Be Safe With Well Water: Testing And Treatment Solutions To Provide Cleaner Water

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A well can become contaminated in a variety of ways, and it's essential to know and understand the reasons why. Contaminants could be harmful or benign, but regardless, you should be aware of them and how your water quality changes after each type of contamination. If you need to know more about well water testing and treatment solutions, keep reading.

Problems That Affect Well Water

You might not know that your water is contaminated. Many homeowners are shocked when they receive a high water bill, see rust-colored stains in the toilet bowl, or when they discover black particles in their coffee pot.

Poor tasting and smelling water is usually the first sign of well water problems. There are many causes of well water contamination. Some wells are drilled in areas where bedrock or soil is rich in iron. The presence of iron causes the water to have a reddish or brownish color when it comes out of the faucet.

Iron can also cause the water to have a bad taste or an objectionable odor. Other common contaminants include dissolved minerals, manganese, sulfate, radium, nitrate, and several pesticides.

Testing Your Water for Safety

Water testing will help you decide on the best treatment solutions for your well. It is recommended that you have your well water tested annually for three primary purposes:

  • To screen for the presence of bacteria and other organisms that could cause a disease or infection.
  • To detect the presence of chemicals, metals, or minerals that may be harmful to people or animals.
  • To check on the levels of nitrates and other naturally occurring elements in your water.

In addition, some states have specific testing requirements for private wells. In those cases, you'll need to contact your local health department or county office for more information about regulations in your area.

Flushing and Treatments for Well Casings

When water contamination causes problems with the plumbing, you may need to consider flushing the well or having a professional treat it with chemicals or additives that remove harmful contaminants. You can do both jobs yourself if you have the right equipment for the job.

Flushing your well is a process of pumping water out of the casing, so contaminants are released above ground instead of traveling through your plumbing system. Flushing your well is not recommended unless there are issues with your water quality or you notice discoloration or odors coming from fixtures.

Well Water Treatment Systems

A good solution to deal with these problems is to install a water well treatment system that removes harmful elements from the water before it reaches your home. Water treatment systems can also help with iron, manganese, and radium content in the water.

A water well technician should be able to identify the right type of treatment system for your well. That includes under-the-sink units, reverse osmosis systems, ultraviolet light purifiers, and even whole-house filtration systems. Once installed, these systems will help produce clean, safe drinking water for your home.

You might need a well water treatment system to get clean water you can trust. Contact a well water treatment service, such as Cuttings Water Works, to get the help you need to ensure your home has clean water.

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