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By Brian Cronin, Director of AquaMD
(AquaMD is the water testing division of the American Water Council,
a nationally respected provider of water education & testing
services. AquaMD has teamed with Dr. Mercola to provide you both
the free home water evaluation and the Dr. Mercola water testing
packages at http://www.aquamd.com/mercola/labtests.cfm.)
Just over the past six weeks, 2004 has quickly become known as
the "Year of the Hurricane." You'd have to be living in
a cave not to have heard about all the turmoil that Charley, Francis
and Ivan have caused so far in the United States alone. With the
end of the hurricane season coming soon, let's hope all the rest
will take it easy on us.
As most of us have seen on the news -- and some of us have experienced
first hand -- hurricanes can devastate property and the surrounding
environment. But what you don't see on CNN or the Weather Channel
is the impact a powerful storm can have on water supplies in hard-hit
areas.
When accompanied by flooding or tidal surges, hurricanes can contaminate
a town's water supply. As we know consuming contaminated water can
cause serious illness, so you should never assume that the water
in the hurricane-impacted area is safe to drink.
Another thing to consider is that in areas affected by a hurricane,
even the water treatment facilities may not be operating properly.
Moreover, the chemicals used to treat everyday water quality may
be completely inadequate to handle a drastic increase in contamination.
And, even if the water companies are prepared, flooding, tidal surges,
storm damage and the resulting debris can contaminate water mains
and service lines.
One more obvious hazard: Overflowing sewage systems, which can
result in dangerous levels of bacteriological pollution. When in
doubt, keep an ear out for public announcements about the safety
of the municipal water supply.
For people connected to private wells in areas affected by hurricanes,
the scenario is even more urgent. No matter how deep your well is
assume the water is no longer safe to drink. Even if your well has
not been flooded, another nearby well that taps into the very same
aquifer may have been impacted.
After The Storm Blows Over
Once the storm passes and the floodwaters begin to recede, folks
in the hard-hit areas begin to return home. Meanwhile, the high
winds and torrential rains from a hurricane have washed pollution
and contaminants off the surface and into surrounding lakes, streams
and reservoirs. From there, contaminated water will make its way
down into the underground aquifers from the surface supplies, where
it will affect private wells in the area.
What can you do to safeguard your family?
Make sure you have plenty of bottled water on hand, or at the very
least boil your water for at least two minutes prior to drinking
it. Although bathing in contaminated water is not ideal, drinking
or preparing food with it is out of the question. Don't forget overflowing
sewers and septic systems are also a common and dangerous bacterial
threat to the surrounding environment and drinking water.
Time To Test
When the water level finally returns to normal, that's the best
time to assess the impact to your water quality. Remember, even
in something like a hurricane, you will not be able to detect many
harmful contaminants. That's why you should always use a certified
lab to provide the most accurate analysis of your water quality.
In fact, wherever you go, make sure the lab you use conducts certified
testing.
Once water quality problems are identified, you can take appropriate
action. Private well disinfection, boiling water, filtration and
other forms of treatment can all be useful solutions for improving
water quality. The key is to identify the problems upfront.
When in doubt, never assume your water is safe to drink. (For more
information, visit the CDC's
website.)
Be smart, take precautions and protect your family.
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