Montgomery County Offers Post-Hurricane Tips Concerning Water Usage

As a result of the on-going flood event from Hurricane Irene, the Montgomery County Health Department (MCHD) recommends that all residents of Montgomery County avoid recreational contact with flood waters due to the unknown amount of raw sewage and waste chemicals that may be present. This applies to both surface waterways and standing surface water remaining from the flood.

To protect the health and safety of all residents MCHD recommends:

• No boating or rowing
• No swimming, wading or contact with the water
• No fishing or consumption of fish caught in these waters
• No pets allowed in the water

Due to the recent heavy rains from Hurricane Irene affecting Montgomery County, properties located in low-lying areas or near surface waterways may become flooded. For those properties served by private water supplies, these wells may become covered by floodwater. This condition poses a public health hazard. Wells inundated by floodwater may be contaminated and should not be used until tested. For those affected by submerged private wells, the Montgomery County Health

Department (MCHD) offers the following advice:

• Do not drink the water from your well. Consume only bottled water.
• Boil all water that you plan to use for consumption for 2-5 minutes. Allow the water to cool sufficiently before use to avoid scalding.
• Once floodwaters have receded, inspect your well to ensure that it has not been damaged. If there is damage, contact a well drilling contractor and continue to drink bottled water until the well is repaired.
• As a precautionary measure run the water from an outside garden hose spigot until the water is clear and free of mud and sediments. Water should not be consumed until it is tested and/or shock chlorinated.
• Conduct shock chlorination individually or contact a professional well driller or plumbing contractor and have your well disinfected by chlorination. The well must remain unused for 8-24 hours once shock chlorination is completed. Purge the water until the chlorine is out of the system. Wait several days after chlorination and have the water tested for potability.

MCHD acknowledges that during a flood emergency, contact with flood waters may be unavoidable during clean-up activities. As such, take universal precautions and wear disposable gloves, wash hands with potable water and avoid any flood water ingestion. 

For further information of flood clean-up procedures, please access the MCHD website at www.health.montcopa.org or contact us at (610) 278-5117.