St. Tammany Parish Residents who obtain water from their own wells, or from a neighbor’s well, must disinfect the well and the water distribution system if flood water has entered the well casing.

Take the following steps to disinfect wells:

1. Pour 1 – 2 gallons of household bleach into the well at the “Well Head”    followed by at least 15 gallons of CLEAN WATER
2. Allow the disinfectant to stand for at least 1 hour
3. Open every faucet in the system and let the water run until the smell of chlorine can be detected.  Then turn off all the faucets.
4. Keep all faucets turned off for at least 8 to 12 hours to allow the chlorine to stand.  Then turn the faucets on and run water from all faucets until the smell of chlorine is gone.

NOTE:  The longer the chlorine is in contact with the pipes, the better the disinfectant.