How do I contact the AppHealthCare Environmental Health Department?
You can email us at eh@apphealth.com or call (828) 795-1970.
What do I do if my private well/spring was damaged from Hurricane Helene?
If your well was damaged from Hurricane Helene, repairs need to be made before you can disinfect and test your well for potential contamination. Please reach out to a Certified Well Contractor for assistance or contact us for a list of certified well contractors. Also, remember to complete the Septic or Well Repair Application for Hurricane Helene Damages Form to document your well repair needs. View this video to learn how to assess your well for damage.
What do I do if my well/spring was impacted by excessive rainfall or flooding?
If your private well/spring was impacted by excessive rainfall or was flooded, you should first assess your well/spring for damage. Follow these steps in order:
- If there is damage, repairs should be made before doing anything else. Contact a North Carolina Certified Well Contractor to provide repairs. Also, to document your repair needs, complete the AppHealthCare Well/Septic Repair Application.
- If there is no damage, you should properly disinfect your well/spring using these step-by-step instructions before testing. Watch “how to” videos for step-by-step instructions to disinfect with liquid bleach or Calcium Hypochlorite.
- Once your well/spring has been repaired (if needed) and disinfected, your well/spring can be tested.
If you need assistance with disinfection and/or testing, contact the AppHealthCare Environmental Health team at eh@apphealth.com or call (828) 795-1970.
How do I get a disinfection kit for my private well/spring?
To obtain a “do-it-yourself” disinfection kit at no cost to you, please come by our Environmental Health Offices during operating hours. If you need assistance with disinfection, please complete this form, or call us at (828) 795-1970 or email eh@apphealth.com.
How do I test my private well/spring?
Once your well/spring has been repaired (if needed) and disinfected (if flooded), your well/spring can be tested. To obtain a test kit at no cost to you, please come by our Environmental Health Offices during operating hours. Water sampling should occur in the morning no earlier than 5:00am with the sample needing to be dropped off at one of the AppHealthCare Environmental Health Offices the same day by the following times – 10:00am for Watauga, 10:30am for Ashe and 11:00am for Alleghany. This timing is important to ensure the samples can be delivered to the NC State Laboratory for Public Health within the required timeframe to be tested.
How long does it take to find out my results from private well/spring sampling?
If you have tested your private well/spring and have been in contact with AppHealthCare to coordinate the testing process, results should be returned in 2-3 days depending on the capacity of the testing lab.
How will I be notified of my private well/spring test results?
If you have tested your private well/spring and have been in contact with AppHealthCare to coordinate the testing process, an AppHealthCare staff member will reach out to you directly. The test results will be sent to AppHealthCare from the testing lab. If it’s been 2-3 days since you turned in your testing sample and you haven’t been notified of your results, please contact us at eh@apphealth.com or (828) 795-1970.
My well was not impacted by the Hurricane, but I’m concerned and would like to test my well/spring.
If your well or spring did not flood but you are concerned about bacterial contamination, you can pick up a test kit from one of the AppHealthCare locations Monday through Friday 8am-4:45pm. The test kits from AppHealthCare will only test for bacterial contamination.
AppHealthCare locations with test kits:
- Watauga Environmental Health Office, 126 Poplar Grove Connector in Boone (second floor)
- Ashe Environmental Health Office: 626 Ashe Central School Road in Jefferson
- Alleghany Environmental Health Office: 157 Health Services Road in Sparta
I obtained a well/spring test kit (not from AppHealthCare) to test for things other than bacterial contamination (nitrates, nitrites, inorganics, etc.) and have received my results. Who could help me interpret the results?
If you have received test results from a test kit purchased from somewhere other than AppHealthCare, you can contact the NC Occupational & Environmental Epidemiology Branch (NC OEEB) at (919) 707-5900 to assist with explaining your results.
I have a private well and the water sample results were present (positive) for total coliform. What do I do now?
If you have not already disinfected your well, it is recommended to have your well disinfected & retested. AppHealthCare can assist with disinfection by calling (828) 795-1970 or filling out this form. Bottled or boiled water should be used for all drinking water, ice, food preparation and oral hygiene until the sample results show no bacteria.
If you have already disinfected your well, you may attempt to disinfect & retest once more. If results are still showing bacteria, then please consult with a well contractor about what repair may be needed. You will also need to submit a well repair application to AppHealthCare if the contractor determines that a packer or liner is needed in the well. Until the well has been repaired, disinfected and tested showing no bacteria, bottled or boiled water should be used for all drinking water, ice, food preparation and oral hygiene.
I have a private well and the water sample results were present (positive) for total coliform and fecal coliform. What do I do now?
Fecal coliform bacteria can cause serious illness especially in children, elderly individuals or those who are immunocompromised. Take the following steps immediately to prevent illness and consult with your medical provider if anyone in your household is having any symptoms.
If you have not already disinfected your well, your well must be disinfected & retested as soon as possible. AppHealthCare can assist with disinfection by calling (828) 795-1970 or filling out this form. Bottled or boiled water must be used for all drinking water, ice, food preparation and oral hygiene until the sample results show no bacteria. Water should only be used for showering or bathing if water is not swallowed; thus, it is not recommended that children bathe in the contaminated water unless they are closely monitored.
If you have already disinfected your well, you may attempt to disinfect & retest once more. If results are still showing bacteria, please consult with a well contractor about what repair may be needed. You will also need to submit a well repair application if the contractor determines that a packer or liner is needed in the well. Until the well has been repaired, disinfected and tested showing no bacteria, use bottled or boiled water for all drinking water, ice food preparation and oral hygiene. Water should only be used for showering or bathing if water is not swallowed; thus, it is not recommended that children bathe in the contaminated water unless they are closely monitored.
Private Spring Test Results
I have a private spring and the water sample was present (positive) for total coliform. What do I do now?
Please reach out to us for technical assistance and further guidance for springs that are positive for total coliform.
I have a spring and the water sample results were present (positive) for total coliform and fecal coliform. What do I do now?
Fecal coliform bacteria can cause serious illness especially in children, elderly individuals or those who are immunocompromised. Take the following steps immediately to prevent illness and consult with your medical provider if anyone in your household is having any symptoms.
If you have not already disinfected your spring and you have a spring box, your spring must be disinfected & retested as soon as possible. AppHealthCare can assist with disinfection by calling (828) 795-1970 or filling out this form. Bottled or boiled water must be used for all drinking water, ice, food preparation and oral hygiene until the sample results show no bacteria. Water should only be used for showering or bathing if water is not swallowed; thus, it is not recommended that children bathe in the contaminated water unless they are closely monitored.
If you have already disinfected your spring, you may want to consider drilling a well. Until you have a safe source of water, use bottled or boiled water for all drinking water, ice food preparation and oral hygiene. Water should only be used for showering or bathing if water is not swallowed; thus, it is not recommended that children bathe in the contaminated water unless they are closely monitored.