Spring Flood May Threaten Well Water

(KNSI) — Flooding threatens to expose wells to contamination as the state grapples with the consequences of rapid snowmelt and recent rainfall.

The Minnesota Department of Health says private well owners are responsible for the quality of the water they drink and use inside their homes. Hydrologist Kara Dennis says there are three steps owners should take if their well is in imminent danger of being flooded.

“We recommend that they store a supply of clean water that will last for a few days, and that they shut off power to their well pump to avoid having floodwater pumped into their plumbing system or in their house. They can also cover their well with some heavy plastic bag or plastic sheeting and secure that with electrical tape.”

Dennis says a plastic tarp is more of a band aid than a cure. A licensed contractor will be needed to clean out debris and disinfect the well before it can be used again.

Dennis says a laundry list of dangerous substances such as “raw sewage, animal waste, oil, gasoline, solvents, chemicals, pesticides, [and] fertilizers” are swept up during flooding. She adds, “contamination and testing for total coliform is just a good way to tell if surface contamination has gotten into your well instead of testing for all the different contaminants.”

Dennis says newer wells are able to handle the threat of flooding better than those built before the state implemented construction standards in 1974. Still, if any site is washed over by water, then you should avoid using it to brush your teeth, drink, or for laundry and showering until it has been checked thoroughly. Dennis says those recommendations also apply to wells used in agricultural operations, whether the water is fed to livestock and other animals or to plants.

Wells should be checked if the high water mark is within 50 feet.

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