Many households in the United States get their drinking water from a private well. That is a significant good thing since people can save money on it. They no longer have to pay for water to drink as long as the water from the well they get is safe.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of the United States does not regulate private wells. The EPA regulates to ensure that the water from the systems delivered to our homes is safe to drink, so there is no guarantee that the water from private wells is safe.
The United States has one of the safest water supplies in the world. However, many things can still affect and contaminate drinking water sources. Some of them are natural minerals like arsenic or other kinds of chemicals.
These minerals are responsible for the malfunction in the wastewater treatment system. It also includes the use of pesticides near the water source. They could also get the water contaminated.
The appearance of your water can be deceiving sometimes. Just because it looks "clean" and tastes "normal" does not mean it is bacteria-free, especially if it comes from well water. Contaminants are often so microscopic, including bacteria, nitrates, or parasites —that you can't see them with the naked eye. To expound, there are a lot of contaminants that may linger in your well water.
One is naturally occurring minerals and chemicals, including copper, arsenic, and radon. Some well water contains pesticides and herbicides, and some contain volatile organic compounds, primarily from industrial and commercial activities.
Poor waste or mining management may also cause heavy metals to float in the well water. Defective or poorly maintained sewers or septic systems may also cause well water contamination.
Hence, before gulping down the sweet relish of well water, you should test it to see if it suits you and your family.
In this article, we will talk about well water in the following aspects:
1.1 Related Questions About Well Water
1.2 Is my well water drinkable?
1.3 The Natural and Unnatural Contaminants of Water
1.4 Getting Private Wells Checked
1.5 Reasons to Get Private Wells Checked
1.6 Well Water Testing
1.7 Why Should You Disinfect Your Water?
1.8 The Different Treatments of Water
1.9 Determine When to Disinfect Your Water Well: Its Preparations and Safety Measures
1.10 Our Recommendation -- Berkey Water Filters
1.11 How to Additionally Protect Your Well Water from Pollution
1.12 Well Retirement
1.3 Conclusion
Related Questions About Well Water
Is Well Water Safe to Drink if You Boil it?
Yes, boiling is the surest way to kill bacteria, viruses, and parasites in the well water.
To boil the water to be safe, heat it to a full swirling boil. Keep the swirling boil going for at least one minute before you use the water. Store the boiled water in a clean, covered container in the fridge. Throw out the water after 72 hours (three days). You can use this boiled water for:
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Drinking
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Adding to frozen orange juice and frozen lemonade
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Making drinks
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Making ice
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Cooking
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Essential mouth care, like brushing your teeth
You can boil the well water for five minutes. With this, all the bacteria inside it will be removed.
However, boiling will not be able to remove the solids and other materials inside the well water. Regularly test your well water to ensure 100% safe water for your daily essentials.
Is Well Water Safe to Shower in?
Yes, it is completely safe to bathe or shower with well water.
Is Well Water Healthier than Tap Water?
Indeed, it is. Purified well water tastes better since it doesn't contain additional chemical compounds like fluoride and chlorine (compared to public water). While pure water doesn't have a flavor, well water might contain trace minerals that are significant for your body and flavor.
Thus, you get all the health advantages of clean water without adding man-made chemicals. Best of all, you won't need to depend on anybody to carry it to you or have it in stock during a crisis.
Does a deeper well mean better water?
There's one rule of thumb regarding water quality and well depth: the deeper the well, the better the water quality. As you go further down, the water you experience is more likely to be mineral-rich.
Does heavy rain affect well water?
If surface water might spill into your well, now is the ideal time to check your wellhead. Heavy rain is unlikely to impact the sturdy and functional well water.
Is My Well Water Safe to Drink?
If your drinking water comes from a private well, you must get it tested. You may conduct it through laboratory testing or an authorized research facility. This way, you may know whether drinking water is safe for you and your family.
Your bare eyes cannot see the harmful bacteria, parasites, and infections. This is why water looks and tastes may not be safe to drink.
Regardless of the possibility that you are not becoming ill, your well water may not be unsafe. A few contaminants found in well water can cause long-term health issues.
These microorganisms can exist in surface and groundwater supplies.
Specific chemical contaminants in a water source can cause chronic health issues that can take a long time to develop.
Constant water testing will determine hazardous water and guarantee that the treatment system treats the water satisfactorily.
If your neighbors’ well has been tested and observed to be safe, this does not mean yours is safe. The security of your well water depends on many factors, including surface and underground geology, depth, and the well's development.
Because of the dry season, Well water quality can change regularly upon revival/refilling. You must test your well water and keep all testing outcomes for future reference.
