Bynum, NC – Here’s a community update from the Haw River Assembly about Tropical Storm Chantal flooding in our area.
PLEASE avoid contact with flood waters, there are dangerous currents and underwater debris. Always wear protection if you come into contact with mud. Mud left behind by flood waters poses serious health hazards and requires extreme caution. Residents must treat all flood-affected areas as contaminated.
Dear Haw River Assembly Community,
The Haw River has faced a significant flooding event in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Chantal. Our neighbors have suffered devastating loss of life, businesses and homes have been inundated by feet of water and rescues have been carried out at shopping centers, bridges and apartment complexes. More than 30,000 residents have been without power.
Early estimates indicate this was a one-in-one-thousand-year event. Our team will work to assess impacts, but it is still too early to know the full extent. Our priority is addressing immediate needs of our staff, families and community and our hearts go out to everyone impacted by this tragic flooding. Climate change is driving these catastrophic and devastating storms, and we will keep pushing our lawmakers and communities to act on climate change to protect against the next big storm.
Haw River Assembly will be setting up Free Well Water Testing sites on Thursday in Orange and Alamance, Friday in Chatham County AND Saturday at the Saturdays in Saxapahaw Farmers Market.
As your neighbors and fellow watershed stewards, we will do our best to provide information and mobilize our collective response during this challenging time. Stay safe out there.
Your team at Haw River Assembly,
Emily, Carolyn, Hannah, Kaitlyn, Jessica, Kim, Aidan and Anita
Haw River Assembly Free Well Water Testing
If your well was impacted by the flood waters of Tropical Storm Chantal, please come pick up a water testing kit at one of these locations/times. Thank you to these amazing folks/locations hosting us to provide this important service!
Thursday, July 10th
Alamance: Steel String Brewery at Pluck Farm
6901 NC-54, Mebane, NC 27302
1:30 – 6:00 PM
Orange: Duke Campus Farm
4934 Friends School Rd, Durham, NC 27705
1:30 – 6:00 PM
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Friday, July 11th
Chatham: Chatham County Public Library
197 Nc Hwy 87 N, Pittsboro, NC 27312
1:30 – 5:45 PM (Library closes at 6:00PM)
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Saturday, July 12th
Alamance: Saxapahaw, Saturdays in Saxapahaw Farmers Market
1711 Saxapahaw-Bethlehem Church Road Saxapahaw, NC, 27340 United States
5:00 – 8:00 PM (Parking Information HERE)
IMPORTANT Testing Instructions:
1. Come to one of our locations.
2. We will give you an E.coli testing kit. (While our supplies last!)
3. Go home; take the sample directly from your tap.
4. Bring it back to us asap.
5. Samples will be processed and results will be ready in 24 hours.
DO NOT BRING WATER FROM YOUR HOME. FIRST, YOU MUST COLLECT A KIT FROM US FIRST. (Specific procedures are required for these tests to have accurate results.)
What does “If your well was impacted.”
“Impacted” means your well may have been contaminated during the storm.
● Flooding- Storm water, runoff or flood water reached your well head/casing
● Power outages – Your well pump lost power, potentially allowing backflow or pressure changes
● Surface contamination: Debris, mud or standing water got near or into your well opening
● Structural damage – Well cap, casing or pump equipment was damaged by storm conditions
● Unusual water changes – You’ve noticed changes in taste, smell, color or clarity since the storm
● Even if your water looks and tastes normal, contamination can be invisible. E.coli and other harmful bacteria don’t always cause obvious changes to your water’s appearance or taste.
The Haw River Assembly is a 50l(c)(3) non-profit citizens’ group founded in 1982 to restore and pro3tect the Haw River and Jordan Lake.