Important information regarding COVID-19 Moderna and Pfizer bivalent booster vaccines and the Monkeypox vaccine - Click Here for More Information

Important information regarding COVID-19 Moderna and Pfizer bivalent booster vaccines and the Monkeypox vaccine - Click Here for More Information

By Florida Department of Health in Brevard County

Contact: Cynthia Leckey, EH Director brevard.ehs@flhealth.gov 321-633-2100

Viera, FL— Heavy rainfall, especially if accompanied by a tidal surge or flooding, can contaminate the water supply. Drinking contaminated water may cause illness. Residents and visitors should not assume that a water supply in a storm-affected area is safe to drink.

A storm can also affect water from public water treatment plants. Even if the treatment plants are operating, storm damage and flooding can contaminate water lines. Watch for public announcements regarding the safety of the water supply.

If your private well has been flooded, it may need to be disinfected and tested after floodwaters recede. Questions about testing should be directed to the Florida Department of Health (DOH) in Brevard County (DOH-Brevard)

Water for Drinking and Cooking

Safe sources of drinking water include commercially bottled, disinfected or both boiled and cooled water. Here are some general rules on using water for drinking and cooking:

To be safe, you can disinfect tap water using the procedures below. Do not rely on unverified methods for decontaminating water. If water is cloudy, let it settle and filter it through a clean cloth, paper towel or coffee filter. This will help the disinfection process. If you have any extra water, put it in containers that were disinfected (see information below water disinfection).

The preferred method to disinfect water is to Boil Water.

 If boiling is not possible, use Household Bleach.

It is also possible to use other Disinfection Methods.

Note: Follow the instructions on the product label as each product may have a different strength.

Containers for water should be rinsed with a bleach solution of one tablespoon of bleach per gallon of water before reusing them.

How do I disinfect my well?

It is important to disinfect both well and plumbing water with unscented household bleach to ensure that all infectious agents (germs) are killed. If you have water treatment devices, remove all membranes, cartridges and filters. Replace with new ones after the disinfection process is complete.

The Department recommends the following steps to disinfect a contaminated well:

Conversions 8 oz. = 1 cup; 16 oz. = 1 pint or 2 cups; 24 oz. = 3 cups; 32 oz. = 1 quart; 48 oz = 1.5 quarts; 64 oz. = 2 quarts; 80 oz. = 2.5 quarts; 96 oz. = 3 quarts.

Is the water safe now?

The only way to verify that water is safe to drink is to have it tested by a certified laboratory. Although chlorine bleach is effective against most microorganisms, it will not remove chemical contamination that may have gotten into your well. If chemical contamination occurs, use commercially produced bottled water until a safe water source is obtained. Contact DOH-Brevard at 321-633-2100 or www.brevardeh.com or brevard.ehs@flhealth.gov for sampling instructions to get your water tested.

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @HealthyFla. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.

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