Sometimes,
extreme weather events or other natural disasters can damage your
well pump or well casing, contaminate your aquifer, or harm your well
water supply in some other way. Here are four natural disasters you
should prepare for in case they cause well problems.
1.
Earthquakes
Fortunately,
North Carolina isn't known for having a lot of strong earthquakes.
But on the flip side, this also means many homeowners don't know
about the damage an earthquake can cause to their well. Some of the
less serious ways an earthquake could affect your well include:
- Raising
or lowering the water level
- Increasing
or decreasing the volume of your well
- Causing
temporary cloudiness
However,
more harmful effects can also occur. The well casing, which is set in
the ground, could become cracked or otherwise damaged by ground
movement. And in some cases, an earthquake could contaminate your
well with something dangerous or cause it to dry up completely.
Be
sure to keep a supply of drinking water on hand so you can stop
drinking from your well after an earthquake until you can determine
if your well survived unscathed. If you notice any changes after an
earthquake, call in professionals for inspection and water testing.
2.
Floods
Floods
can occur during hurricanes or independently. Whether it's due to a
dam breaking or just an unprecedented amount of rain, a flood can be
a serious problem for your well. If the well itself has standing
water around it, avoid turning it on or you could be electrocuted.
After the water goes down, don't drink out of it until after you have
it inspected and tested.
However,
flooding can also affect your aquifer even if the well itself doesn't
flood. Floodwaters can carry agricultural chemicals, fecal bacteria,
and other contaminants and pathogens in such high concentrations that
they actually make their way into the groundwater. So anytime you
have a major flood event in your area, you should get your water
tested.
3.
Hurricanes
Hurricanes
and tropical storms can affect wells in two different ways: physical
damage and flooding. Physical damage can occur if the well is hit by
a large object (for example, if a tree falls on it during the storm).
Flooding is also quite common during tropical weather events,
bringing with it the potential for well contamination and
electrocution.
Another
issue hurricanes can cause that affects wells indirectly is power
outages. In many places, the power could be out for weeks after a
major hurricane. Be sure you have a way to get water out of your well
during a power outage (such as a generator), and keep a large supply
of bottled drinking water on hand in case your well suffers physical
damage or flooding.
4.
Droughts
In
a drought, you may lean heavily on your well to keep your lawn and
garden alive due to the absence of rain. But for the same reason,
your well and your entire aquifer could suffer from lower than usual
water levels. This can affect your well's function in several ways:
- Reduce
the volume you get from your well
- Lead
to more contaminated water
- Leave
your well more likely to run dry
So
during a drought, you may need to limit the amount of water you use
for purposes such as landscaping and cleaning. You also need to keep
an eye on the quality of your water. Does it look, smell, or taste
different? If so, it may be drawn from a more distant aquifer with
lower water quality. You should have it tested to make sure it's
still safe to drink.
As
you can see, these natural disasters all have something in common:
you need to be prepared, and you need to get your water tested and
your well inspected afterwards. Call Action
Well & Pump Repair
today
for all your well repair and inspection needs.
