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Shore House PipesSouth Jersey shore, season by season
Procedures
AS-5After the storm

Well water after a flood

If floodwater reached a private well, don't drink the water until it is tested: use bottled water or boil it for one minute, have the well disinfected, wait 7 to 10 days after disinfection, and then have it sampled by a state-certified lab, as CDC and EPA advise.

Time: 1 to 2 weeks before it's clearedWho: YouWhen: After floodwater covered or reached the wellhead

By the Shore House Pipes editors · sources checked October 31, 2026 · how this manual is written

Hand holding up a glass of cloudy water, a well pressure tank in the room behind
Hand holding up a glass of cloudy water, a well pressure tank in the room behind. AI-generated picture.

Bring

  • Bottled water for drinking, cooking and brushing teeth
  • The local health department's contact for testing advice

The procedure

  1. Stop drinking it. Use bottled water, or boil well water at a rolling boil for one minute until it is tested.
  2. Keep away from the wellhead while flooded. Electrical parts at the well and pressure tank may be wet. Have the pump's power checked before use.
  3. Get the well disinfected. CDC publishes a bleach method by well type and depth; many owners have a licensed well driller or pump installer do it.
  4. Wait before sampling. Sampling has to wait until the chlorine has been flushed: CDC says at least 7 to 10 days after disinfection.
  5. Test at a certified lab. Use a New Jersey certified laboratory.
  6. Fuel or chemicals? Boiling and disinfection don't fix fuel or chemical contamination. Contact the local health department.

Which shore houses are on wells?

Most barrier-island homes get public water. Wells are more common on the mainland and in parts of Cape May County. See RF-3.

Does a softener or filter need attention too?

Yes. Treatment equipment that sat in floodwater or took in contaminated water needs cleaning or replacement along with the well.

The numbers behind it

FigureWhat it meansSource
1 minuterolling boil until the well is testedCDC
7 to 10 dayswait after disinfection before samplingCDC

Watch: FEMA CDC Accessible: Water Safety After a Disaster

From the FEMA YouTube channel. The still picture is stored on this site; nothing loads from YouTube until you press play. The video's advice is the channel's own; where it differs, this page's safety steps come first.

Questions owners ask

Can I drink well water after a flood if it looks clear?
No. Clear water can still carry bacteria. Wait for a lab result.
Who tests well water in NJ?
State-certified laboratories. The local health department can point you to one.
Is boiling enough?
For germs, until tested. Not for fuel or chemicals.

Sources for this procedure

Each source was opened and the cited figure or sentence checked on October 31, 2026. Steps marked PRO are described, not taught: they belong to a licensed plumber or the utility.