Well water testing is an important part of your annual well maintenance. Did you know that more than 15 million American households get their residential water supply from private wells? Despite the fact that the EPA does not place regulations on private wells, annual well water testing is vital to homeowners.
Annual well water testing will help ensure that your well isn’t contaminated. This gives you the peace of mind that your home is safe and your family is protected. Let’s take a closer look at why you should have your water tested and how you can get it done.
Why Is Well Water Testing Important?
Many well owners don’t know that well water can get contaminated. To make matters worse, not all water contaminants create signs that something may be wrong with your water. Your water can be crystal clear and still breeding a host of bacteria. While some contamination issues are evident in your water, affecting the smell, tasted, or color, others go undetected to the human eye.
Microbes, fungi, and bacteria can contaminate your well water supply. This can be harmful to your health and lead to a range of health issues. Contaminated water can cause issues with gastrointestinal illness, neurological disorders, and reproductive issues. And it can be particularly troublesome for seniors, infants, young children, and those with compromised immune systems.
Common Well Water Contaminants
Annual well water testing is crucial if you want to detect these common contaminants and ensure your water’s safety. Some examples of common well water contaminants that will show in well water testing include:
- Total Coliform- This is an indication of bacterial contamination that comes from human or animal waste. Total coliform refers to a broad category of bacteria. While most of these bacteria are not directly harmful to humans, it can be an indication that the quality of your water is starting to decline. The presence of bacteria such as E.coli or Crypto can lead to severe intestinal illnesses.
- Nitrate- This common contaminate is found mostly in groundwater. High levels of nitrate in your water supply can be a serious threat to your health. It is particularly dangerous for children under six months old. Nitrate contaminants are often an indication that there are other bacteria or pesticides in your water supply. Nitrate can get into your well water through several sources. These include:
- Fertilizers
- Animal manure
- Septic systems
- Leaking sewer lines
- Natural breakdown of nitrogen compounds from rocks and soil
- An abundance of Ions- In addition to common contaminants, your annual well water testing can show an excess supply of certain ions that can be harmful to your health when your water supply is overloaded with them. These include:
- Sodium
- Chloride
- Iron
- Manganese
- Sulfate
- Fluoride
- Harmful metals- It’s important that well owners understand that there is a risk of harmful metals entering the water supply. Annual well water testing can also show the presence of these metals. They can be harmful to your health and include:
- Lead
- Arsenic
- Boron
- Radon
How Often Should Water Testing Be Done?
The National Ground Water Association recommends water testing be performed routinely once a year. Your well water company will know what bacteria, nitrates, and contaminants are specific to your area. They will test accordingly. While annual well water testing is the recommendation, it’s important to know when additional testing should be performed.
If you notice the appearance, taste, or odor of your water has changed, you should call your well water company to take a look. Additionally, if there is any damage to your well water system, septic system malfunctions, or if your family suddenly faces recurring gastrointestinal illnesses, you should contact your well water company for testing. Well water testing is also necessary when moving into a new home.
While there are several ways to test your own water for contaminants, bacteria, and quality, it’s always recommended to get a professional well water testing performed once a year. Your water team will not only know what to test for and how to test effectively, but they’ll also know what steps to take to improve the quality of your water fast. Well water testing is inexpensive and the return is huge. It doesn’t just ensure that your water is clean and the quality is great, but it also gives you the peace of mind that your water supply and your family is safe. As we all know, that’s priceless!