Drinking water emergencies

Group B water systems and private water sources

People using small water systems, like Group B and private water sources, must rely on themselves and their community when navigating emergency situations.

Power outage

Losing power can mean people on private and Group B wells will be without water until it is fixed. Water systems should always have a backup power supply, like a generator, to make water is flowing 24/7. Private and Group B wells should make sure someone in their water community always has access to the generator in case the power goes out.

Flooding

Flooding is a serious contamination risk for water systems. When flood waters reach and submerge the well, contamination like bacteria and chemicals from the affected flood area can be brought with it. Older wells, shallow wells less than 50 feet deep, and wells located close to surface water can even become contaminated from underground water.  Sewage runoff, debris from flooded areas, and overflow from surface water like lakes, rivers and streams can carry bacteria, parasitic protozoa, and viruses which can end up in your water supply when wells become submerged. Electrical shock is also a potential danger as the pump and electrical system become submerged or damaged. Make sure a qualified electrician or water professional checks the wiring system before turning it back on.

Muddy or cloudy water after a flood is a clear indication your well has been affected by surface water. Try running water from an outside spigot with a hose until the water is clear. Even after the water is running clear, the water can still be contaminated. If your well is flooded, always disinfect it – we recommend having a water professional disinfect your well. Make sure to test the water for bacteria before using the well again. Until your well is back online, you should boil or treat all the water (PDF) you use for drinking and cooking . If you are unable to boil water, use bottled water until you are sure it is safe to drink the water from your well.

The EPA has more guidance on what to do after your well has been flooded (PDF).

Drought

A drought is a time with lower-than-normal rain or snow resulting in less surface water and groundwater. Droughts can negatively affect water systems when there is not enough water to meet a home or community's daily needs. Groundwater levels can change more slowly than surface water, so drought scan impact your well even after rain and snowfall have returned to normal.

The best way for small water system users to manage drought conditions is to first be aware of the drought and then do what they can to practice water conservation.

• Drought response notifications in WA state and King County, Washington State Dept. of Ecology
• Water conservation resources, - WA State Dept. of Ecology

Occasionally, a well will go completely dry and not be able to produce water for a period of time. Drought conditions can increase the frequency of a well going dry. Often, simple water conservation can fix these issues. If a well is consistently going dry even after water conservation is being practiced, there could be other issues with the well. If your well consistently goes dry, contract a well professional or hydrogeologist to discuss the issues and plan for a solution.

Well running dry

A well running dry is the common term for when people's wells stop producing water, temporarily or permanently, or when the well is producing much less water than it used to. It does not necessarily mean there is no water left in the ground. Often wells that run dry did not produce very much water to begin with. Sometimes, there is no issue with the groundwater levels at all but instead a problem with the water system or one of its parts. Over time several things can happen that could cause the well to produce less water or no water at all, such as:

• Seasonal variations of rain, snow, and dry weather. These can cause groundwater levels, called the water table, to go below the depth of the well. Droughts can amplify this.
• Neighboring wells overusing groundwater from the same groundwater source.
• Silt, sand, mineral buildup (scaling), and bioslime clogging the well screen.
• Changes in the geology, especially following an earthquake, that may lower the water table in an area.
• Broken pumps and water storage tanks.
• Leaks in the water system.

We recommend people with wells producing little or no water contact a water professional like a well driller, pump installer, or water system engineer. A skilled water professional can help you figure out why your well might be running dry or other issues that need to be fixed.

Drilling a new well entirely is often considered the last resort because it can be expensive and negatively impact the environment. We recommend discussing different options with water professional before drilling a new well. Keep in mind that unused wells need to be decommissioned, which can also be expensive.

Wildfire

From smoke inhalation to property damage, wildfires are scary for anyone around them. Wildfires threaten water systems as the heat from flames may damage the water system parts like the well casing, pump, pipes, water treatment system, water storage tanks, and electrical systems. If a wildfire affects your property, look for obvious signs of damage. If your water tastes or smells smoky, you may need to flush your water lines.

If you suspect your water system has been damaged, we recommend testing your water for bacteria as soon as possible. You should also check to see if the water system has maintained positive pressure during the fire. You can check for this by turning on the faucet in your house to see if water comes out. If you notice air being released or there are interruptions in the water flow, it is a good sign there has been a loss of pressure. Whenever water systems lose pressure, there is a good chance the water is contaminated with bacteria. Until the water quality is tested, we advise boiling water for drinking or cooking. If you confirm that your well has been contaminated by bacteria, the well should be shock chlorinated.

You can read more on the CDC's website about private wells after a wildfire.

Pressure loss events

Pressure loss for a well can result serious public health issues. A pressure loss event is when pressure in the water system drops below normal because of things like power issues, pump issues, leaks, and pressure tank problems. Pressure loss can cause the water to become contaminated when germs and chemicals in water from a house or other nearby areas flows back into the water system through a negative pressure vacuum. Whenever your water well experiences a pressure lot event, we recommend you conduct water quality testing for bacteria. Until the water quality is tested, you may want to consider boiling your water until the test results are in.

You can tell if your water system has experienced pressure loss if, when you turn on the faucet, you notice air coming out in spurts with your water.

Learn more about responding to a pressure-loss event (PDF) from the Washington State Department of Health.

Disinfecting your water system

Test your water for bacteria after events which may have contaminated your well such as flooding, pressure loss, or a failing on-site sewage system. If it tests positive for coliform bacteria, we recommend you conduct a follow-up test to verify the results. If your water continues to test positive for bacteria or if e. coli is found in the water, have your well disinfected with bleach.

Disinfecting your well can potentially be a do-it-yourself project, but hiring a well or pump professional is the best option. This is especially true if you have not done it before because putting bleach into your well could be potentially dangerous. It is important to note that bleach will not help clean water that has been contaminated by things like chemicals, pesticides, and fuel.

To learn more about how to disinfect your well, carefully read and take every safety precaution outlined in the Center for Disease Control's guidance: Disinfection of Drilled or Driven Wells After an Emergency.

CAUTION – when Group B water systems need to disinfect their well, each water system user must be contacted and notified that their water is being disinfected and no one should use the water until it is complete.