Floods happen; if you live in Prince William County, VA and have well water, you’ll need to have well water testing and other work done on your pump and well after a flood.
Flood water brings debris, large and small. This can cause problems with your well’s hardware, including the pump components. And of course, sediment and flood water can enter your well and contaminate it.
The age and depth of your well can also affect the likelihood that your well will become contaminated. Wells that are more than 10 years old or less than 50 feet deep are likely to be contaminated, even if there is no apparent damage. Floods may cause some wells to collapse.
About contamination – do not drink or wash with well water after a flood – until it is tested and disinfected by a well or pump contractor, such as SES Mid Atlantic, LLC, because it is difficult for the private owner to thoroughly disinfect these wells.
As for the electrical system of your well – when the water finally recedes, DO NOT TURN ON the well until the wiring system can be checked by a licensed well contractor, such as SES Mid Atlantic, LLC. If the pump’s control box was submerged during the flood, all electrical components must be dry before electrical service can be restored. You risk electrocution and/or additional damage to your well’s electric and pump system.
Well pumps and their electrical components can be damaged by sediment and flood water. The valves and gears of well pumps will need to be cleaned of silt, sand, and other debris before they are restarted. Pumps need to be cleaned and properly lubricated or they can burn out. Again, unless you have experience with wells and their pumps, this needs to be done by the experts at SES Mid Atlantic, LLC.
For more information about well water testing and treatment, and pump maintenance and repair, please contact the experts at SES Mid Atlantic, LLC. Serving Prince William County, VA and the rest of Northern Virginia and Washington DC residential and commercial markets since 1987, SES Mid Atlantic LLC specializes in soil, petroleum, septic, and water services, as well as environmental assessments.