The National Ground Water Association has released a guideline on best practices for emergency disinfection of flooded residential water wells.
The best suggested practice booklet:
- Provides general requirements for emergency well disinfection.
- Details steps for disinfection based on a well’s configuration.
- Advises drillers on proper follow-up procedures.
The booklet notes that proper well disinfection depends on local geological conditions, and well design, dimensions and condition, as well as other factors.
The NGWA recommendations discuss two classifications of private wells: wells at low risk due to their construction and maintenance, and other wells with construction deficiencies or a lack of maintenance that can compromise integrity.
- Disinfection concepts outlined in the booklet include:
- Inspection for the presence of organic matter.
- Flushing and cleaning.
- Disinfection agents.
- Testing intervals.
The recommendations were developed by a workgroup of groundwater professionals based on extensive experience and research. To download the booklet as a PDF, visit www.ngwa.org/bookstore and type “flood” into the keyword search box. The publication is free to members and a nominal charge for non-members.
NGWA is a nonprofit that supports responsible development, management and use of water resources. It’s comprised of groundwater professionals ranging from contractors to equipment manufacturers to scientists and engineers.
