If you’re using a private well or one shared with a few neighbors, you’re responsible for the quality of the water you and your family are consuming. Understanding how your well water may become contaminated with natural or man-made contaminants is key to avoiding possible illness and managing aesthetic water issues.
There are multiple ways that well water contamination can happen like: heavy rainfall, spring runoff, and flood events can overwhelm even well-constructed, recently drilled wells and can introduce surface contaminants into the aquifer below. If your well is older, the risk of surface contamination infiltrating your well is even greater.
The most important thing to know about microbes in your well water is that you cannot see, smell, or taste them. The only way to know if you’re drinking water presents a risk is to conduct a bacterial test with a certified laboratory.
According to the CDC, the top causes of disease outbreaks in wells are:
More than 20 percent of private domestic wells sampled nationwide contain at least one contaminant at levels of potential health concern, according to a study by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Bacteria, including total coliform bacteria and Escherichia coli, were found in as many as one third of a subset of 400 wells. – United States Geological Survey
If you suspect any of these issues with your well, it is best to call in professional help. Get in touch with your local well drilling professional.
To learn more about how to take care of your well, and how to identify potential issues, the National Ground Water Association has a fantastic resource, wellowner.org. This website covers all the basic information pertaining to well ownership and stewardship and runs regular training classes about well care.
Well Water Contamination