What to Do After a Flood: Resources for NC Well Users
Contact your local health department for well disinfection & testing kits.
Drinking or washing with water from a well that has been flooded can cause serious illness. If your well has been flooded:
- Disinfect it: instructions – video tutorials below
- Test it for bacteria
- Wait until you receive the test results letting you know it is safe to use the water.
Find your local health department contact in the map below:
Well water & septic safety resources:
- Identify Safe Water: English, Spanish.
- How to Disinfect Your Well After A Flood: English, Spanish.
- Septic Repairs: English, Spanish.
- Well and Septic Safety Following Hurricane Helene | NCDHHS
- Hurricane Helene Recovery Communications Toolkit (includes info on mold, feeding babies, and more.)
- Video tutorials on disinfection (bleach or calcium hypochlorite) & testing
Disinfect Your Private Well (with Bleach) Before Testing
Disinfect Your Private Well (with Calcium Hypochlorite) Before Testing
How to Collect a Well Water Sample
If you are struggling to access resources for testing your well water locally, contact us!
Learn More!
Science-based environmental justice.
Started in 1984, Clean Water for NC (CWFNC) supports communities to fight for clean drinking water and a healthy environment.