Last Updated on October 8, 2024 4:07 pm
Flooding and excessive rains, like that experienced from Hurricane Helene in our area, can cause water in your private well or spring to become contaminated. If contaminated water is consumed or comes into contact with skin, it can cause illness. The only way to know if your water is contaminated is to get it tested.
AppHealthCare will be offering disinfection and bacterial test kits at no cost for private wells and springs. This will be a priority area for the AppHealthCare Environmental Health Team in the coming days and weeks as road conditions improve, power is restored and samples can be safely transported.
It is important to follow recommendations from AppHealthCare, the public health department serving Alleghany, Ashe and Watauga Counties, to ensure the assessment and testing of your well or spring is completed properly.
Has your well or spring flooded?
If your well has flooded, follow safe water precautions to prevent illness caused by potentially contaminated water:
- Do not drink water from your well or spring. Do not use contaminated well or spring water. You cannot see, taste or smell bacterial contamination in your well or spring. Use only bottled, boiled or treated water for drinking, cooking and personal hygiene until you are able to properly disinfect and test your water.
- Inspect the well seal and casing for damage as floodwaters can cause cracks or other issues that allow contaminants to enter. If there is damage to your well or spring, contact AppHealthCare Environmental Health at (828) 795-1970 or email eh@apphealth.com.
- Avoid turning on your pump until you are sure the electrical system and well components are dry and functioning properly.
- Properly disinfect your well or spring before testing. Disinfection must be done properly in order for testing to be effective. AppHealthCare is working to get disinfection kits locally. Disinfection kits will be provided at no cost.
- Test your well or spring for contaminants. You must use official water testing kits in order for the sample to be tested properly. AppHealthCare is working to get testing kits locally. Testing kits will be provided at no cost.
Request a Disinfection and Test Kit
To request a disinfection or test kit, please complete this form and an AppHealthCare staff member will reach out to you once kits arrive. You can also call AppHealthCare at (828) 795-1970 Monday through Friday 8:00am-4:45pm and select option 3 on the phone menu to be connected to the Environmental Health Team. Please note there will be a limited number of kits available.
If your well or spring did not flood but you are concerned about bacterial contamination, contact the Town of Jefferson Water Plant for Ashe and Alleghany Counties or Town of Boone Water Plant for Watauga County for assistance. Municipal, town or community water supplies cannot be tested by AppHealthCare.
AppHealthCare Environmental Health Staff are available to help you ensure your drinking water is safe. It is important to contact them for assistance and guidance for how to properly disinfect and test your well or spring if it has been flooded.
For questions or concerns, contact AppHealthCare Environmental Health at (828) 795-1970 Monday through Friday 8am-4:45pm or email at eh@apphealth.com. If there is an urgent public health issue after hours, call AppHealthCare at (828) 795-1970 and follow the phone prompts to be connected to the after hours service.
