Is your well giving you issues? There’s a good chance that your well water isn’t as clean as you might hope. It happens, especially when you’re relying on pulling water from the ground.
If that sounds like your issue, you’re not alone. Over 13 million U.S. households rely on well water for their drinking water. That number is no drop in the bucket.
Everyone who uses a well should test their well water for contaminants to ensure they’re using potable water. Testing is inexpensive, effective, and important. Today, we’re showing you how well water testing can protect against contamination.
Well Water Testing
Bacteria, parasites, viruses, and chemicals can all pollute your drinking water. These contaminants are microscopic and so impossible to identify without help from a testing facility. The reality is, well water testing is the only way to ensure your well is free from contaminants and full of safe drinking water.
These contaminants leech into your water supply from the surrounding groundwater. Testing ensures you catch the contamination before it makes you or your family ill. While bacteria and viruses cause damage upfront, chemicals can silently harm you over the long term.
When to Test
You should have your well tested every spring to ensure your pump is working and your water isn’t contaminated. However, additional testing is warranted under certain circumstances.
For instance, always test if:
- There’s been local flooding. Excess groundwater can leak into your well and introduce nasty contaminants.
- You’ve had problems in the past. Check your well multiple times a year if you’ve been having issues.
- You’ve repaired any part of your system. Disturbing the well can introduce microbes.
- Your water seems “off.” Sometimes contaminants change your water’s taste, smell, color, etc.
The Types of Well Water Testing
Different tests help detect different contaminants. Always consult the professionals or your local health department to help you determine what tests you need.
Common tests include:
- Basic Water Potability: Tests for bacteria, viruses, parasites, chemicals, excess chloride, fluoride, dissolved solids, and more.
- Chloroform Bacteria: Tests exclusively for chloroform bacteria that can harm humans.
- Nitrates: Tests for nitrates. In high concentrations, nitrates can interfere with the blood’s ability to carry oxygen.
- Sulfates: Excessive sulfates can cause gastrointestinal distress and have a laxative effect.
- Targeted Testing: Any additional tests that can detect specific compounds that could harm you or your loved ones.
Water Filtration as the Answer
No well water is 100 percent clean all the time, even with well water testing. To ensure you have the highest quality drinking water, you should consider installing a whole home filtration system.
Well filtration systems take even the least pleasant well water and ensure that it’s perfect for drinking. However, filtration systems aren’t the easiest thing to set up yourself. It’s best to consult with the professionals when you’re looking for a filtration system.
If you’re in the market for a well filtration system, please feel free to get in contact with us.
We’ll perform well water testing then install a filtration system that will address your unique needs. You deserve the best drinking water, and we want to help your water taste great. You’ll never go back to unfiltered water.
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