How to keep food and drinking water safe during floods: Health Unit

Officials say heavy rain and snow melt can compromise drinking water increasing the risk of illness.

With flooding not coming to an end any time soon, the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) wants to urge the public to stay safe when it comes to eating and drinking.

Flood water often has silt, oil, sewage and chemicals, making food and water unsafe to consume.

Water safety

The health unit explains private wells have a higher risk of contamination during floods and if a power outage happens, well pumps and any treatment devices stop working.

Look out for flood water to go over the well head, as once it does, the water is not safe to drink.

If there’s a power outage, the health unit advises flushing the lines and running water for five minutes. Then, check treatment devices like UV lights to make sure everything is running properly again.

It’s important for private well owners to test their water, according to officials, which they can do for free at many of the health unit’s offices. Until the water is deemed safe, the SMDHU recommends drinking bottled water or boiling their water for at least one minute before using it for drinking, cooking or cleaning.

The health unit reminds residents municipal water is always safe, treated and monitored on a regular basis, even during emergency situations like flooding and power outages. Residents will always be notified if there is ever a concern with water quality.

People are urged to use safe drinking water for making drinks like coffee and tea, cooking and washing produce, brushing teeth and washing hands, and using the dishwasher.

Food safety

If food touches flood water, the health unit says to throw it out. During a power outage, food can go bad in the fridge and freezer.

It’s paramount residents check their food carefully before consuming, according to the SMDHU.

If perishable items like meat, poultry, dairy, fish and eggs are stored at a temperature above 4 degrees Celsius for more than two hours, bacteria can grow quickly and they should be tossed.

It’s best to transport food to a freezer where it can be frozen for up to 48 hours without power in a full chest freezer and for roughly 24 hours in a half-full freezer.

If food has thawed, officials recommend throwing it out.

The health unit says when in doubt, throw it out.