Nearly three weeks after Hurricane Helene, North Carolina residents are still suffering from its effects. Western North Carolina has been particularly hard hit by flooding, which has affected many residents' access to clean water.
Experts have warned that residents with private wells should boil or test their water before drinking it because of possible contamination with harmful bacteria like E. coli.
Approximately 2.4 million North Carolinians use private wells to access drinking water, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) says. These systems are not regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and are prone to contamination during flooding events.
"We are going to see those wells get inundated with surface water that carries contaminants and microbial chemicals," Kelsey Pieper, an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at Northeastern University, told the school's Northeastern Global News.
"They're starting to see testing coming in, so we don't have data yet, but based on other flooding events...we expect these systems will be contaminated, which is why the state is recommending disinfecting and cleaning your well before you use it," she said.
After Hurricane Florence in 2018, high concentrations of E. coli and other bacteria were detected in floodwater samples, especially in eastern North Carolina. However, Pieper said that the western parts of the state were less experienced with flooding and may not have the same resources to deal with such contamination.
"This community doesn't flood very much, so they don't have those lived experiences to lean on," she said.
The NCDHHS has warned western North Carolina residents with private wells to use bottled water for drinking. Or they should boil or treat their water supply before drinking it or using it for cooking or personal hygiene.
"It is critical that people do not use contaminated water to drink, wash and prepare food, make ice, prepare baby formula, wash dishes, brush teeth or wash hands," the NCDHHS said in a statement. "If extensive flooding has occurred, do not drink well water. Listen to your local health authorities for advice on using well water for showering and bathing."
The NCDHHS also provides the following precautions after flooding:
- Do not turn on the electricity to your pump until floodwaters recede.
- Contact a driller if you think your well needs servicing.
- Find a nearby water testing lab to test your water. If you live near animal feeding operations or agricultural fields, you should contact your local health department for additional testing.
Residents are advised to call the local health department or a licensed well driller to shock chlorinate the well if it has been flooded. Also, they should follow guidance issued by the local health department if there are water quality concerns.
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