By Brenda Erdahl
If you get your drinking water from a private well, it’s important to safeguard your well from potential flood waters, Wright County Public Health officials said following last week’s heavy rains that have flooded many parts of Minnesota.
Public Health offers these simple tips to help protect your well water from contamination:
• If your well is in a flood-prone area, consider contacting a licensed well contractor.
• Cover the well with a heavy plastic bag or sheeting and secure with electrical tap.
• If you think your well might become flooded, store a supply of clean water that will last for a few days and shut off your well’s power supply.
• If floodwater reached your well, assume your well is contaminated. Do not drink, cook or brush your teeth until the floodwater recedes and your well water is tested for contamination.
• If floodwater came within 50 feet of your well – but did not reach the well – Minnesota Department of Health recommends that you have your well water tested for coliform bacteria as a precaution.
For more information, contact the Well Management Section of MDH at health.wells@state.mn.us and call 651-201-4600, or Wright County Public Health at:
HS.PublicHealth@co.wright.mn.us and call/text 763-335-0280