LEWIS COUNTY, Wash. -- Lewis County health officials are warning residents to be cautious around floodwater and encourage them not to drink the water.

“I’ve always heard you’re not supposed to drink water that’s been mixed with this floodwater, so we don’t,” Lewis County resident Dick Johnson said.

According to health officials, floodwater may include sewage, gasoline and possibly dead animals.

KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reporter Graham Johnson found a number of household chemicals, gasoline, and motor oil in one debris field Friday afternoon.

The health department is inviting any residents with a well to bring a sample of the water to the health department for free testing.

Health officials said the water test should be done only after homeowners have already cleaned their well systems with bleach.

“We want everyone to have water, but we don’t want them to have dirty water because then they’re going to have health problems,” Tony Barrett with the health department said.

The Lewis County Health Department will be open all weekend providing free water testing, but the samples need to be in bottles provided by the county.

FAQ: Public Health Concerns About Flooding