Water Quality Issues Related to Emergencies
During natural disasters, bottled water may be a safe way to get drinking water. Information about commercially bottled water is covered on available on a separate page. Flooding can damage both wells and septic systems. Seek advice from your local emergency service providers, county health department, and power company. One common concern after disasters is bacterial contamination of water supplies. See the drinking water testing page for more information on pathogens.
Don't Be Left in the Dark - Weathering Floods, Storms and Power Outages from the NY State Department of Health (2006) is a great general publication about emergency preparedness. The web page also has a link to get a .pdf version of the information.
Safe Water Storage & Emergency Disinfection
Pollution Prevention Fuel storage, household chemicals, and plumbing connections
Links to other sites about water quality emergencies
Safe Water Storage and Emergency Disinfection
Water for Emergency Use (CCE Water Treatment Notes #12, 2006) Covers storing your own emergency water supply, emergency drinking water disinfection, and related topics.
How to Store Water for Drinking or Cooking (Penn State Cooperative Extension, 1999)
Food and Water in an Emergency (FEMA & American Red Cross, 2004)
Protecting Your Well (focus on planning for service interruptions, wellcare, Water Systems Council)
Emergency Disinfection of Drinking Water (U.S. EPA, 2006)
Drinking Water for Emergency Use (Washington State Dept. of Health, 2001)
Boil Water Advisories and Boil Water Orders (Health Canada)
What You Need to Know if You Are Told to Boil Your Drinking Water (Water Systems Council)
How can water-related diseases be prevented during emergencies? (World Health Organization)
Emergency treatment of drinking water at point-of-use (WHO Technical Note for Emergencies #5, 2005)
Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage Following Emergencies and Disasters (WHO)
Drinking Water Supplies and Biological Warfare (CCE Water Bulletin, 2002)
Water Security (National Ground Water Association)
Also see the section on Well Disinfection on the Wells and Supply page.
For information on portable water filters and purifiers, see the section on the Travel page. Filters and iodine treatments are not as effective as boiling or bleach.
Pollution Prevention
Safe Fuel Use Around the Home (CCE Water Treatment Notes #13, 2001)
Underground Fuel / Heating Oil Storage (CCE Water Bulletin, 2003)
You Dump It, You Drink It - posters and teaching materials about proper storage and recycling of used motor oil (US EPA)
Help Protect Your Drinking Water from Contamination - Household Hazards (2002, from AWWA Pacific Northwest)
Cross Connections Can Create Health Hazards (2002, from AWWA Pacific Northwest)
Lawn Irrigation Systems and Backflow Prevention (2001, from AWWA Pacific Northwest)
Backflow Protection for Private Water Systems (Oregon State Univ. Extension, 1998)
Flooding
Flooding can contaminate wells, and damage wells and septic systems. Also see the section on Well Disinfection on the Wells and Supply page.
Private Well Water - What to Do After the Flood (US EPA, 2005)
Managing a Flooded Well (Water Systems Council)
Flood Preparedness and Recovery (New York State Department of Health)
Flood Recovery Resources (CCE Tioga County, includes septic info)
Flood Relief Information for Farmers (CCE Tioga County)
Flood Information (CCE Delaware County)
Septic Systems - What to Do after the Flood (US EPA, 2005), also in Spanish (2005)
First Aid for a Flooded Septic System (NSFC Pipeline Magazine, 2006)
Protecting Your Property from Flooding - Protect Wells from Contamination by Flooding (U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA))
Protecting Your Property from Flooding - Install Sewer Backflow Valves (FEMA)
Flood Zone Maps (FEMA)
Flood Information (many useful articles from North Dakota State Extension)
Fire, Drought, Freezing
Private Wells After the Fire (Arizona Department of Environmental Quality)
Wells and Fire Protection (Water Systems Council)
Drought Fact Sheet (AWWA)
Coping with Low Water Levels (Water Systems Council)
What To Do if the Well Runs Dry (Water Systems Council)
Conserving Water Around the Home - Managing During Critical Shortages (Oregon State Univ. Extension, 1990)
Water Efficiency (includes info about well yield and drought) (National Ground Water Association, 2001)
Water Pressure (National Ground Water Association)
Water Levels in Wells (American Ground Water Trust)
Water Pressure Problems (American Ground Water Trust)
Water Conservation (Water Systems Council)
Using Low-Yielding Wells (Penn State Cooperative Extension, 2005)
Managing Your Well During a Drought (Penn State Cooperative Extension, 2005)
Preventing and Thawing Frozen Pipes (American Red Cross)
Protect Your Septic System From Freezing (Univ. of Minnesota Extension, 2005)
Freezing Problems and Septic Systems (Univ. of Minnesota Extension, 2005)
Preparing Seasonal Cabin Septic Systems for Winter (Univ. of Minnesota Extension)
Checking Frozen Systems to Prevent Future Freezing Problems (Univ. of Minnesota Extension)
Power Failures
Electrical Generators & Water Pumps (American Ground Water Trust)
Safety Information (NYSEG)
Wells: What to Do When Power Fails (Water Systems Council)
Frequently Asked Questions
Under construction
Links to other sites about water quality emergencies
New York State Department of Health - Drinking Water Protection Program
NYSDOH certifies environmental analysis labs. Commercial labs accept samples from the public (sorted by county, look for "potable water" testing).
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - In addition to the resources linked above and many others on its site, the EPA has a set of radio public service announcements (PSAs in MP3 format) on environmental safety in the event of natural disasters.
American Waterworks Association (AWWA) - represents municipal water systems
Locate Your Local Water Utility (search page with extensive links)
Water Systems Council - many links on supply page
wellcare® Hotline - or call 1-888-395-1033
World Health Organization (WHO, an agency of the United Nations)
Fact Sheets on water sources, treatment, sanitation, and hygiene
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