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MEDIA RELEASE <br />Date: Month, Day, Year <br />Contact: Kasey Knutson, Public Information Officer, 509-962-7515 <br />Flood Waters Can Be Harmful to Health <br />With recent flooding in Kittitas County, the Kittitas County Public Health Department (KCPHD) <br />is reminding residents that flood water is unsafe. Flood water can create risks including, <br />exposure to infectious diseases, chemical hazards, and injuries, according to the Centers for <br />Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). <br />During clean up after floods; wear rubber boots, rubber gloves, and goggles during cleaning the <br />affected area. After completing cleanup, wash all clothes worn in hot water and detergent as <br />well as washing your hands with soap and warm water. <br />If your well head was covered by flood waters, KCPHD recommends NOT consuming water <br />from the well until it has been tested and proven to be absent of bacteria. Until you receive test <br />results that show the water is free of bacteria, you should use bottled water or water that has not <br />been exposed to flood waters. If bottled water is not available, you should boil water before <br />using for drinking, preparing food, washing dishes, brushing teeth, et cetera. Boil water for at <br />least one minute and cool completely before use. <br />Water testing bottles are available at KCPHD from 9am to 5pm for pick up, Monday through <br />Friday. Water samples should be taken from your home on the same morning you intend to drop <br />the sample off at KCPHD. Drop off for samples is between 9 and 11 and the courier picks up <br />water, daily, from KCPHD at 11am. <br />Disinfection of your well is necessary if test results show bacterial contamination. For <br />instructions on disinfecting wells, please visit the Kittitas County Public Health Department's <br />website at www.co.kittitas.wa.us/health/ for a fact sheet on the disinfection of private water <br />wells. <br />For questions about boiling water, disinfecting wells, or water testing, please contact the Kittitas <br />County Public Health Department at 509-962-7515. <br />73