As Humboldt County experiences localized flooding, the Humboldt County Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS), Public Health Branch’s Division of Environmental Health (DEH) is sharing general clean-up guidance tips for homeowners reliant on individual water supplies and Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS).
Families reliant upon private, individual water systems that have been impacted by floodwaters should not consume the water until the water system has been evaluated for defects and tested to confirm that the water meets safety drinking water standards. As a temporary measure, bottled water may be used for drinking and cooking.
Please refer to DEH’s website: https://humboldtgov.org/DocumentCenter/View/87444/Rainstorm-Flooding-Health-Advisory-and-Clean-up-Guidance-PDF for specific guidance dealing with health hazards related to flooding, including well disinfection methods.
Individuals with households or businesses served by non-standard OWTS or pumping systems are advised to conserve potable water supplies by reducing use to all but essential needs such as drinking, cooking, handwashing and flushing toilets.
Homes in low-lying areas may experience sluggish plumbing or back-up of sewage systems. Time, drier weather and measures to alleviate flooding may improve the operating conditions of your system. Components of any OWTS, including the septic tank, pumping chamber and disposal area, should be inspected as they become exposed. Please report continued poor operation or failure of the system to the Division of Environmental Health.
Contact with floodwater should be avoided wherever possible as it may contain diluted untreated sewage and other contaminates. Several municipalities and services districts have recently reported sewage overflows as a result of stormwater exceeding the capacity of their facilities. Washing hands with warm, soapy water after removing wet clothing and shoes will help eliminate concerns with communicable diseases.
Please contact DEH at 707-445-6215 or 1-800-963-9241 for more information.
###
Follow us on
Facebook: facebook.com/HumCoDHHS
Instagram: instagram.com/HumCoDHHS
X: X.com/HumCoDHHS