Various aspects should be addressed to keep up a healthy private well, that is, a well which gives 'safe' water:
- Construction – How strong was it constructed? If ever it wasn't built well, there might be issues at any time.
- Location – Where is it located? What issues have your neighbors stated?
- Maintenance – How old is the well if for years? Has the water quality been checked regularly?
- Water Source – What is the nature of the aquifer from which your water is drawn?
- Human activities – What is happening in your vicinity that could affect your well?
The more deep-seated your well (800+ feet), the cleaner the water. The CDC suggests having your well water tried for contaminants. They include Coliform bacteria, nitrates, and others, even once every year.
Testing your well water for pesticides, heavy metals, and inorganic mixes is vital before using it unexpectedly.
Natural and Unnatural Contaminants and Your Well
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Naturally occurring chemicals and minerals (for example, arsenic, copper, calcium, and radon).
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Pesticides, herbicides, and other cultivating chemicals are involved, as is runoff from confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs).
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Industrial contamination and fuel drilling can present dangerous levels of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) in well water.
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Heavy metals from adjacent mining or mishandled waste.
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Malfunctioning sewers or manufactured septic systems (the EPA prescribes that septic tanks should be introduced no less than 50 feet away from wells).
Getting Private Wells Checked
| Septic Tanks | 50 feet |
| Livestock Yards, Silos Septic, and Leach Fields | 50 feet |
| Petroleum Tanks, Liquid-tight Manure Storage, Pesticide and Fertilizer Storage, and Handling | 100 feet |
| Manure Stack | 250 feet |
Reasons to Get Private Wells Checked
It is essential to know what contaminants may be present near your wells. The chart below lists the standard conditions or nearby activities that well owners may have their private wells checked for.
Not every kind poses an immediate health threat to the quality of your wells. Some may just affect the water's taste, immediate appearance, and appearance.
| Conditions or Nearby Activities: | Test for: |
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Recurring gastrointestinal illness |
Coliform bacteria |
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Household plumbing or service lines that contain lead |
pH, lead, copper |
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Radon in indoor air or region is radon-rich |
Radon |
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Corrosion of pipes, plumbing |
Corrosion, pH, lead |
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Nearby areas of intensive agriculture |
Nitrate, nitrite, pesticides, coliform bacteria |
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Coal or other mining operations nearby |
Metals, pH, corrosion |
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Gas drilling operations nearby |
Chloride, sodium, barium, strontium |
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Dump, junkyard, landfill, factory, gas station, or dry-cleaning operation nearby |
Volatile organic compounds, total dissolved solids, pH, sulfate, chloride, metals |
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The odor of gasoline or fuel oil and a nearby gas station or buried fuel tanks |
Volatile organic compounds |
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Objectionable taste or smell |
Hydrogen sulfide, corrosion, metals |
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Stained plumbing fixtures, laundry |
Iron, copper, manganese |
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Salty taste and seawater, or a heavily salted roadway nearby |
Chloride, total dissolved solids, sodium |
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Scaly residues, soaps don’t lather |
Hardness |
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Rapid wear of water treatment equipment |
pH, corrosion |
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Water softener needed to treat hardness |
Manganese, iron |
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Water appears cloudy, frothy, or colored |
Color, detergents |
Well Water Testing
Well Water Must be Tested at Least Once a Year
The nature of well water is continually changing, and the most ideal approach to secure your family is to have your water tested. While the public authority doesn't require it, it's a fundamental move to keep your family protected.
The EPA suggests that you test your well at least once a year for E. coli and coliform bacteria. To ensure that your home's water is protected, you should likewise test your water for radon and arsenic, minerals like iron and manganese, nitrate levels, and volatile organic compounds.
If you see a change in water quality, such as the appearance, smell, taste, and the like, it's smart to have your well tested, regardless of whether it hasn't been a year since the last test.
There are at-home, out-of-the-box tests you can buy and perform yourself. When you opt for this method, read precisely what the kit is testing for – not all tests are made equal.
If you suspect your well may have other contaminants, you must get a test. However, you must identify a potential problem before the test, which will cost you money.
Before getting your well tested, you can consult a local expert. The first thing you should be concerned about is the local water contaminants.
Other Considerations for Well Water Testing
If there are small children, elderly adults living in your house, or even someone in your home who is pregnant or nursing, you may need to consider testing your well water.
These population segments will be more sensitive and vulnerable to contaminants.
Here are other considerations that you may test your well water immediately:
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Water quality disturbance - when water changes in color, odor, and taste
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Well water part repair or replacement - a reaction to your well water system likely creates changes in the water quality
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Altered surrounding conditions—changes such as land disturbances, flooding, new construction, or industrial activity could affect your well water source.
