Thousands of wells in western NC may be contaminated after Hurricane Helene

Months after Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc across western North Carolina, thousands of private wells may still be contaminated, leaving families unsure if their drinking water is safe.

Floodwaters from the storm damaged homes, displaced residents and potentially tainted water supplies with harmful bacteria like E. coli.

State and local health officials are offering free water testing kits through county health departments, but so far, fewer than half of the distributed kits have been used. According to Virginia Guidry, Branch Head of the Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch at the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), more than 6,300 kits have been made available, and approximately 2,200 samples have been tested at the state lab.

Many results show the presence of coliform bacteria, including E. coli, which can cause gastrointestinal illnesses, particularly in vulnerable populations like children and older adults.

“Even if the water looks clear and smells fine, the only way to ensure it’s safe is to test it,” Guidry said. “Contamination from flooding can’t always be seen or smelled, but it can still make people sick.”

Guidry emphasized the importance of following proper steps to disinfect wells and encouraged residents to work with local health departments to access resources.

“There are videos and guides to help people with the testing and disinfection process, and the free kits are still available for anyone who needs them,” she said.

Melinda Williams, a Banner Elk resident who lost her home to the storm, is among those facing uncertainty about her well’s safety.

Her property’s well is 200 feet deep and has always provided clean water, but after Helene’s historic flooding, she’s not taking any chances.

“The water was clear, it didn’t smell bad, but bacteria can be microscopic, and you can’t see it,” Williams said.

Williams plans to rebuild on the property for her son but knows the well must be tested and treated before it’s safe to use.

Williams, like many others, admits she’s unsure where to start.

“I personally have no clue how to even begin to do that,” she said.

What to do if your well was flooded:

Officials recommend the following steps for residents with wells affected by flooding:

1. Get a Free Testing Kit: Visit your local health department to pick up a testing kit.

2. Disinfect Your Well: Follow instructions for shock chlorination to treat the water.

3. Test the Water: Submit the sample for testing before using it for drinking or cooking.

Guidry said that many residents are still focused on rebuilding their lives and may not realize their water could be unsafe. “People might think everything is fine now that the floodwaters are gone, but contamination can linger,” she said.

Williams expressed concern about the risks of inaction.

“It’s kind of scary that there are people not testing their wells,” Williams said. “You have to make sure your water is safe—it’s not something you can ignore.”

State officials and local organizations, such as MountainTrue, continue to raise awareness and provide support. For more information or to get a free testing kit, contact your local health department.

For families like Williams’, safe water is a step toward recovery.

“We can’t stop living and waiting,” she said. “We just have to figure out how to move forward.”

Here are locations to pick up free well water tests:

• AppHealthCare – Alleghany location: 157 Health Services Road, Sparta, NC 28675
• AppHealthCare – Ashe Environmental Health Building: 626 Ashe Central School Road, Jefferson, NC 28640
• AppHealthCare – Watauga location: 126 Poplar Grove Connector, Boone, NC 28607
• Burke County Health Department: 700 E. Parker Road, Morganton, NC 28655
• Buncombe County Health Department – Environmental Health Building: 30 Valley St., Asheville, NC 28801
• Caldwell County Health Department: 2345 Morganton Blvd., Lenoir, NC, 28645
• Cherokee County Health Department: 228 Hilton St., Murphy, NC 28906
• Haywood County Environmental Health: 157 Paragon Parkway, Suite 200, Clyde, NC 28721
• Henderson County Health Department: 1200 Spartanburg Highway, Suite 100, Hendersonville NC 28792
• Madison – Environmental Health Building: 5707 US-25, Marshall, NC 28753
• Toe River Health District – Mitchell location: 130 Forest Service Drive, Bakersville, NC 28705
• Toe River Health District – Avery location: 545 Schultz Circle, Newland, NC 28657
• Yancey County Health Department: 202 Medical Campus Drive, Burnsville, NC 28714
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