When Florida experiences a hurricane or tropical storm, the high winds and intense flooding don’t only threaten your home’s structure — they often compromise your drinking water’s safety.

Heavy rains and tidal surges can overwhelm water treatment plants and flood wells, leading to contamination. Water lines can be tainted with bacteria, chemicals, or other harmful substances, making the water unsafe to drink.

Signs of poor water quality include discoloration, an unusual taste, or a strong odor. Homeowners know of these dangers and have their water tested after a storm. A professional plumber can help ensure your home’s water supply is safe, protecting your family’s health once the skies clear.

How Do Hurricanes Affect Your Water Quality?

Hurricanes can significantly impact your home’s water quality by disrupting the systems that keep it safe. Strong winds and intense flooding can overwhelm water treatment facilities and damage water lines.

Contaminants like bacteria, chemicals, and debris can enter the water supply, making it unsafe to drink. Floodwaters can also seep into private wells, introducing harmful pollutants. Even if water treatment plants remain operational, they can struggle to maintain normal standards, especially if their equipment or facilities have been damaged or compromised.

After a storm, you should avoid drinking or cooking with tap water until it’s been tested, disinfected, and deemed safe. Homeowners who rely on well water should remember that while chlorine bleach is effective against microorganisms, it does not remove chemical contamination. Your county health department will test the water to ensure it meets safety standards for consumption.

DIY Tips To Ensure You Have Clean Drinking Water

Local authorities and communities often distribute bottled water and advisories and provide water testing after a hurricane or tropical storm. Homeowners can also take steps to reduce a storm’s impact on their water quality.

Buy Bottled Water

Stock up on bottled water before a hurricane hits. This is your most reliable source of clean drinking water after a severe storm.

Remember, bottled water is a valuable resource, so use it wisely! You should reserve bottled water for:

• Brushing your teeth
• Drinking
• Cooking

Store Tap Water

Before a storm, fill clean bathtubs, large pots, and food-grade containers with tap water. Add a few drops of bleach to prevent bacterial growth and cover the containers tightly to prevent debris from contaminating the water.

Use the stored water for non-drinking purposes like:

• Flushing toilets
• Washing hands
• Cleaning

Boil Contaminated Water

Drinking contaminated water can cause serious illnesses, including diarrhea, vomiting, and severe conditions. If you have tap water but it’s unsafe to drink, boiling is an effective purification method that kills most harmful bacteria and viruses. You need to:

• Bring water to a rolling boil for at least one minute.
• Let the water cool before drinking.
• Store boiled water in clean containers with tight lids.

Remember, you can still wash dishes and bathe normally if you use hot water.

Disinfect Contaminated Water

If you have no electricity or gas supply, you won’t be able to boil your water. In that case, you can disinfect water using household bleach:

• Buy unscented, liquid chlorine bleach that contains 5% to 9% sodium hypochlorite.
• Add eight drops of bleach to one gallon of clear water.
• Add 16 drops of bleach to one gallon of cloudy or discolored water.
• Let the water stand for 30 minutes before using.

You can also purchase chlorine dioxide or iodine tablets to kill germs. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure the correct water-to-tablet ratio.

Conserve Water After a Major Storm

An interruption in water supply can last several days after a hurricane, depending on how widespread and severe the water damage is. Homeowners should prepare for potential loss of water service by storing water ahead of the storm:

• Fill large, clean containers such as jugs, bottles, or buckets with tap water.
• Stock up on bottled water. Estimate at least one gallon per person per day.
• Fill one or more bathtubs with water for non-drinking purposes, like flushing toilets and washing.
• Collect rainwater in barrels or other containers for emergency use. Make sure the water is properly filtered before drinking it.
• Freeze water in sealed containers to keep it cold and provide fresh drinking water as it thaws.

Request Water Quality Solutions From United Air Temp

Water treatment solutions can help you manage post-storm water issues and ensure your home’s water quality is free of pollutants, bacteria, and other contaminants.

United Air Temp installs and services water filtration systems that ensure your home’s water is safe for drinking, cooking, bathing, and more.

We proudly provide Jacksonville homeowners with the peace of mind that comes from knowing their water is clean and healthy, no matter what.

Schedule water treatment services today to learn more about installing a reliable and cost-effective whole-house water filtration system in your home.