If you’re an owner of a privately owned water supply for example a well, it is mandatory that you ensure you test the water regularly. Long term well water safety is important and therefore it is worth it to repeat water tests regularly. Drinking water for the public is controlled by the particular area’s local authorities. They treat it by disinfecting and filtering to ensure it isn’t harmful when people consume it.
For public water, tests can be conducted several times a day. That is done to ensure the test results ensure that the quality of water is maintained, and also for public health. However, for smaller water systems, you don’t need to test as much, but you need to do it regularly. Well water safety is determined by the tests being conducted.
You should test the water from your water source to ensure the water is safe for consumption by you and your family. There are a lot of factors that can affect water quality. They include:
Geology.
According to USGS (United States Geological Survey), there are 62 aquifers that ensure people get water from the ground. USGS has categorized them into nine different geologies. There are both natural and man-made contaminants that lead to water contamination. The natural ones include manganese, arsenic, radium among others, whereas the man-made ones include nitrates and pesticides.
Land-use.
Groundwater can be adversely affected by different activities. Almost of the U.S. land base is used for agriculture both livestock and crops. The water is contaminated by fertilizers and manure. They cause high levels of harmful products like bacteria and nitrates. Agriculture also affects water supplies highly because a lot of water is needed for irritating and to feed the livestock.
Weather.
All types of weather can have an effect on your well water. Once it’s dry the water levels can go down dramatically and also the quality can be affected. When it rains a lot too and there are floods surface water can be washed into your well water and contaminate it. When the water mixes, microorganisms that cause diseases can come in. They can cause serious health effects they include cryptosporidium, E. coli among others.
You should consider a few things before testing your well water, in order to proceed with water treatment. These guidelines will help with maintaining well water safety for long-term purposes. For private well owners, if you want to make your well much deeper, or drill a new one, test for the following:
- Manganese.
- Sodium.
- Nitrites/Nitrates.
- Bacteria.
- Hardness.
- pH, turbidity, color.
- Chloride.
- Sulfate.
Guidelines on water testing.
- Consult local health departments in order to find out the heavy metals that occur naturally in your area. You should also follow the protocols in your area by repeating water testing. Test for the metals if increase the depth of your well or if you have a new one. You can also learn if the best treatment system and how you’ll get the rest results.
- Unless you have a cause for alarm, you should test for nitrates and bacteria once a year. However, you can repeat if you think your water has become contaminated
- If you have elderly people, someone who’s pregnant, or a sick person who’ll be drinking the well water, you should repeat testing the water. So If the color becomes different or odor you should do a test too. If any of the people show any symptoms of diseases such as vomiting or diarrhea, you should test the water.
You have the responsibility to ensure the water you and your family consume is safe. Always do regular tests since different things can impact the quality of the water you use. Contact us for all your well water services, we’ll ensure your well is in its best state.