LEONARDTOWN, MD (October 1, 2015) – In case of a storm surge from a potential weather event that may cause flooding of individual wells, homeowners are advised to disinfect their wells if they know or suspect that flood waters have entered and contaminated their systems. The St. Mary’s County Health Department urges residents to use bottled water or an alternative safe source until disinfection and follow-up testing is complete. If residents do not have access to bottled water or an alternative source, their well water should be boiled for 3-5 minutes in a clean container before use.
“People who obtain their water from an individual well should disinfect the well and distribution system if floodwaters reached and entered the well casing. In order to safeguard public health and personal well being, it is best to use a safe source until disinfection is complete and testing shows the water to be safe,” said Daryl Calvano, Environmental Health Services division director at the health department.
A fact sheet providing information about disinfecting wells and step-by-step instructions for taking this precaution are available at the St. Mary’s County Health Department or by visiting their website at www.smchd.org. Residents should contact the Health Department’s Environmental Health Services division at 301-475-4321 regarding specific questions they may have about testing and well safety.
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