Response for private wells If your home gets its water from a private, individual well, then the boil water notices that are issued by public water systems do not apply to you. But this does not necessarily mean that your water is safe to drink. If your well was covered or even just surrounded by flood water, then there is a very good chance that your water is contaminated by waterborne germs. Disinfect your well (see page 16) and get the water tested (see page 17 for a list of certified labs).
Response for public water service To know for sure you need to know which public water system serves your residence. You can find this out by looking for the phone number on your water bill, or calling the local town or village. If you do not have internet service, there are some places that you can call to find out. The first place would be your drinking water supplier. Their phone number is normally printed on your water bills. You can also call the local health department office that oversees your drinking water supplier. You can find local health department information at http://www.nyhealth.gov/environmental/water/drinking/doh_pub_contacts_map.htm