Simpson
Human health depends on having access to safe drinking water. Because many rural inhabitants get their drinking water from a well, they must take extra precautions to avoid pollution. Locating and regulating causes of groundwater contamination can be tough, but it is significantly less expensive and complicated than cleaning up contaminated groundwater.
Wells, however, is sometimes the most direct path for contaminants to enter our groundwater. Even wells that aren’t utilized for drinking water must be secured since pollution from one well might damage another. To that end, here are some useful tips to help you reduce the risk of well water contamination.
Well Location
Many states encourage prudent well placement by regulating minimum separation distances from possible contamination sources, therefore utilizing soil’s natural protection. The position of a well on top of the earth, whether it draws water from just below the surface or meters down, is a critical safety element.
It needs careful planning and consideration of aspects such as where the well is in respect to surface drains and groundwater movement to put a well in a safe location. A well put downstream from a cattle yard, a leaky tank, or a septic system has a higher danger of contamination than one located uphill.
Testing the Water
Test the water quality in wells twice a year to keep an eye on it. Although you can’t get your water tested for every contaminant, certain simple tests can help you figure out whether you have a problem. At the very least, test your water for germs and nitrates once a year in order to solve well water problems and ensure that your water is safe for drinking. Hardness, alkalinity, pH, conductivity, and chloride testing are all good first tests for a private well.
Moreover, both governmental and private laboratories may test your drinking water. Contact an expert for help interpreting test findings because several elements, such as bacteria and nitrate-nitrogen, are naturally present in small concentrations in groundwater and can change periodically.
Proper Well Installation
Wells in pits, low-lying regions, or without sufficient grouting or a lid can allow polluted surface water to enter the drinking water supply. By protecting the well against pollutants that could enter it from the surface, proper well design decreases the danger of contamination. Even if the design is solid, the manner a well is built has an impact on its capacity to keep pollutants out.
By enabling rain or snow to reach the water without filtration through the soil, a poorly designed well might enable polluted groundwater to enter the well. Surface water can transport germs, pesticides, fertilizer, or petroleum products into your water supply if your well is in a pit or has no grout or a top. By protecting the well from anything that could enter it from the surface, proper well design decreases the danger of contamination.
Well Age
Age has a big role in predicting the chance of elevated nitrate levels. A well erected more than seven decades ago may be low and is likely flanked by several possible pollution sources. Earlier well pumps are more likely to spill petroleum products into the well, which can cause contamination. Older wells are also more prone to have damaged, thinner covering. Corrosion can occur in wells with a contemporary casing that are 30 to 40 years old. If you have an older well, you should get it inspected by a sanitarian from the district or county health department or a licensed well driller.
Regular Maintenance
To keep wells in good functioning order, they must be serviced on a regular basis. Over time, wells can degrade and require repair or replacement. Inspection, maintenance, and replacement of worn components and equipment on a regular basis will assist in keeping your well in excellent operating order.
Well Casings
During the building of the borehole, the well driller adds casing, which is a steel or plastic pipe that prevents the borehole from collapsing. Polluted surface water or unwanted water from an overlaying reservoir might leak down to the well intake through the area between the casing and the sidewalls of the hole. The casing is surrounded with grout to close off this channel.
Wells with casings that extend below the water level in the well can provide better pollution prevention. Freshwater can be filtered through the soil before entering the screen if the well casing extends at least 25 feet below the water level.
Because groundwater is such a valuable resource for so many people, it’s critical for well owners to grasp the fundamentals of well care and management, as well as how to minimize the danger of contamination. Carefully manage activity around the water source to protect your water supply. This includes keeping pollutants away from sinkholes and the well itself for houses using a residential well. To protect your and your family’s health, keep harmful substances out of septic systems.