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Unknown groundwater problems - if an occurrence happens, you may need to undertake your well water testing
Lastly, groundwater, which is directly influenced by surface water, could also influence the contaminants in that water. This is because activities on the surface easily influence groundwater.
Why Disinfect?
Groundwater isn't 100% pure. It gathers in the modest pore spaces inside sediments and the cracks inside the bedrock. It contains some broken-down minerals and many microorganisms usually live in it.
The National Ground Water Association (NGWA) indicates that most waterborne microorganisms are safe, many are useful, and a few are pathogenic. Microbes, for instance, are from the intestinal tracts of individuals and warm-blooded creatures. E. coli, for example, can cause illness and death.
These pathogens may enter groundwater through septic tank floods. Another way is through contaminated runoff from forests, fields, and feedlots. Routine testing of the private well must be done. Chemical disinfection is essential to keeping a safe, private water supply.
Also, one must maintain a strategic distance from the damage of pathogenic organisms. Disease with E. coli, for instance, can bring stomach distress, diarrhea, severe sickness, and even death.
Did you know?
- Groundwater serves as the gathering of rainwater, melted snow, and ice. They filter through soil, sediments, and bedrock to settle beneath the Earth's surface.
- A watershed draws water to a sewerage area. It incorporates the groundwater in the drainage area.
- Groundwater composes around 98% of the accessible freshwater on Earth.
- Consistently, the U.S. utilizes around 83.3 billion gallons of groundwater.
Treatment of Well Water
A Filtration System
A water filter is a device that you can use to remove many kinds of contaminants and impurities from your drinking water. A water filtration system could use a chemical, a biological process, or a physical barrier to filter your drinking water. This is to make sure that it is safe to drink.
Sink Water Filters
- Eliminates foul odor and taste
- Removes sediment
- Removes chlorine and heavy metals
- There is less fluoride in the water
- There are no arsenic
- Reduces the nitrite and nitrate
- Less limescale
- Removes the bacteria and other microorganisms
Counter-top Water Filter
Water Softener
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Water softener makes the hair and skin softer: Water softener makes the skin and hair soft, just like clothes. Since it protects the skin gently, it can also affect the fabric you wear, increasing general cleanliness.
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Prolong the lifespan of appliances: This will protect appliances by preventing chemical and residue buildup. It will also allow appliances to use less energy as they operate.
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Stain-free surface: A water softener ensures that surfaces are stain-free and that the functionality of the soap is not compromised. Thus, the detergents will be effective, and the amount needed to clean a particular area inside the house will be reduced.
- Salt-based water softener
- Salt-free water softener
- Dual tank water softener
- Magnetic water descaler
A Distillation System
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You can design DIY using small rocks, sand, charcoal, and cloth. First, use a cone-shaped object and add some charcoal to it. Then, create a filter by filling the cone alternately with sand and small rocks.
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You can boil the well water for 5 minutes. With this, all the bacteria inside it will be eliminated. However, boiling will not be able to remove the solids and other materials inside the well water.
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Chlorine drops or iodine tablets can effectively kill the bacteria in well water. However, they can also cause an undesirable taste.
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Filters are available for outdoor adventures. They purify or clean water using a ceramic or carbon-based system.
Disinfection
Water Chlorination
Water chlorination is one of the many methods of disinfecting water. It deactivates microorganisms by destroying their cell membranes. When the cell membrane is weakened, chlorine can enter the cell, disrupting respiration and DNA activity.
Chlorination can be done at any moment. Each point of chlorine can control a different area of concern. It can offer a complete treatment when the water enters and leaves the facility.
Moreover, chlorine has many purposes apart from disinfection. It can provide a residual that can avoid the growth of pathogens in the tanks. Berkey Water Filters can be your best option for treating well water. It can remove the most common contaminants from water better than any other gravity filter.
Chlorination is one process of disinfecting or treating the plumbing and well system with chlorine. This can eliminate or kill different kinds of bacteria.
Disinfecting a well can kill coliform bacteria, which indicates the presence of nuisance microorganisms in the water. It can also eliminate other water quality issues, such as nitrate contamination.
Chlorination is effective if you want to eliminate a one-time bacterial contamination case. However, disinfecting will only fix the issue temporarily if you have a long-term and ongoing problem.
Your issues can relate to well construction, location, or maintenance. Before proceeding, you must identify the cause of the problem.
Sometimes, the source of contamination is unclear, and some wells are difficult to disinfect. These include those impacted by the flood, artesian wells and wells situated near the pit. In these instances, it is best to hire a licensed professional plumber or driller to do the work.
