Floodwater could leave contaminants behind

Floodwaters are receding across the state but the risk of coming into contact with contaminated water is still just as high. FEMA spokesman Lew Wood says just because the flooded area of your yard or community is back to normal, don’t assume the water’s safe to drink. If flood waters covered the well head in your home water system, Wood says it has to be cleaned and disinfected before the water’s safe. Contact your local county environmental health office for clean-up information. Wood says people on community water systems aren’t necessarily in the clear either. If you’re on a public system and your tap water is discolored or has an odor, boil it for three minutes or add one-eighth of a teaspoon of household bleach to each gallon of water to disinfect it. If the water is cloudy, pour it through a coffee filter, then follow the above boil or bleach procedures.