Is Your Water Safe After a Storm or Water Main Break?

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'Is it safe to drink my water now?'

New Jersey was recently hit by the most ferocious storms we've ever experienced on August 27, 2011.

Many homeowners and business owners lost power for extended periods of time, some still experiencing outages today. Homes were destroyed, material possessions lost, and lives shattered. Many of our clients asked

'Is my water safe?'

Stop and think about it...we take clean water for granted. We automatically assume that when we walk to the kitchen, bathroom or laundry room, we'll turn on the faucet and voila! clean water.

Today I'd like to concentrate on the water you drink , use to clean your laundry, and bathe in, since so many nearby towns were told not to drink the water, but rather to boil it first. Signs in local hospitals sported warnings of the same - Don't drink the water! A boom surely to water bottling companies, but that's a whole other issue.

Here are a few steps to take after your water is restored following a water main break or a period of water loss.

• Open all of your cold water faucets and let the water run for several minutes. This will flush out the water which may have been compromised when your local water department was working on repairing the water mains.
• Run a few empty cycles with your washing machine and dishwasher.
• Personally, I'd run at least 2 cycles with water only and finally a 3rd with laundry detergent, but no clothes, and same for your dishwasher -  2 empty loads, water only, then a 3rd with dishwasher detergent.
• Open your hot water faucets and let them run unil the water tejperature is cold. This will empty your water heater. Wait an hour and repeat this process. Sediment may have built up on the bottom of your water heater. You may consider calling a plumbing professional to drain your water heater. 
• If you have filters on your drinking water under the kitchen sink or on the ice maker line to your freezer, and/or a whole house water filter it would be wise to change the filter.
• Now may be the time to consider a water filtration system
• If you have older faucetry some dirt may be lodged in the aerator of the faucet spout.
• You can easily remove the aerator and clean the screen.
• If you're concerned about doing this, or are unable to do so, Contact Us in Northern NJ for service. 

Remember...your local plumbing professional has taken the responsibility to provide sanitary conditions for clients.

Questions? Contact Us, If we can answer easily, we're happy to do so.

Stay Safe!

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