{"id":9887,"date":"2025-03-01T14:01:24","date_gmt":"2025-03-01T19:01:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/i-floodrecovery\/"},"modified":"2025-03-02T00:39:17","modified_gmt":"2025-03-02T05:39:17","slug":"i-floodrecovery","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/hsp\/i-floodrecovery\/","title":{"rendered":"hsp\/i-floodrecovery ~  Drinking Water and Wastewater: Flood Recovery  &#8211; Delaware Health and Social Services &#8211; State of Delaware"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-swiftype-index=\"true\">\n\n\n\n  <br>\n\n  \n\n\n\n  \n\n  <div class=\"container\" id=\"main_header\">\n\n    \n\n\n\n <!-- BEGIN readspeaker div -->\n\n    <div class=\"rs_skip rsbtn rs_preserve\" id=\"readspeaker_button1\">\n\n      <a accesskey=\"L\" class=\"rsbtn_play\" href=\"https:\/\/app-na.readspeaker.com\/cgi-bin\/rsent?customerid=7262&#038;lang=en_us&#038;readid=main_content&#038;url=https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/hsp\/i-floodrecovery.html\" title=\"Listen to this page using ReadSpeaker\">\n\n        <span class=\"rsbtn_left rsimg rspart\"><span class=\"rsbtn_text\"><span>Listen<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n\n        <span class=\"rsbtn_right rsimg rsplay rspart\"><\/span>\n\n      <\/a>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n    <!-- END readspeaker div -->\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n\n    <header class=\"pull-left\">\n\n      <h1><!--[type=EDIT name=\"Page Title\"]-->INFORMATION SHEET<!--[END]--><\/h1>\n\n    <\/header>\n\n    \n\n  <\/div><br>\n\n \n\n  <div class=\"container\">\n\n    <div class=\"row\">\n\n      <div class=\"col-md-3\" id=\"leftCol\">\n\n        <div class=\"panel-group\" id=\"accordion\">\n\n          <div class=\"panel sectionmenu_panel\">\n\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\">\n\n              <p class=\"panel-title\"><a class=\"agency_nav\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapseOne\"><strong><i class=\"fa fa-align-justify fa-fw\"><\/i> Public Health Menu<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n\n\n            <div class=\"panel-collapse collapse in\" id=\"collapseOne\">\n\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" id=\"clf_nav\">\n\n                  <ul class=\"nav nav-stacked nav-pills-clf\" id=\"agency_sidebar\">\n    <li><a href=\"\/dph\/\"><h2>Home <i class=\"fa fa-home fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a><\/li>\n    <li class=\"toplevel\"><a data-parent=\"#agency_sidebar\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#HomeMenu\"><h2>About <i class=\"fa fa-caret-right fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n      <ul class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"HomeMenu\">\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/about.html\">About DPH<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/sections.html\">Sections &#038; 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HSP is listening?\" class=\"floatright\" height=\"100\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/dph\/img\/hspsurveybutton.png\"><\/a>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"center\">FLOOD RECOVERY:<br>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n DRINKING WATER\u00a0AND WASTEWATER<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<h3>What is the problem?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Disruption of drinking water supplies or flooding that covers plumbing fixtures can lead to back-siphonage\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nof dirty water into home plumbing and into the home or building. Contamination of buildings can occur\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nwhen sewage or septic systems back up in homes and businesses. When flood waters rise and contact sewage\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nin buildings, the flood waters become contaminated and can travel to other structures, spreading the contamination.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis type of contaminated water is commonly referred to as brown or black water. It is assumed that all\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nflood waters are brown or black water and are contaminated with disease-causing organisms. Materials contaminated\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nwith brown or black water present an acute health risk if not properly cleaned and remediated. Disease\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nmay be caused by viruses, bacteria, protozoans and worms, either in the flood water or deposited on materials\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nthat have been contacted by flood waters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<h3>What are the hazards and what can they do?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<li class=\"dblspace\"><em>Exposure &#038; Health:<\/em> Human waste contains many organisms that have the\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\npotential to cause disease. These organisms reside in the digestive tract and intestines of people, sometimes\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\ncausing no adverse health effects to the person carrying the organism in their body. These people are\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nreferred to as \u201ccarriers\u201d of the disease. Human carriers exist for all types of diseases.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIn any given population where certain diseases are prominent, a proportion of individuals will excrete\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nthe disease-causing organisms, or pathogens, in their feces.<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<li class=\"dblspace\"><em>Viruses:<\/em> Viruses are parasites that reproduce only within the cells of another\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\norganism. Hepatitis A is an example of a virus which is commonly found in wastewater. Hepatitis A causes\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nliver disease. Signs and symptoms of hepatitis include loss of appetite, fatigue, nausea, pain and yellow\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\njaundice. Other viruses present in wastewater may attack the central nervous system, skin or the heart.<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<li class=\"dblspace\"><em>Bacteria:<\/em> Bacteria are a normal part of the digestive system and assist\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nin the digestion of food. Escherichia coli is a common organism used to monitor for fecal contamination\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nof water supplies. Other bacteria have the potential to cause intestinal infections such as gastroenteritis\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n(stomach upset) and dysentery (diarrhea). The most common symptom of a bacterial infection of the intestines\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nis diarrhea.