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High Water at Home

A book about house water in flood country

High Water at Home

Wells, drains, septic tanks, water heaters and pipes before, during and after high water on the lower Colorado River: Wharton, El Campo, East Bernard, Boling, Louise and the rice country between.

A publication, not a plumber. It takes no calls, books no work and has no connection to any Wharton County plumbing firm.

Find your chapter by how high the water came

The high-water ruler A drawing, not to scale: a measuring ruler standing beside a one-story slab house and a raised house. Marks run from the ground up: ground, 6 inches, the floor of the slab house, outlet height and panel height. Part I covers water in the yard, Part II water at the floor, Part III water above the outlets; an arrow below the ground marks Part IV, after the water goes down. Part III: Water above the outletsIIIPart II: Water at the floorIIPart I: Water in the yardIground6 inflooroutletspanelPart IV: After the water goes downIV
Figure 0.1 The high-water ruler. A drawing, not to scale; outlet and panel heights vary from house to house. Tap a band to open its part.

  1. IWater in the yardGround to 6 inches

    1. 1How high water reaches a house
    2. 2Reading the flood map for your lot
    3. 3The Wharton flood-protection project
    4. 4Storing water before a storm
    5. 5Generators, well pumps and the transfer switch
    6. 6The wellhead before a storm
    7. 7Septic systems when the ground is soaked
    8. 8Boil-water notices in Wharton County

  2. IIWater at the floor6 inches to the floor

    1. 9Why drains back up when the streets flood
    2. 10Backwater valves and cleanouts
    3. 11Slab houses when water reaches the floor
    4. 12Raised and pier-and-beam houses
    5. 13Shutting off water, power and gas as water comes
    6. 14Floodwater in the house: what it carries

  3. IIIWater above the outletsOutlets to the panel

    1. 15Power stays off: outlets, panels and pumps
    2. 16Water heaters that went under water
    3. 17Gas lines and propane tanks after a flood
    4. 18Well pumps and pressure tanks after a flood
    5. 19Softeners, filters and treatment units after a flood

  4. IVAfter the water goes downFalling water

    1. 20Is the tap water safe after a flood?
    2. 21Disinfecting a flooded well
    3. 22Testing well water after a flood
    4. 23A flooded septic system: what not to do
    5. 24Cleaning sinks, tubs, toilets and drains
    6. 25Flood insurance and plumbing damage
    7. 26Hiring a licensed plumber after a flood
    8. 27Who fixes which pipe

  5. VBetween floodsDry ground

    1. 28Hard water and iron in Gulf Coast groundwater
    2. 29Gulf Coast heat on attic water heaters and pipes
    3. 30What the February 2021 freeze did to Gulf Coast pipes
    4. 31Slab leaks on Gulf Coast clay
A Wharton street under brown floodwater, with houses and live oaks standing in the water on both sides
Figure 0.2 Floodwater filled the streets of a Wharton neighborhood in April 2016.

How to read this book

Each part of the book matches a height of water on the ruler, from water in the yard to water above the outlets, then the work after it goes down, then the chapters for dry years. Every chapter opens with the answer, numbers its sections, and ends with the questions people ask, what the chapter rests on and notes linking each agency page it uses.

Start at chapter 1 or jump in by what is happening:

Contents

Part I · Water in the yard

  1. 1How high water reaches a houseWhere does flood water come from here, and how high can it get at my house?
  2. 2Reading the flood map for your lotHow do I find out what flood zone my house is in, and what it means?
  3. 3The Wharton flood-protection projectWill the new levee keep my house from flooding, and when will it be done?
  4. 4Storing water before a stormHow much water should we store before a hurricane, and how do we keep it safe?
  5. 5Generators, well pumps and the transfer switchHow do I run my well pump on a generator without poisoning anyone or frying the line?
  6. 6The wellhead before a stormWhat should I do to my water well before a flood or hurricane?
  7. 7Septic systems when the ground is soakedWhat should I do with my septic system when the yard is flooded or waterlogged?
  8. 8Boil-water notices in Wharton CountyWhat does a boil-water notice mean for my house, and how long do I boil?

Part II · Water at the floor

  1. 9Why drains back up when the streets floodWhy does sewage come up my drains when the streets flood?
  2. 10Backwater valves and cleanoutsWill a backwater valve keep sewage out of my house in a flood?
  3. 11Slab houses when water reaches the floorWhat happens to the plumbing in my slab house when water comes inside?
  4. 12Raised and pier-and-beam housesWhat happens to the pipes under my raised house when floodwater gets under it?
  5. 13Shutting off water, power and gas as water comesShould I turn off my water, electricity and gas before floodwater gets in?
  6. 14Floodwater in the house: what it carriesIs the floodwater in my house dangerous to touch or walk through?

Part III · Water above the outlets

  1. 15Power stays off: outlets, panels and pumpsCan I turn the power back on once the floodwater is gone?
  2. 16Water heaters that went under waterMy water heater sat in floodwater; can I dry it out and use it again?
  3. 17Gas lines and propane tanks after a floodIs my gas line or propane tank safe after floodwater went through?
  4. 18Well pumps and pressure tanks after a floodCan I switch my well pump back on after the flood went over it?
  5. 19Softeners, filters and treatment units after a floodCan my water softener or whole-house filter be cleaned and used again after a flood?

Part IV · After the water goes down

  1. 20Is the tap water safe after a flood?Is it safe to drink the water from my tap now that the flood has gone down?
  2. 21Disinfecting a flooded wellHow do I get my well water safe to drink again after the flood covered it?
  3. 22Testing well water after a floodWhen and how should I test my well water after a flood, and for what?
  4. 23A flooded septic system: what not to doWhat should I do, and not do, with my septic system after a flood?
  5. 24Cleaning sinks, tubs, toilets and drainsHow do I clean my sinks, tub and toilet after floodwater got into the house?
  6. 25Flood insurance and plumbing damageWill flood insurance pay for my water heater, my pipes, my well or my septic tank?
  7. 26Hiring a licensed plumber after a floodHow do I find a real licensed plumber after the flood and avoid the storm chasers?
  8. 27Who fixes which pipeIs the broken water or sewer line the city's job or mine?

Part V · Between floods

  1. 28Hard water and iron in Gulf Coast groundwaterWhy does our well water leave scale and orange stains, and what can fix it?
  2. 29Gulf Coast heat on attic water heaters and pipesIs it safe to keep a water heater in a hot Texas attic, and what does it need?
  3. 30What the February 2021 freeze did to Gulf Coast pipesWhat happened to our pipes and water in the 2021 freeze, and how do we prepare next time?
  4. 31Slab leaks on Gulf Coast clayHow do I know if a pipe is leaking under my slab, and does the clay matter?

Back matter

  1. GlossaryWords used in this book, from base flood elevation to well cap
  2. IndexTopics A to Z with chapter numbers
  3. About this bookWho makes it, how it is checked, what it is not
  4. Stores in this bookThe four businesses linked from a few chapters
  5. Picture creditsWhere every photograph came from