Charlotte County residents concerned their private wells may have been contaminated by flooding from Hurricane Debby, can test their water at no cost through Aug. 9.
The testing offer comes on the heels of the Florida Department of Health in Charlotte County (DOH-Charlotte) urging residents to be aware of the health risks associated with flooding.
Skin contact with flood waters does not, by itself, pose a serious health risk. However, health hazards are a concern when waters are or become contaminated with bacteria or contain dangerous debris.
Follow these steps for the testing:
- Pick up a kit from the Department of Health in Charlotte County Environmental Health office, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. 1100 Loveland Blvd., Port Charlotte.
- Follow the directions on the kit’s instruction sheet.
- Take the water sample to the Benchmark Private Well Testing Laboratory before 3 p.m. through Thursday. The lab is located at 1001 Corporate Ave., Suite 102, North Port.
- Results will come from the lab.
Please note this is testing for private wells only. If you receive potable water from public utility, there is no need to test your water, as that is being done by the facility.
Due to Hurricane Debby, this service is being provided at no cost for a limited time only.
For information, visit www.benchmarkea.com or call 941-240-3066.
What to do after the flood
DOH-Charlotte recommends the following to prevent illness or injury from flood waters:
- Basic hygiene is critical. If you are under a boil water notice, use commercially bottled water for mixing baby formula. Wash your hands with soap and either disinfected or boiled and cooled water, especially before preparing or eating food, after toilet use, after handling a soiled diaper, after participating in flood cleanup activities, and after handling objects contaminated with flood water or sewage.
- Avoid eating for drinking anything that has been contaminated with flood waters.
- Avoid contact with flood waters, especially if you have open cuts or sores.
- If you have any open cuts or sores and come in contact with flood waters, was the area well with soap to prevent infection. If a wound develops redness, swelling or drainage, seek immediate medical attention.
- Residents who sustain lacerations and/or puncture wounds are encouraged to contact their primary health care provider to make sure they are current on their tetanus vaccine and possibly get a booster.
If on a septic system and your plumbing is functioning slowly:
- Converse water as much as possible; the less water used the less sewage the septic tank must process. Minimize use of your washing machine.
- Do not have the septic tank pumped. Exceptionally high-water tables might crush a septic tank that was pumped dry. If the fundamental problem is high ground water, pumping the tank does nothing to solve that problem.
If your well is flooded:
- Heavy rainfall may have made your well water unsafe to drink. If you are unsure about the impact of flooding on your well water, use bottled water or boil water for drinking, making ice, teeth brushing, and washing any areas of the skin that have been cut or injured.
- If your well is affected by flood waters, there may be disease-causing organisms in your water making it unsafe to drink.
- For additional questions regarding well water testing, contact DOH-Charlotte Environmental Public Health at 941-624-7200.
For Hurricane Debby information, call the Charlotte County Emergency Operations Center from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 941-833-4000.
Follow Charlotte County Emergency Management’s important emergency information at www.charlottecountyfl.gov/em, www.facebook.com/oemcharlottecounty, and www.twitter.com/ccoem.
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