Well water quality - should having a well be considered good news or bad news?
There may be a few pristine wells left in the country - but maybe not.
Groundwater contamination is so widespread both from industrial and agricultural
chemicals that it seems prudent to assume the worst and put in a point-of-use
filter. No water test addresses the many possible thousands of chemicals that
could be present.
Further, bacteria are common in wells. To put chlorine into the well is to
introduce a carcinogen to the drinking water. Granted, you could then install a
whole house dechlorination unit to remove the chlorine. But perhaps another
approach is to install a whole house UV unit to kill bacteria coming through to
drinking water and shower water.
Regarding drinking water, if you have read the preceding pages, you know that reverse osmosis is the preferred
choice for point-of-use water filtration. Again, unless there is a UV unit for
the whole house, there should be a UV unit at the sink.
Order the WaterCheck water test that will check for the hundred or so substances that are on the EPA's (Environmental Protection Agency) list.
(See Water Testing section)
If there is any suspicion of elevated levels of toxins such as described in the book,
A Civil Action, it would be a good idea to have the water test done for chemicals on the EPA list. Where wells are condemned, I wouldn't want to be drinking that water - even with RO filtration. No method removes 100% of toxins.
If you are in an agricultural area, pesticides may be present that are
not on the EPA list.
Test routinely for coliform bacteria.
Coliform bacteria are associated with human waste. Well water should be regularly tested for coliform - every six months to a year.
Reverse osmosis units are not rated to remove bacteria. If coliform bacteria are present in your well, a UV unit should be installed. Or, the well could be treated with chlorine.
For coliform testing, you can call a local water laboratory, or you can purchase a test kit
at this web site and check regularly on your own.
For elevated coliform counts:
Use a UV light.
Or use chlorine pellets in the well, but remove excess chlorine afterwards with a whole house dechlorination system. Be
aware that more and more carcinogenic byproducts of chlorine are being
found, and there are no government standards. Going to water
conferences, you learn about Mutagen X, halocetic acid, as well as the
more familiar THMs (trihalomethanes) and chloroform.
Or, install a reverse osmosis unit at your kitchen sink and shower filters in the bathrooms.
Get a reverse osmosis unit at your kitchen sink.
If you decide to purchase an RO unit, you must first check the well for coliform bacteria and iron levels.
The Basic Well Test listed in the Water Testing section includes testing for iron.
Using a RO unit reduces the need to monitor with costly water testing on a regular basis. Coliform testing should be maintained on a regular schedule, however - at least once a year.
