THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER TESTING YOUR PRIVATE WELL

Water testing is critically important to understand the quality and safety of your home’s water supply.  According to the EPA, roughly 2.3 million people in the New England area get their water from a private well.  That’s about 20 percent of the region’s population. Different areas of the country often have different water problems and recent studies show that methyl-tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE), PFAS, radon, and arsenic have contaminated a number of private wells in New England.

The good news?  Through knowledge, extensive data, and cutting edge technology, water treatment companies and certified labs can keep you in the clear when it comes to safe and healthy water. As a homeowner, there are some things you can do to ensure the best protection of your well once you have water testing performed.

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Water Testing & Analysis

Keep up with the latest

If you own a private well, it’s in your best interest to stay current on recent groundwater studies and common regional problems.  At the very least, be aware of contaminants found in neighboring property. To be on the safe side, the EPA recommends yearly water testing for coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids, and pH levels or any other potential contaminants that you suspect your water supply may be susceptible to.

You can’t be too cautious.

In certain situations, water testing more than once a year may make sense. Don’t hesitate to call a local expert in any of the following situations:

  1. Someone in the household is pregnant/nursing
  2. There are unexplained illnesses
  3. You see a change in water taste, odor, color or clarity
  4. Any part of your well system is replaced, repaired or tampered with
  5. Nearby new construction or excavation that may have impacted ground water aquifer flows

Be aware of other problem sources

The EPA has an extensive list of common sources of potential ground water contamination. Water can be compromised by anything from underground fuel storage tanks to swimming pool chemicals to nearby livestock. Even adjacent commercial or industrial areas with airports, laundromats, gas stations, asphalt plants or metalworking shops, to name a few, could potentially contaminate ground water.

This information is not meant to make you paranoid as your water could be perfectly fine even in higher-risk areas. Just be informed and be prepared. The best way to detect health related water contaminants is by getting a properly pulled sample to a state certified lab. If you suspect any issues with your private well, need to schedule routine annual water testing, or need help finding a certified lab near you that can test your water, call H2O Care at 800-539-1100 or email us at [email protected].

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H2O Care is an established full service water filtration and testing organization, originally formed in 1989, with offices in Middleton, Stow & Lakeville, MA. See our published articles in Water Technology Magazines at http://h2ocare.com. Contact us at [email protected] or 00-539-1100.