WQA Suggests Drinking Water Precautions for Hurricane Matthew

The Water Quality Assn. (WQA) offered additional drinking water precautions for residents in areas affected by Hurricane Matthew.

Five things to know: 

1. WQA recommends residents affected by Hurricane Matthew use bottled water for drinking and cooking until they know for sure that their tap water is safe. The safety of a home’s water supply, private or municipal, may be affected by power outages.
2. Well owners affected by the storm are encouraged to test their systems and seek appropriate remedies as soon as possible. During and after flooding, water can become contaminated with microorganisms, such as bacteria, sewage, heating oil, agricultural or industrial waste, chemicals and other substances, that can cause serious illness.
3. Be alert for local boil water orders. Flooding can cause disruptions with a municipal water source, prompting officials to issue boil water orders in many communities. A WQA guide to boil water order notices can be found here.
4. Existing water treatment equipment should be inspected for possible contamination.
5. Residents should consider protecting their tap water either with a whole house system or at the tap treatment with a certified water treatment product, depending upon the results of a water test. To have your water tested, contact a water treatment professional or state certified lab.

WQA offers training and certification for professionals who can conduct testing and recommend appropriate remedies for specific contamination issues. WQA tests products for effectiveness, offering Gold Seal certification to those that meet independently established standards. To find a local water treatment professional or certified professional who can help choose the most effective products, visit wqa.org.

Source: Water Quality Assn.