Well water is a critical resource for more than 43 million people — about 15% of Americans — according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). These homes rely on their wells for fresh drinking water and all the water tasks that happen every day: bathing, brushing teeth, washing clothes.
Private wells are each homeowner’s individual responsibility. For many homeowners, this is exactly what they want: more control over their utilities, including water. Knowing where their water is coming from, as well as the savings they get from not having to pay a water bill, are major benefits of using a private well. At the same time, well water owners must maintain the well, check water quality and assure the well is functioning as it should since no state or Federal laws govern the quality and safety of the water.
This is why using a well water test kit on a regular basis is so important. Because well water is not tested or regulated at a central source – like a municipal water district – it’s up to the homeowner to check for contaminants, such as bacteria and other pathogens, that can work their way into the well. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends annual testing. Spring is usually the best time to do this annual test since groundwater is often at its highest levels. Well water test kits should check for the most common contaminants, such as total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids, and pH levels. Additional tests can be used to test for other contaminants in your areas, such as radon and lead.
1. Your Family’s Health
When you test your well water regularly, you can detect and treat minor problems before they become bigger issues. Maybe you notice a slight odor or off-putting taste in your tap water. Maybe the water looks a little different. But maybe you don’t notice anything; many contaminants are invisible and don’t come with a taste or odor. Harmful bacteria and parasites that can cause viruses are often only detectable with a test. In fact, according to the USGS: in a study of 2,100 domestic wells, water pumped from about one in five contained “one or more contaminants at a concentration greater than a human-health benchmark for drinking water.”
Testing can determine if there are elevated concentrations of nitrate and organic compounds. These can lead to health issues for families, including gastrointestinal illness. Excess levels of some minerals, such as fluoride, can cause dental issues. Exposure to arsenic, radon, and lead can lead to long-term health issues. In fact, using a radon water test has become more common in recent years. While radon is a naturally occurring gas in rock, soil, and water, excess amounts of it have been linked to lung cancer.
Basic potability tests will check to make sure your water is safe for drinking and will measure coliform bacteria, nitrates, pH, sodium, chloride, fluoride, sulfate, iron, manganese, total dissolved solids, and hardness. Other tests, such as a radon water test can provide even richer data to protect your family’s health.
2. The Health of Your Appliances and Plumbing
How corrosive is your well water? Water testing can tell you. Excessive water hardness can lead to premature problems or failure with water-loving appliances, like your hot water tank, dishwasher, and washing machine. If you have copper pipes, it can also corrode those over time, creating pinholes. Select water testing packages will check for the contaminants that make up corrosive or hard water, including checking for metals like lead and copper and inorganic chemicals like alkalinity, sulfate, and chloride.
3. Cleaner Laundry, Sinks and Bathtubs
Hard and corrosive water can also cause staining on sinks, bathtubs, and clothes. If you notice blue or green staining on fixtures, or your white clothes develop a brownish tint over time, it can be a sign of corrosive elements in your water. The same water test you use to check the health of your appliances can be helpful when trying to determine if staining is caused by hard water. A water softener can then help you mitigate hard water and experience cleaner laundry and water fixtures.
4. Overall Peace of Mind
Regular testing doesn’t just detect problems you have today, it can also highlight any changes to your well over time. If you use a type of treatment system on your well – like a water softener — testing can also tell you if that system is working as intended. Using the same testing company annually can help you monitor these fluctuations. Water problems and contaminants are often silent and undetectable except by a lab, and regular lab testing can provide the peace of mind homeowners need, whether they’re using the water for drinking, bathing, or watering livestock.
While private wells have been used for centuries, many advancements have been made in helping homeowners manage and check their well water quality. The Groundwater Association recommends checking your water at the source – the well – in addition to the tap. When was the last time you tested your water?
