Whether you live in an area that's prone to severe weather, heavy rains, and flooding or you are experiencing the changing climate effects that increase severe weather in many areas, you need to understand the risks that weather poses to your well system. Severe weather that causes flooding or heavy rain can introduce all sorts of bacteria, chemicals, and sediment to your well from runoff. Proper maintenance steps before and after severe storms can help you protect the integrity of the system.
Start With an Initial Inspection
Talk with a local well service and maintenance contractor about a site maintenance inspection. This inspection assesses your well's specific needs based on its location, including the ground level, flood risk, and potential for contamination. Use the results of the inspection to identify your most significant vulnerabilities and prioritize them.
Install an Elevated Well Cap
Your well cap can create a vulnerable point if it sits too low and does not seal properly. Talk with your well system maintenance technician about upgrading your well cap to an elevated model with a quality seal. This reduces the risk that the water level will reach the cap, and provides an added barrier against leaking if it does.
Consider Adding a Sump Pump
Sump pumps help divert excess water from any area. Create a drainage structure that encourages water runoff from around your well to another area fitted with a sump pump to direct that water further away from the well and your home. This helps you minimize groundwater contamination and seeping into your well.
Ask About Electrical Waterproofing
Your well depends on some electrical components to properly function, including the pump box. Enclose those components in a waterproof structure to ensure protection from short circuits, malfunctions, and water damage during severe weather. These enclosures also help reduce the risk of long-term weathering to the components, which prolongs their usable life.
Establish a Response Plan
Part of your maintenance process in the event of severe weather is responding when your well is threatened. Talk with your well maintenance technician about the proper response, including any shutdown intervention if water breaches the well cap. Shutting the system down reduces the risk of contaminated water in your home's pipe infrastructure.
Schedule Post-Storm Maintenance
After the storm passes, you should plan on a maintenance visit or talk with your well maintenance technician about the testing and assessment steps to ensure that your well's integrity is secure and your water is safe to turn back on. Proper testing helps you identify contaminants so you can treat the well water to protect your family if runoff did breach the tank.
For more information, contact a well water system professional near you.