Well Water Testing Protects Your Family's Health
Many homes are built where municipal utilities are not available.
They depend on wells for cooking, drinking and cleaning.
While the EPA mandates that public supplies be tested, these rules do not apply to private wells in the United States.
Well water testing benefits homes by ensuring all who live there have a safe supply to meet their needs.
There are several indicators of quality and contaminates for which a home's supply should be tested.
While the bacteria and chemicals for which the supply is tested may not cause illness, their presences may indicate contamination by sewage or other germs that cause illness.
Contamination by the bacteria found in the digestive systems of other warm blooded animals is one way to test for possible contamination of disease causing bacteria.
The total coliform count is an indicator of the number of this type of bacteria in a specified amount of sample.
If the count is high, the chances of other bacteria that are more harmful being in the tested material are greater.
A more specific bacterial test is for Escherichia coli, often abbreviated as E. Coli. A positive test for E. Coli indicates fecal contamination of wells.
While the indicator form of E. Coli is generally harmless, the germs that contaminate wells when it is present may cause health problems including hepatitis, dysentery or diarrhea.
Owners should note the presence of the indicator E. Coli is not the same as the more dangerous strain of the bacteria that often makes the news.
Labs generally perform a pH test.
This test is quick to perform and determines whether the sample is acid, base or neutral.
While a reading of 7 is neutral, higher or lower numbers can affect quality.
Non-neutral samples may erode heavy metals form pipes.
This causes plumbing problems and may make consumers sick in a home.
While nitrates are found in many types of food, they should not be in your drinking supply as they can make you and others sick.
Sources of nitrates include animal waste, septic tanks, flooded sewers and polluted storm water. Fertilizers and runoff from farming can also affect the well's quality.
The natural geographic features surrounding wells can increase nitrate levels.
In some regions, volatile organic compounds from fuel or industrial pollution contaminate wells.
The exact VOCs for which one should test depend on the location in which one lives.
If they are a problem in your region, the local health department can tell you the tests to have completed.
Some health concerns are regionally specific.
For example, heavy metals may be a problem, especially in the Western USA.
In other regions, there may be specific bacteria which is of concern and for which the sample should be tested.
The local health department of the laboratory can help homeowners determine the tests which are necessary to ensure their safety.
In general, it is a good idea to test samples of the supply at least once per year.
Additional tests should be submitted if one notes a difference in quality or if there have been local land disturbances.
With proper well water testing you protect the health of all living in the home.
They depend on wells for cooking, drinking and cleaning.
While the EPA mandates that public supplies be tested, these rules do not apply to private wells in the United States.
Well water testing benefits homes by ensuring all who live there have a safe supply to meet their needs.
There are several indicators of quality and contaminates for which a home's supply should be tested.
While the bacteria and chemicals for which the supply is tested may not cause illness, their presences may indicate contamination by sewage or other germs that cause illness.
Contamination by the bacteria found in the digestive systems of other warm blooded animals is one way to test for possible contamination of disease causing bacteria.
The total coliform count is an indicator of the number of this type of bacteria in a specified amount of sample.
If the count is high, the chances of other bacteria that are more harmful being in the tested material are greater.
A more specific bacterial test is for Escherichia coli, often abbreviated as E. Coli. A positive test for E. Coli indicates fecal contamination of wells.
While the indicator form of E. Coli is generally harmless, the germs that contaminate wells when it is present may cause health problems including hepatitis, dysentery or diarrhea.
Owners should note the presence of the indicator E. Coli is not the same as the more dangerous strain of the bacteria that often makes the news.
Labs generally perform a pH test.
This test is quick to perform and determines whether the sample is acid, base or neutral.
While a reading of 7 is neutral, higher or lower numbers can affect quality.
Non-neutral samples may erode heavy metals form pipes.
This causes plumbing problems and may make consumers sick in a home.
While nitrates are found in many types of food, they should not be in your drinking supply as they can make you and others sick.
Sources of nitrates include animal waste, septic tanks, flooded sewers and polluted storm water. Fertilizers and runoff from farming can also affect the well's quality.
The natural geographic features surrounding wells can increase nitrate levels.
In some regions, volatile organic compounds from fuel or industrial pollution contaminate wells.
The exact VOCs for which one should test depend on the location in which one lives.
If they are a problem in your region, the local health department can tell you the tests to have completed.
Some health concerns are regionally specific.
For example, heavy metals may be a problem, especially in the Western USA.
In other regions, there may be specific bacteria which is of concern and for which the sample should be tested.
The local health department of the laboratory can help homeowners determine the tests which are necessary to ensure their safety.
In general, it is a good idea to test samples of the supply at least once per year.
Additional tests should be submitted if one notes a difference in quality or if there have been local land disturbances.
With proper well water testing you protect the health of all living in the home.
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