Spring storms and heavy runoff can reach Troy and the rural parts of Lincoln County quickly. A private well in a low spot or near a creek can take on floodwater at the wellhead, and the pump, wiring, and pressure tank can get wet along with it. If your home relies on a private well and the ground around it has been underwater or soaked, the first job is to slow down. Running the pump, filling a tub, or drinking from the tap before you have checked the system can push unknown water through your plumbing.
Start with the power and the pump
If water rose over the well cap or reached the equipment area, treat the electrical side as the first concern. Turn off power to the pump at the breaker before you touch any wiring. If the breaker panel or the pump control box is wet, leave it alone and call a licensed electrician or a qualified pump service provider. Do not open the well cap while you are standing in water, and do not reach into a flooded pit or pump house.
Look at the well and its surroundings
- Check that the well cap and vent are still in place and seated. A cracked cap or a missing vent screen lets surface water and debris into the well.
- Look for silt, mud, leaves, or debris around the casing and inside the cap.
- Note any sign that the ground has shifted or that the casing sits lower than it did before.
- Check the pressure tank, valves, and any exposed pipe for water damage, rust, or standing water.
Hold off on running water
Keep the taps closed until you have checked the system. Once the pump is confirmed dry and the power is restored safely, run an outdoor hose bib briefly to clear air and loose sediment. Do not start with the kitchen tap. Watch the water as it runs. Cloudiness and grit mean sediment is still moving through the lines. A new odor, especially one that was not there before the flood, deserves attention and should be part of your lab request.
Plan a lab sample
Home test strips can show a few common readings, but they do not tell you whether bacteria are present. After a flood, a certified laboratory sample is the reliable way to learn what is in the water. Ask the lab which tests fit your situation. A standard bacteria test, usually called a coliform test, is the usual starting point. Nitrates matter in shallow wells, especially in areas with farm fields nearby. The same deep-bedrock radium that shows up in city water is something well owners almost never test for, so ask about it while the sample is already on its way to the lab. Collect the sample using the lab's instructions, and label it with the date and the location of the tap you used.
If bacteria show up
If the lab result shows coliform or E. coli bacteria, the usual step is to disinfect the well and the plumbing, then retest. Disinfection is work for a qualified well contractor or a homeowner who follows a clear, written procedure from a trusted source. It should always be followed by another sample before the water is used for drinking or cooking. Do not assume the water is safe just because it looks clear, since bacteria and many dissolved substances cannot be seen or smelled.
What to tell a service provider
- When the flood happened, how long the water stayed high, and how high it reached.
- Whether the well cap or the equipment area was under water.
- Any change in taste, smell, or color since the flood.
- Your last lab results and the date of your most recent test.
- Whether the pump has been running normally since the water receded.
Keep records and retest on a schedule
Write down what you saw, the dates, the steps you took, and the results of every test. These notes are useful to a service provider, and they help if you later sell the home or need documentation for a loan or insurance claim. After any flood, plan a retest, and test again if the water changes in color, clarity, taste, or smell. This guide is a starting point for homeowners in Troy, and it does not replace an on-site inspection or a laboratory test. Each well is different, and your well's depth, construction, and location all shape what you should check first.