The Eau Claire City-County Health Department is advising well-owners to consider testing their drinking water after the heavy rainfall here this week.
With heavy rainfall, there is a risk of that contaminants could get into wells and sicken anyone drinking the water. The Health Department recommends that wells be tested if there is a chance the well cap was underwater because potential contaminants in flood water could enter through the well cap and enter the water supply.
Lieske Giese, director/health officer of the City-County Health Department, urged the testing in a press release.
“If there has been flooding over your well cap, have your well tested for bacteria contamination,” Giese said. “Testing ensures that your family’s drinking water supply is clean, safe and free of bacteria.”
Private well owners whose well has been flooded should assume that flooded wells are contaminated and avoid drinking or bathing in water from a private well until test results prove them to be safe, Giese said. If necessary, water can be made safe to drink by boiling it for five minutes.
Sample bottles to use in testing wells can be picked up at the City-County Health Department, 720 Second Ave. in Eau Claire. The cost of a test for bacteria is $17. If a well has unsafe levels of bacteria, the Health Department can recommend more tests or treatment options that can improve the safety of the water.