How To Test Well Water For Safety

If you have never tested your well water we recommend doing a comprehensive or standard water test.

How to test well water for safety. Test your well water once a year for bacteria and nitrates and every 5 years for arsenic fluoride uranium radon lead and manganese. Other times to test your well include. Useful tests are available to help determine the health and safety of a water supply and the performance of a water treatment system. You should always test for coliform bacteria and nitrates each year.

These kits generally use either test strips submerged into a water sample or drops that react with various contaminants if present. If the nitrate. Unlike public drinking water systems that serve many people public health authorities don t check the quality of well water. Pick what you want to test for.

A nitrate test is recommended for all wells. The importance of private well water testing. It is not practical for homeowners to test for all possible contaminants. Drinking water that comes from private wells in maine m.

That s also a good idea if your home was built before lead free pipes were mandated in 1986. Even if your. Well water may contain microorganisms and chemicals that could make you sick. Testing your well water.

The presence of nitrate in well water also depends on the geology of the land around your well. You can decide what to test for based on your area. If you live in an area that is noted for other issues please think about including those tests. Nitrate in your well water can come from animal waste private septic systems wastewater flooded sewers polluted storm water runoff fertilizers agricultural runoff and decaying plants.

Water tests are divided up by things you can test for such as bacteria nitrates and contaminants. Sometimes a lab will offer a complete water testing package to make it easier. Many contaminants can leach into the soil and. This video shows you how to test your private residential well water using a comprehensive test kit.

Just because a well produced potable water in days gone by does not mean the water is drinkable now. Water testing kits are an easy way to gain valuable insight into the quality of the water you rely upon for drinking cooking bathing laundry and more. Your local health department can assist in selecting tests important for assessing your drinking water. Testing for drinking water safety.

If you have a well two inexpensive tests can serve as indicators of the overall condition of your water. If you re on well water you won t get a ccr so you should get your water tested.