|
 |
|
Frequent Questions
- How can I test the quality of my private drinking water
supply?
- What concerns should I have after a flood if I have
a private well?
- How can I protect my private water supply?
How can I test the quality of my private drinking
water supply?
Consider testing your well for pesticides, organic chemicals, and
heavy metals before you use it for the first time. Test private water
supplies annually for nitrate and coliform bacteria to detect contamination
problems early. Test them more frequently if you suspect a problem.
Be aware of activities in your watershed that may affect the water
quality of your well, especially if you live in an unsewered area.
Reasons to Test Your Water
The chart below will help you spot problems. The last five problems
listed are not an immediate health concern, but they can make your
water taste bad, may indicate problems, and could affect your well
long term.
| Conditions or Nearby Activities: |
Test for: |
| Recurring gastro-intestinal illness |
Coliform bacteria |
| Household plumbing contains lead |
pH, lead, copper |
| Radon in indoor air or region is radon rich |
Radon |
| Corrosion of pipes, plumbing |
Corrosion, pH, lead |
| Nearby areas of intensive agriculture |
Nitrate, pesticides, coliform bacteria |
| Coal or other mining operations nearby |
Metals, pH, corrosion |
| Gas drilling operations nearby |
Chloride, sodium, barium, strontium |
| Dump, junkyard, landfill, factory, gas station,
or dry-cleaning operation nearby |
Volatile organic compounds, total dissolved
solids, pH, sulfate, chloride, metals |
| Odor of gasoline or fuel oil, and near gas
station or buried fuel tanks |
Volatile organic compounds |
| Objectionable taste or smell |
Hydrogen sulfide, corrosion, metals |
| Stained plumbing fixtures, laundry |
Iron, copper, manganese |
| Salty taste and seawater, or a heavily salted
roadway nearby |
Chloride, total dissolved solids, sodium |
| Scaly residues, soaps don’t lather |
Hardness |
| Rapid wear of water treatment equipment |
pH, corrosion |
| Water softener needed to treat hardness |
Manganese, iron |
| Water appears cloudy, frothy, or colored |
Color, detergents |
|
For more information on for
more information on what human activities
can pollute ground water see:
If you use a private laboratory to conduct the testing, nitrate and
bacteria samples will typically cost between $10 and $20 to complete.
Testing for other contaminants will be more expensive. For example,
testing for pesticides or organic chemicals may cost from several hundred
to several thousand dollars. Only use laboratories that are certified
to do drinking water tests. To find a certified laboratory in your state,
you can contact:
- A State Certification Officer to get a
list of certified water testing labs in your state (epa.gov/safewater/privatewells/labs.html),
or
- Your local health department may also test private well water for
free. Phone numbers for your local, county, or state health department
are available under the "health" or "government"
listings in your phone book.
Most laboratories mail back the sample results within a week or two.
If a contaminant is detected, the results will include the concentration
found and an indication of whether this level exceeds a drinking water
health standard.
If a standard is exceeded in your sample, retest the water supply immediately
and contact your public health department for assistance. Some problems
can be handled quickly. For example, high bacteria concentrations can
sometimes be controlled by disinfecting a well. Filters or other on-site
treatment processes may also remove some contaminants. Other problems
may require a new source of water, or a new, deeper well. If serious
problems persist, you may need to rely on bottled water until a new
water source can be obtained.
You should test private water supplies annually for nitrates,coliform
bacteria, total dissolved solids, and pH levels to detect contamination
problems early. Test more frequently if a problem was found in earlier
tests.
For more information, read Home Water Testing (564 K PDF FILE, 2pgs)
What concerns should I have after a flood if I
have a private well?
Stay away from the well pump while flooded to avoid electric shock,
AND . . .
- Do not drink or wash from the flooded well to avoid becoming sick.
- Get assistance from a well or pump contractor to clean and turn
on the pump.
- After the pump is turned back on, pump the well until the water
runs clear to rid the well of flood water.
- If the water does not run clear, get advice from the county or
state health department or extension service.
For additional information:
How can I protect my private water supply?
Protect your water supply by carefully managing activities near the
water source. For households using a domestic well, this includes keeping
contaminants away from sinkholes and the well itself. Keep hazardous
chemicals out of septic systems.
- Periodically inspect exposed parts of the well for problems such
as:
- cracked, corroded, or damaged well casing
- broken or missing well cap
- settling and cracking of surface seals.
- Slope the area around the well to drain surface runoff away from
the well.
- Install a well cap or sanitary seal to prevent unauthorized use
of, or entry into, the well.
- Have the well tested once a year for coliform bacteria, nitrates,
and other constituents of concern.
- Keep accurate records of any well maintenance, such as disinfection
or sediment removal, that may require the use of chemicals in the
well.
- Hire a certified well driller for any new well construction, modification,
or abandonment and closure.
- Avoid mixing or using pesticides, fertilizers, herbicides, degreasers,
fuels, and other pollutants near the well.
- Do not dispose of wastes in dry wells or in abandoned wells.
- Do not cut off the well casing below the land surface.
- Pump and inspect septic systems as often as recommended by your
local health department.
- Never dispose of harsh chemicals, solvents, petroleum products,
or pesticides in a septic system or dry well.
For more information on protecting your well visit these web sites:
|
