After a Flood: Private Drinking Water Guidance

Flooding Near Your Well or Spring

Do not use the water from your well or spring until you have it tested and you know it's safe, especially if:

• It was or is covered with floodwater or located near flooding
• It smells sweet or smells like fuel or chemicals, or is near a suspected fuel or chemical spill

Inspect Your Water System for Flood Impacts

If you did not see the area during the flood, look for debris and mud in the area and water or mud stains on the well or in a spring. These are signs that your system was flooded.

• If it is safe to do so, inspect electrical components:
  • Look for exposed/damaged wiring or electrical components.
  • Check whether water entered any electrical components. Do not touch electrical wires.
  • If electrical connections or controls located outside the well casing or spring box remain submerged, do not turn on the pump until the floodwater has gone down.
• Check for damaged structural components of the water system.
  • Check the well casing. A bent/cracked well casing may allow water, sediment and debris to enter the well and increase the risk of contamination.
  • Check the well cap and seal to make sure they are securely fastened to the well casing. Sediment and debris may enter the well through a loose well cap.
  • Inspect spring box tiles and structural components to see if they are sealed and stayed in place.
• If your water system appears severely damaged, call a licensed well driller or your regional engineer.
• If heating fuel or chemicals are known to have been spilled near your well or spring, call the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Spill Management during business hours (7:45 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) at 802-828-1138 or outside business hours at 800-641-5005 to report the spill. Do not drink the water if you suspect a fuel or chemical spill has impacted your well or if your water smells sweet or like fuel or chemicals.
• You may also be having problems with your septic system. Find resources to help you with your septic system.

If Your Well or Spring Has Been Affected by Flooding

Bacteria are the most common drinking water contaminants after a flood. Bacteria can make you sick. Do not drink your water until you have it tested.

• Until your water has been tested and your results show that both total coliform and E. coli bacteria were "not detected," do not use your water for:
  • Drinking
  • Cooking
  • Washing dishes
  • Making juice or ice
  • Washing fruit and vegetables
  • Brushing teeth
  • Preparing baby formula
• Get water from a known safe source.
  • Fill food-safe containers with water from a known safe source, like the town library, town hall, fire department, school, church or town office.
  • Buy bottled water.
  • Buy water from a bulk water hauler and fill up a water tank. Find a list of bulk water haulers or search the internet for "bulk water haulers Vermont."
  • If getting water from a known safe source is not possible, boil your water for one minute to kill bacteria and other microorganisms that may be in the water. Do not boil water if you:
    • Smell or see signs of chemicals in your water.
    • Think there was a nearby fuel or chemical spill.
    • See that the water is cloudy or full of sediments.
  • Do not fill your contaminated well or spring with water delivered by a water hauler. Instead, keep the water in food-safe containers.

How to Test Your Drinking Water

• Drinking water test kits can be purchased online. If you need more information on which test kit to order, please visit our drinking water testing webpage. Learn more about what to do if you have a private well or spring.
• Before taking a water sample:
  • Remove any visible mud, sediment, and other debris from around the well casing or from within the spring box.
  • If your water is muddy or cloudy, flush your system by running the water from an outside spigot with a hose attached until the water becomes clear and free of sediments. This may take 30 minutes to several hours or days, depending on the size and depth of the well or spring and extent of contamination. Once the water is clear, then you can take the sample.
• Follow the instructions in the test kit for taking the sample. Make sure you take the sample the same day you are returning it. Watch a video with step-by-step instructions.
• Return the sample to the Health Department Lab or the closest local health office Monday through Thursday. Check the schedule to see when the sample needs to be returned.
• You should receive your bacteria results within two business days.
• Until the test results show that total coliform and E. coli bacteria were "not detected," do not use the water. Get water from a safe known source or boil it for one minute before using it. 

After You Receive Your Results

• If your results show that bacteria were "detected," follow steps to disinfect your well or spring after the floodwater has gone down. If you need help disinfecting your well or spring, contact a local well driller or water quality expert.
• After disinfecting your well or spring, retest your water for bacteria 2 to 3 days after the smell of chlorine is gone. Get a free retest kit online. If you can't order online, call 802-338-4724 or 800-660-9997 (toll-free in Vermont) or contact your local health office.

Download private drinking water guidance in a PDF

If you have further questions after reviewing the information on this page, call 802-489-7339. If you need to leave a voicemail, a Health Department employee will call you back as soon as possible. 

Emergency Information and Resources

• Dial 911 for Fire, Police or Ambulance
• Dial 2-1-1 for health and human services information, or visit vermont211.org for shelters
• Visit 511vt.gov for Vermont road conditions
• National Weather Service
• Vermont Emergency Management
• If you own a food or lodging business, call the Food & Lodging Program at 802-863-7221 or 800-439-8550 (toll-free in Vermont)