Washtenaw County Health Department urges residents to test their well water following last week's floods
The Washtenaw County Public Health Department is advising residents with wells to disinfect their water if flooding over the well has occurred.
According to a press release from the environmental health division, residents should avoid consuming well water if lake, river, pond or storm water flooded the area around the well.
Flooding can bring contaminants into well water, including the diarrhea-causing parasite Giardia, said Angie Parsons, the environmental health educator for the department.
The health department lists instructions and resources for testing well water for bacteria and disinfecting well water on its website.
Those with questions should contact the environmental health division of the health department at (734) 222-3800.
Juliana Keeping covers general assignment and health and the environment for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at julianakeeping@annarbor.com or 734-623-2528. Follow Juliana Keeping on Twitter.
Comments
David Briegel
Fri, Jun 3, 2011 : 9:04 p.m.
Bacterial testing is done by the Washtenaw County Health Dept. and they are your resource for well water and septic tank issues.
Ethics Advocate
Fri, Jun 3, 2011 : 5:37 p.m.
After reading this earlier today, i tried to find a bacteria in water test. So far I've found that Ace Hardware, Home Depot, Lowes and Meijer do not have them in their stores.
Kai Petainen
Fri, Jun 3, 2011 : 12:11 a.m.
question -- should this notice have been sent out earlier?