood-prone area, it is crucial to be aware of floods’ impacts on your drinking water.
How Flooding Affects Your Drinking Water
Flooding can cause septic tanks to overflow. Any diseases carried by the sewage are released into the floodwaters when this happens. Floodwaters may also contain chemicals from industrial plants or hazardous waste sites, which can release dangerous pollutants into your water system.
Also, flooding can contaminate public drinking water supplies. For example, many cities’ public-water systems depend on surface waters for their supply needs. If flood water carries industrial chemicals or other pollutants, these substances may be carried right into the intake system used to supply the city’s residents with drinking water.
If a system relies on a river as a source and a distribution line, heavy rains upstream could cause the river to overflow its banks and pollute both sources. The longer it takes authorities to clean up after a flood, the more time contaminants work their way through groundwater tables before they can be treated. In cases where septic tanks are used, contact with the water supply can cause them to overflow into the system.
How to Avoid Diseases Due to Contaminated Drinking Water
1. Assess the Damage to Your Home and Household Items
During flooding, assess the damage to your home and household items that might have come into contact with contaminated water. If there is receding water inside your house, thoroughly wipe down all surfaces, including floors, countertops, shelves, appliances, and smaller items, before using them.
You may visit this page for expert water damage protection tips.
2. Always Boil Water Before Drinking
After a flood, always boil your water before drinking. This also includes man-made issues, such as chemical spills. Even if you are on a public utility’s clean drinking water system, make sure to follow this step because systems are not fail-safe. When an emergency happens, there is no way to predict how long it will take for government authorities to fix the situation, ensuring safe tap water again. If you have a well, check with your local health department for safe water to drink.
3. Never Drink Tap Water if the Flood Is Due to Heavy Rains
If the flood is due to heavy rains, never drink tap water even after boiling or filtering. It might have come in contact with raw sewage containing harmful bacteria and viruses that can cause diarrhea, vomiting, etc.
4. Avoid Using Household Bleach to Disinfect Water After Flooding
Using bleach for this purpose is dangerous because it can lead to chemical poisoning and minimal amounts are unlikely to kill all pathogens present in water. Bleach also loses its efficacy over time. As an alternative, use chlorine tablets available at camping stores instead. Follow instructions on the packaging carefully.
5. Sanitize Your Hot Water Tank
Make sure to sanitize your hot water tank if you had one when the sewage lines were flooded because there may be contaminants still left on it.
- Turn off its electrical source and never turn on any electrical appliances connected to the tank, including anything that might send an electric current through it like a hairdryer.
- Take off the lid and remove all filters and heating elements.
- Use a garden hose to spray inside until clean.
Who to Call?
If in doubt and you suspect that your drinking water is unsafe for anyone to use after flooding, be sure to contact the local health department or environmental officials for their opinion on whether it’s safe enough to drink again. They will take samples of your drinking water at home where they can check both physical and chemical properties like lead concentration that might come from corroded metal pipes.
For private well owners who want to know if their well is still usable during floods, contact companies that test wells like state-certified locations run by professionals experienced in this field or organizations dedicated to testing private wells.
On top of these, contact a property restoration company near you to save your home and belongings from further damage. They can also perform biohazard cleanup in case of spills that may harm your family’s health. Click here to know more.
