Sanitize Private Water Supplies

Sanitize Private Water Supplies

Author: Karen Cox and Dan Lima April 4, 2024 Duration: 1:01
Extension Calling: advice for the farm, garden, and home
EducationBusinessCareersHow To

This is WVU Extension reminding you to sanitize private water supplies before drinking, washing dishes, brushing teeth, washing and preparing food, or making ice.

Floodwaters carry organisms that can lead to illness or death. Disinfect all wells, springs, cisterns, pumps and pipes exposed to flood water. Use bleach containing 5.25% available chlorine.  Mix one gallon of bleach with four gallons of water.

Remove all debris from the reservoir. Pour in 2 ½ gallons of the disinfecting solution. Start the pump and open all taps until the water from each tap has a distinct chlorine odor, then close the taps. 

Pour the other 2 ½ gallons of the solution into the reservoir and let sit closed for 12 to 24 hours. Do not use any water from the supply for at least 12 hours.

After the waiting period, pump the water supply to waste until the chlorine odor disappears. Contact your county health department to test samples before using the water.

Note: Fresh water entering the supply may be contaminated. To insure safety keep a slight taste of chlorine in the water.

Learn more at your local extension office, or online at https://extension.wvu.edu/community-business-safety/disaster-preparedness/flooding


For anyone with dirt under their nails or a curiosity about where their food comes from, Extension Calling: advice for the farm, garden, and home is a practical companion. Hosts Karen Cox and Dan Lima channel the deep, research-backed knowledge of their Extension work into conversations that feel like getting trusted advice from a neighbor who really knows their stuff. This podcast translates university-level science into actionable steps for your backyard plot, small farm, or kitchen table. Each episode is a compact, under-thirty-minute session designed to fit into a busy day, offering clarity on everything from soil health and plant selection to food preservation and sustainable practices. You'll hear straightforward explanations and thoughtful discussions that cut through the noise of gardening trends and agricultural jargon. It’s for the lifelong learner, the new homesteader, or anyone wanting to make more informed choices about their food and land. Tune in for these digestible mini-trainings that empower you to cultivate not just plants, but a deeper understanding of the entire system that feeds us.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

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