Full Chlorination
The full chlorination method can kill bacteria that may be present in well water and aquifers. It is the standard method for well drillers to deal with persistent bacteria contamination. Moreover, it is used for waters affected by floods.
Indeed, professionals often use the complete chlorination technique. However, you can also do it yourself. Gather the necessary equipment and follow the steps in this article.
Determine When to Disinfect Your Water Well
Consider disinfecting the well if the following signs occur:
- If the tests show that there are coliform bacteria
- If the flood or surface water gets inside the well
- If the well is newly drilled or connected to the plumbing system
- If there are new changes or repairs made to the existing well
- If the well pump is newly repaired or replaced
- You need to disinfect it as part of the yearly maintenance
If you are disinfecting your well due to floods or think surface water has entered, wait until it recedes. Before you begin, allow time for the overland flooding to pass or for the ground close to your well to dry.
Safety Measures
If you wish to disinfect your well due to bacteria's presence, you can boil your tap water. You can also use bottled water during the entire disinfection process.
If your well is near your neighbors' wells, the process can affect their wells, too. Ensure you let your neighbors know you are disinfecting your water well. This way, they can monitor for the smell of chlorine and flush their systems.
You must note that you must handle chlorine bleach safely and carefully. You must use protective clothing, gloves, and eyewear. Keep your pets and kids away from the area of the well during the entire process. Ensure you do not leave the bleach containers inside your house.
Keep the containers secured to avoid inhaling the odor. When using bleach in crawl spaces, well pits, or well houses, follow the health rules when working in tight spaces.
Preparations for Disinfecting a Well
To disinfect a well, you can use any household bleach. The chlorine in the bleach can destroy the bacteria. Check the label to see if the bleach contains any additives.
The method of disinfection is based on a chlorine concentration of 5%. This is the common concentration of bleach inside the household. If there are minor concentrations of chlorine, it will affect the entire disinfection process.
You must take note of the following before you begin the entire disinfection proceedings:
First, notify everyone in your home that you will disinfect the well water. Then, store enough water for all your members for up to 24 hours. During the process, you can use bottled water or fill the containers with well water.
However, you must boil the water before drinking it. Meanwhile, you can store water in the bathtub for household chores.
Since bleach can lose strength over time, you must buy unscented and regular chlorine bleach. You must also bypass or disconnect water treatment or filters.
This includes reverse osmosis, water softeners, and carbon filters. Finally, you must turn off your water heater.
Steps on How to Do a Full Chlorination
To fully chlorinate the well, you must pump 1,500 to 2,500 liters of water from the well to a clean tank. Do not use containers previously used for pesticides or fuel, as this can contaminate the water.
Next, put 10 liters or 2 ½ gallons of bleach in your tank. Make sure to remove the cap from the well's casing. Then, mix another 10 liters or 2 ½ gallons of bleach in 15 liters or 4 gallons of water.
Now, you have to pour the mixture into the well. You can use a funnel to control the bleach's direction and flow. See that you don’t let the bleach run on the wire connections.
After you pour the bleach, rinse the well water casing for a few minutes using a disinfected garden hose connected to the water supply. This allows water to circulate inside the well. When you are done, turn off the hose.
Give the well an hour to rest. This will allow the chlorine to mix well with the water.
Then, gradually pour the 1,500 to 2,500 liters of water plus the bleach mixture from the tank into the well. Control the flow so the bleach and water do not overflow the casing onto the ground.
Then, tighten and replace the cap once again. Now, you have to open the faucets inside your house. Flush the toilets until you can smell the chlorine. This will enable you to circulate chlorine throughout your water system. Now, you can turn off the faucets.
Turn off all the water supply in your toilets. You can use the stored water if you wish to flush the toilets.
Ensure you let the bleach sit in the system for 12 to 24 hours. The longer the bleach remains in your water system, the more time the chlorine can eliminate the bacteria.
Finally, you must keep the level of chlorinated water entering your sewage system at a minimum during the disinfection process. Excess chlorine can affect the operation of the septic field and tank.
Our Recommendation
Well-owners must embrace a multi-obstruction approach to protecting their drinking water. This protection must incorporate standard monitoring for waterborne pathogens and increased disinfection when required. It's a duty to protect families from sickness, which depends on private well water.
Crown Berkey 6 Gallon Water Filter
This product includes two Black Berkey filters, but you can upgrade it to four, six, or eight. Amazingly, regular use can accommodate up to six to twelve people daily. Indeed, the Crown Berkey 6-gallon Water Filter is your best protection against water contaminants.