<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<li class=\"dblspace\"><em>Protozoans:<\/em> Intestinal parasites that are protozoans exist as one-celled\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\norganisms or as a cyst, a hard, protective covering. There are two common protozoan intestinal parasites\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nof particular concern, both of which are transmitted in cyst form through food, water or other items that\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nare contaminated with feces and ingested or placed into the mouth. Both forms cause symptoms including\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\ndiarrhea lasting one week or more accompanied by abdominal cramps, bloating, flatulence, fatigue and weight\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nloss. There is a one- to two-week incubation prior to the onset of symptoms. Immunosupressed people may\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nbe at risk of life-threatening dehydration from serious diarrhea. Children are also at increased risk\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nof dehydration from severe diarrhea. These organisms are commonly found in day care centers where mouthing\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nof objects occurs by diapered children.<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<li class=\"dblspace\"><em>Worms:<\/em> Helminths are parasitic worms that generally do not reproduce in\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nthe human body. The number of worms infecting a person is usually restricted to the actual number of eggs\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\ningested. The severity of symptoms is also related to the number of worms, with heavy infection having\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nsymptoms of anemia, digestive disorders, abdominal pain and debility. Worm eggs are passed in the feces\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nand may enter the body through food, water or other items that are contaminated with feces and ingested\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nor placed into the mouth.<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<h3>Disease transmission factors:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Infection of wounds that break the skin is a more common problem associated with exposure to contaminated\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nflood waters than the occurrence of the intestinal diseases outlined above. Follow good personal hygiene\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nand seek prompt medical care for any wound on the skin that may be contaminated with flood waters, wastewater\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nor fecal matter. The most common source of Clostridium tetani, the bacteria which causes tetanus, is human\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nfeces. Infectious strains of E. coli such as antibiotic-resistant E. coli may also be present in contaminated\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nwaters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<h3>Cleanup:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Any sewage backup or contact with contaminated waters must be properly cleaned to minimize the risk\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nof disease. Floors should be cleaned with a 10% bleach solution (or other comparable commercially available\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\ndisinfectant). Contaminated carpets should be replaced or cleaned by a professional cleaning contractor.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCaution must be exercised not to mix bleach with any other household cleaners. Contaminated skin should\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nbe washed thoroughly with warm soapy water for a minimum of ten (10) minutes. It is recommended that contaminated\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nlaundry should be bagged and disposed of properly. If cleaning is attempted, these items should be washed\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nseparately in hot water with a 10% bleach solution. Some professional cleaners may be able to clean contaminated\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nclothing. Persons with weakened immune systems are at increased risk from exposure to brown or black water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>If you are served by a public water system, you should flush all water lines, including hot water lines,\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nthoroughly. Check with your water company to see if they are disinfecting the water lines. You may notice\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\na strong odor of chlorine while this is occurring. If you have a private well, call an electrician to\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nensure it is safe to turn the well pump back on. Have a licensed plumber or well driller disinfect your\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nwell, and have it tested before using the water for cooking, drinking or washing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<h3>Storm water:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Children should not be allowed to play in or around storm water collection drains or outfalls, nor\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nshould they be allowed to swim or play in water of questionable origin. In some locations, during periods\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nof heavy rain, storm water systems may become contaminated with raw sewage overflows. Additionally, storm\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nwater runoff may be contaminated with fecal matter from pets or agricultural animals which is capable\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nof transmitting many of the diseases outlined above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<hr>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"xsmalltext\">References:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<li class=\"xsmalltext\">Hammer, M.J. and M.J. Hammer, Jr. Water and Wastewater Technology. Prentice Hall,\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nInc. Englewood, Cliffs 1996.<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<li class=\"xsmalltext\">Benson, A.S. (ed.). Control of Communicable Diseases Manual. American Public Health\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAssociation, 1995.<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"center\">Last Reviewed: July 12, 2004<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  <!--[END]-->\n\n  \n\n      <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n  <\/div><!-- \/container -->\n\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Listen INFORMATION SHEET Public Health Menu Home About About DPH Sections &#038; Programs Office Locations Contact Info Calendar Services A-Z Services Air &#038; Water Quality Birth, Death, &#038; Marriage Records Clinics Health Data &#038; Statistics Emergency Preparedness Health &#038; Wellness Healthy Homes Healthy Workplaces Laboratory Restaurant Inspections Screening and Testing WIC Additional Services Information A-Z [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"parent":9779,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-9887","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9887","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9887"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9887\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11082,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9887\/revisions\/11082"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9779"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9887"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}