Water Contamination

9/13/2018 (Permalink)

If you have doubts about whether your water is contaminated, don't take a chance. Read the tips here.

While water contamination in Connecticut has not be a frequent issue, it’s always best to be prepared. Consider what financial advisors tell us about the stock market: past performance is no guarantee of future results. No water issues in the past does not mean no water issues in the future.

Dangerous chemicals or other unhealthy substances can contaminate water after a water system failure, hurricane damage, flood damage, terrorist attack, accident, or in other ways according to the Connecticut Department of Public Health. Hazardous chemicals, human waste, or animal waste can get in to a Connecticut water supply and make the water dangerous to drink.

Check the Water’s Color, Smell, and Taste
If a Connecticut water emergency occurs your water company or local officials will tell you if your drinking water is not safe to drink. The Connecticut Guide to Emergency Preparedness says that if your water has an unusual change in color, smell, or taste, or has floating pieces in it don’t use it or drink it.

Disinfect Flooded Wells
If you are a Connecticut homeowner or business owner in a flooded area and have a private well that has flooded, consider that well contaminated. Always have a flooded well disinfected. To be safe, treat your water or use bottled water until you disinfect the well. You can find more homeowner information about flooding, wells, and cleanup at the Department of Public Health’s page on this subject.

Faster to any size disaster.  Call SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield at (860)461-7194.

Treating Unsafe Water
What if you’re told to treat your drinking water? Don’t take risks. Use treated or bottled water for all your cooking, washing fruits and vegetables, brushing teeth, making baby formula—all water uses. Use treated water to wash your hands before you cook.

There is one exception. Adults and older children do not need to use treated water to shower or bathe. They just need to not swallow or get untreated water in their mouths. However, infants, toddlers, the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems should be bathed using treated or bottled water.

Three ways you can make contaminated water safe to drink and use are:
1. Boil your drinking water at a rolling boil for one minute. Before boiling, make sure the water is clear of any debris or pieces.
2. Add eight drops of liquid chlorine bleach to every gallon of clear water or 16 drops to every gallon of cloudy water. Do not use household bleach that has perfumes or ingredients other than sodium hypochlorite. Mix the water and bleach well and let it stand for at least 30 minutes before you use it.  
3. Add water purification tablets per the directions on the tablet package.


Faster to any size disaster.  Call SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield at  (860)461-7194.
 

Water Damage and Water Damage Restoration Information
Every month on our blog, SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield publishes educational articles on how to prevent natural disasters and deal with them quickly and effectively should they occur. Many of our blog posts deal with water issues:  



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