Berkey Light Water Filter 2.75 Gallons
How to Additionally Protect Your Well Water from Pollution
Unnatural Sources
To protect your well water, you must identify potential sources of contamination. One way is to manage activities near the water source. For domestic use wells, this includes ensuring they are away from sinkholes and septic systems, which are great sources of hazardous chemicals.
Here are steps you may need to take note of to protect your well water:
- Slope the area around the well. This is to drain the surface runoff away from the well.
- Install a well cap or sanitary seal. This prevents unauthorized use of or entry into the well.
- Keep accurate records of your well-maintenance. This includes disinfection or sediment removal, which may require chemicals in the well.
- Hire a certified well driller. A professional knows the best precautions to prevent contamination during new well construction, modification, abandonment, and closure.
- Avoid mixing hazardous chemicals near the well. This includes using pesticides, fertilizers, herbicides, degreasers, fuels, and other pollutants.
- Do not dispose of wastes in dry wells or abandoned wells. Rainwater runoff may discharge to your well.
- Do not cut off the well casing below the land surface. This ensures efficient water transport and a clean water source for your household.
- Pump and inspect septic systems. This can be scheduled monthly, quarterly, or as often as your local health department recommends.
- Never dispose of harsh chemicals, solvents, petroleum products, or pesticides in a septic tank or dry well. Rainwater runoff, like waste, may discharge residue into well water.
- 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
- Regularly check the integrity of any above-ground and underground storage tanks that hold home heating oil, diesel, or gasoline on your property. When forgotten, it can even cause fire at once.
- Check with your local health department or environmental agency to ensure activities and industries on or near your property are set at a safe distance from your well. This should be noted to avoid inconveniences for you and the operating industry.
Natural Sources
Flooding, landslides, earthquakes, and other natural disasters can impact the overall safety of your well water. Contaminants incurred through such natural occurrences can also adversely affect it.
If you suspect your well is contaminated after heavy flooding or another natural disaster, contact your local state health department or environmental agency for advice right away.
They may need to inspect and test your well. If possible, a contractor with experience servicing drinking water wells is heavily impacted by natural disasters.
Water well flood response steps:
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Stay away from the well pump while it is flooded to avoid electric shock. Only the contractor's proper personal protective equipment can prevent this electric shock.
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Do not drink or wash from the flooded well to avoid getting sick. The water is still unsafe until it is inspected and treated by a contractor or expert.
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Get assistance from a well or pump contractor to clean and disinfect your well before turning on the pump. Because of the natural disaster, the water is likely highly contaminated and thus needs immediate treatment.
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After the pump is turned back on, pump the well until the water runs clear to rid the well of floodwater.
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If the water is unclear, get advice from the county or state health department or extension service. They know exactly the following steps, such as contacting the EPA.
In its short guide, "What to do After the Flood, " EPA provides more specific steps for well owners to follow."
Well Retirement
Water wells exhaust themselves over time and stop functioning. They should be retired from the community when they are no longer useful.
Many people skip the process of water well retirement, leaving the well to deteriorate further, potentially posing hazards to the people living in the area. Old wells are the landowner's liability, and the owner can also be put at risk if one of the neighbors gets sick or is affected by groundwater contamination.
One good reason why wells must be retired when no longer in use is because they will protect groundwater from surface contamination.
It will also protect the vertical movement of water between and among aquifers, lessen the risk of threats, and mitigate other negative effects on humans and wildlife.
To retire wells from their long-time functions, they need to be filled in and sealed properly. Each state has different policies and regulations regarding how and when landowners should notify and document the retirement of the well with the local Department of Environmental Protection or Water Quality Division.
Generally, landowners should contact their local agencies to learn the necessary procedures in their area. If you wish to know more, visit Wellowner.org’s Old/UnusedWells for more information on retiring your water well for good.
Most of the time, you can't possibly retire wells without the help of a well water systems contractor. This is because certain equipment, tools, and skills are required to complete this task.
Furthermore, a professional will know more about plugging unused wells and your state's decommissioning (retiring) code requirements. So, you can look for a contractor in your state to have a convenient and hassle-free process of water well retirement.
CONCLUSION
Well water, in general, is a good source of water. This is because well water comes directly from the aquifer underground and not in the run-off or surface water —as a result, this makes it a cleaner and fresher version of your drinking water.
Even so, you should well water should go through various water filtration systems for it to be safe to drink. After all, water tested is water safe to drink.
Ultimately, ensuring drinking water quality is one way to protect yourself and your loved ones from harmful contaminants that may pose a health risk.
So, the final question is: Is well water safe to drink? The answer is yes, as long as you test the water regularly and install house water filtration systems to ensure its quality.
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