It is estimated that more than 13 million households rely on private wells for drinking water in the United States. The EPA does not regulate private wells, nor does it provide recommended criteria or standards for individual wells. EPA offers information regarding the importance of testing private wells and guidance on technologies that may be used to treat or remove any contaminants.
Private well owners are responsible for the safety of their water, so it is highly recommended to test your private well annually for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids, and pH levels. If you suspect the presence of other contaminants, you should test for those also. You can also contact your local health department to find out what substances may be common in your area's groundwater.
You may want to test more frequently if small children or elderly adults live in your house or if someone in your house is pregnant or nursing. These segments of the population are often more vulnerable to pollutants than others.
In addition, well owners should also determine if the ground water you rely on for household use is under direct influence from surface water. Ground water under the direct influence of surface water is susceptible to contamination from activities on the surface. If a contaminant is found to exceed health standards in your sample, problems can be handled quickly. For example, high bacteria concentrations can sometimes be controlled by adding disinfection to a well, such as: chlorine, ozone, ultra-violet light, and electronic radiation. On-site treatment processes like disinfection, distillation, and filtration may remove the contaminants found in your well water. However, depending on the contaminant, its concentration, and the condition of the well, you may need a new source of water or to drill a new well.
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Please call Five Star Home Inspections@ 855-500-3744 Ext-1 to schedule or add-on your water quality test today.