Wilkes Health urges safe water usage following Hurricane Helene, recommends disinfection and testing for wells and springs
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.
Wilkes Health will be offering disinfection and bacterial test kits at no cost for private wells and springs. This will be a priority area for the Wilkes Health Environmental Health Team in the coming days and weeks as supplies are available.
It is important to follow recommendations from Wilkes Health, the public health department serving Wilkes County, 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 Wilkes Health Environmental Health at (336) 3651-7530 or email wilkeseh@wilkescounty.net.
- 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. Wilkes Health 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. Wilkes Health 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 a Wilkes Health Environmental Health staff member will reach out to you once kits arrive. You can also call Wilkes Health at (336) 651-7530 Monday through Friday 8:30am-4:45pm to be connected to the Environmental Health Team. Please note there will be a limited number of kits available and will take time to come in.
If your well or spring did not flood but you are concerned about bacterial contamination, contact the Town of North Wilkesboro for assistance. Municipal, town or community water supplies cannot be tested by Wilkes Health. Wilkes Health 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.