Public water suppliers usually provide water soon after a hurricane or flood. If you are unsure of your water supply, only use it to hose your home or for flushing the toilet.
Buy bottled water for drinking if you can. Sometimes large water storage tanks called "water buffalos" are brought to communities that need clean water. They are filled with clean drinking water from places outside your area and are towed to your location, often by national guard or
A "boil order" may be issued in your community. If such an order has been issued, do the following:
Fill a large pot with water from the tap.
Strain the water through cheesecloth, a sheet, or other clean, porous material to remove as many solids as you can.
Bring the water to a rumbling boil and let it boil for at least 5 minutes.
Pour the water back and forth between two clean pots. This will help it cool and will add air to the water to make it taste better.
Let the water cool. After it is cool, add 16 drops of liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of water. Let the water stand a half hour. If it gives off a slight chlorine smell and looks clear, it's OK to use.
If you do not smell the chlorine or if the water is still cloudy, add another 16 drops of liquid chlorine bleach and let it stand another half hour. If you smell chlorine, it's okay to use. If you have treated it again and it still does not smell like chlorine, don't use it for drinking or cooking.
Do not cook in pots and pans, or use eating utensils, baby blankets, or any other items that could go in the mouth until they have been washed in water that has been tested and approved by the water supplier or health department.
Wells: Private wells should be pumped until the water is clear. You can decide whether water is clear enough to hose the home and do other cleaning work. Check with the local health department for instructions before you drink or cook with your well water. The health department should be able to advise you about the best way to have your water tested if necessary.
If there are no specific instructions from the local health department, follow these steps to treat your well and water:
Open your faucets to pump the water out of your well. Let them run for at least 15 minutes or until you lose pressure.
Pour one quart of liquid chlorine bleach in the well and leave it for at least four hours. Do not use any water during this time.
Open all the faucets and let them run until you smell chlorine at each faucet.
Turn off the faucets and let the water sit in the pipes for two to four hours. Do not use any water during this time.
Flush out the system by running the taps until you can no longer taste or smell the chlorine.
Water heater: Check your water heater. If floodwaters got into the gas burner, electrical parts, or insulation, it should be replaced. If you want to save it, have it cleaned and restarted by a professional. Be sure to flush clean water through it before you wash dishes or clothes with hot water.
Sewage disposal: Public sewers should work soon after a flood, but mud and debris might clog them. Flush the toilet before you use it. If it is clogged, check with your local sewer department to see if the problem is in the main line. You may need to clean out the sewer line from your house to the main line.
Septic systems will not work until the ground water level is below the distribution lines. So be careful about flushing the toilet and pouring things down the drain; they may not have anywhere to go. Until your toilet works, you can line it with a plastic trash can liner and dispose of the bag following local public health recommendations.