Floyd: contaminated water update

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Tuesday October 5, 1999 06:53 PM

Flood Victims Wonder if their Water is 'Well'

WILSON (WRAL) -- Hundreds of people who live in eastern North Carolina rely on well water. Now that most of the flooding has dried up and people are back in their homes, many are wondering if the water is safe to drink.

There are several things you must do to get your well tested.

It is the well owner's responsibility to call the local health department. However, before that, there is a little work to be done.

David James wants to know if his well is safe even though it looks fine. There was so much flooding around his Edgecombe County street after Floyd that he wants his well water tested before he takes a drink.

"We have the water to take a bath in, but you know you never can be too safe. We're just having him out here to check the water to make sure we can go back to consuming our water," said James.

Wells can be contaminated even if they were not covered in water. Before the health department can test your well, you have to chlorinate it.

1.Pour a gallon of bleach directly into the well. If it was ever covered with flood water, pour six gallons in. 2.Go inside and turn on each spigot until you smell chlorine. Then, turn it off. 3.Let it sit 24 hours to clean the pipes. 4.Turn on an outside tap until the chlorine smell is gone. It usually takes about an hour to clear out. 5.Call the health department to come out and test the water.

"We're trying to concentrate in the flooded areas first. We realize there was a whole lot of water out there and that there are going to be areas that are not flooded, but people are going to have concerns. Treat your well, and we'll be happy to pull that sample for you," said George Whitehurst, environmental health specialist.

If you have any doubt as to whether the water in your well is safe, there are a couple of things you can do.

The safest thing is to drink bottled water until you get your water tested. You can also boil your water for three minutes, but they recommend infants and pregnant women stick with bottled water.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), October 06, 1999

Answers

The source for the preceding and the following is WRAL-TV (Raleigh).

Tuesday October 5, 1999 12:34 PM

EPA Rounds Up Chemical Tanks Swept Away by Flood

GRIFTON (WRAL) -- Hurricane Floyd's effect on the environment may be felt for years. Monday, the Environmental Protection Agency discussed its efforts to clean up hazardous materials in the flood zones.

The flood waters in eastern North Carolina showed a tremendous ability to pick up chemical tanks and move them. The EPA is working overtime to find those tanks and dispose of them.

Ollie Harris' yard looks like a landfill now that the flood waters are gone. Two propane tanks floated in from somewhere, and one is still leaking.

"It is unbelievable. I couldn't believe it. One came from the back of the church, and I don't know where the other one came from," said Harris.

Thousands of chemical containers are showing up as creeks and waterways begin to drop. There were piles of them on one street in Grifton. Some, like leaking propane containers, can be dangerous.

"You could have a flammable situation and perhaps an explosion. We're trying to get all the valves off and get the tanks to a safe staging area," said Karen Knight of the EPA.

The EPA has already collected nearly 2,000 containers statewide.

Of course, many chemicals leak directly into the water. The EPA says small amounts are not dangerous.

The EPA's primary concern is capturing large spills and containers that could cause them. Many of the containers are labeled and will soon be returned to their owners.

"We'll call the manufacturers like the LP gas suppliers and say 'We've got some cylinders. Come and get them.' That will probably remove about 90 percent of the materials we've got out here," said Knight.

The EPA will continue to find more materials as the water goes down.

If you have any doubts, you can call your local health department to find out if the water is safe.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), October 06, 1999.


'We have the water to take a bath in, but you know you never can be too safe'

Using the water for bathing could be unsafe also. Imagine how much water enters the ears, nose, mouth while washing your hair. I think some of the bacterials are easily assimilated into the body.

And then there are the chemicals that have leaked into the water. EPAs comment: 'small amounts are not dangerous' is insane; I believe we heard about mercury spills...small amounts aren't dangerous?! We always come back to the same thing...safe amounts are whatever doesn't disrupt the status quo and industrial profits.

I realize that a great many of the people who have been affected can't afford to get out...but anyone who can, should do so now, before the reports come in years later telling you why everyone is dying of increased rates of cancer.

This is an enormous disaster, but our media is not following it with any vigor. I was born in NC...but haven't been back since I was 3yr. old. Thanks for all of the ongoing reports Ole Git.

-- Shelia (Shelia@active-stream.com), October 06, 1999.


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