Politics & Government
In Wake of Flood, Health Department Offers Well-Water Test Kits
After the flood of 2013, you might want to make sure your well water is safe.
After this week’s flooding, homeowners with private wells have seen their wells flood, or they have questions regarding the safety of their drinking water.
If the safety of your water supply is in doubt, be sure to use bottled water for drinking, preparing food, making ice, hand washing, washing dishes, brushing teeth and preparing baby formula. Do not eat any food that has come in contact with the potentially contaminated water.
The Kane County Health Department has specific instructions on how to disinfect a well and is providing free drinking water sample analysis kits for any wells suspected of being contaminated with coliform bacteria due to flooding. You may obtain sample bottles and instructions for disinfection of wells from the Kane County Health Department at the following locations:
Find out what's happening in Genevawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
- 1240 N. Highland Ave., Ste 5, Aurora
- 1750 Grandstand Place, Elgin (Please call first to make an appointment)
If there is standing sewage in your yard, the health department recommends roping off the area for a least a week after the water has receded and keeping children and pets away from that area. Household water use should be minimized if your septic system is flooded. All non-biodegradable items should be collected with rubber gloves and disposed of.
Additionally, the health department recommends individuals take the following precautions to prevent the spread of waterborne disease:
Find out what's happening in Genevawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
- Wash your hands with plenty of soap and clean, warm running water
- Before preparing or eating food
- Before handling a baby,
- Before smoking or any other activity that involves touching something that may enter a person’s mouth and make sure children do the same.
- After toilet use
- After handling items contaminated with floodwater or sewage.
- Do not allow children to play in floodwater or areas that have been flooded.
If you have any questions on flood related issues please call the Kane County Health Department (630) 444-3040
SOURCE: Kane County Health Department
