The Florida Department of Health in Lee County (DOH-Lee) urges residents to be aware of the health risks associated with flooding. Skin contact with flood waters does not, by itself, pose a serious health risk. However, health hazards are a concern when waters are or become contaminated with bacteria or contain dangerous debris.
DOH-Lee recommends the following to prevent illness or injury from flood waters:
- Basic hygiene is critical. If you are under a boil water notice, use commercially bottled water for mixing baby formula. Wash your hands with soap and either disinfected or boiled and cooled water, especially before preparing or eating food, after toilet use, after handling a soiled diaper, after participating in flood cleanup activities, and after handling objects contaminated with flood water or sewage.
- Avoid eating for drinking anything that has been contaminated with flood waters.
- Avoid contact with flood waters, especially if you have open cuts or sores.
- If you have any open cuts or sores and come in contact with flood waters, was the area well with soap to prevent infection. If a wound develops redness, swelling or drainage, seek immediate medical attention.
- Residents who sustain lacerations and/or puncture wounds are encouraged to contact their primary health care provider to make sure they are current on their tetanus vaccine and possibly get a booster.
If on a septic system and your plumbing is functioning slowly:
- Converse water as much as possible; the less water used the less sewage the septic tank must process. Minimize use of your washing machine.
- Do not have the septic tank pumped. Exceptionally high-water tables might crush a septic tank that was pumped dry. If the fundamental problem is high ground water, pumping the tank does nothing to solve that problem.
If your well is flooded:
- Heavy rainfall may have made your well water unsafe to drink. If you are unsure about the impact of flooding on your well water, use bottled water or boil water for drinking, making ice, teeth brushing, and washing any areas of the skin that have been cut or injured.
- If your well is affected by flood waters, there may be disease-causing organisms in your water making it unsafe to drink.
- For additional questions regarding well water testing, contact DOH-Lee Environmental Public Health at 239-274-2200.
DOH-Lee is offering private well testing at no cost to residents due to Hurricane Debby through August 12, 2024. Well water should be tested when it has been near or exposed to flood waters as it may become contaminated with harmful bacteria. A well may also become contaminated if the well casing is damaged, broken down over time, or if the well is flooded. Samples may be taken to:
60 South Danley Drive, Unit 1, Fort Myers, 33907
Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
All samples must be collected using the approved sample containers which can be obtained from DOH-Lee. Different types of sample bottles are used for different analyses, and they are not interchangeable. Samples must be placed into wet ice immediately after collection and must be received by the laboratory within 24 hours of being collected.
Please note that this service from DOH-Lee is offered for private wells only. For residents using public utilities, testing is done by your local facility.
