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Private Wells Are Not Regulated
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According to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) statistics, approximately 23 million U.S. residents obtain their drinking water from private sources. Most of these supplies are drawn from groundwater through wells, but some use water from streams or cisterns. EPA does not regulate private wells. However, some state or governments do set rules to protect well users. In any case, EPA encourages well owners to take precautions to protect and maintain their drinking water supplies
Should I get my Well water tested?
Many contaminants that pose health risks could be present in the private well water you drink. Unfortunately, your senses cannot detect these contaminants, and hence the water’s taste, smell, or color may not indicate the actual water quality. It is a good idea to test the water so you will know exactly what is in it—especially since your health is involved. When and how often the water needs to be tested depends on several factors, including the source of water, any plumbing changes, any indication of contamination, and any illness in the family that affected more than one person. Sometimes water testing may be expensive, but it is the only way to make sure that the water is safe to drink. People using public water supplies pay for water testing as a part of their water bill. But private well owners must pay for water testing out of their own pocket.
What should I test for?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established National Primary Drinking Water Regulations that set mandatory water quality standards for drinking water contaminants. These are enforceable standards called "maximum contaminant levels" or "MCLs", which are established to protect the public against consumption of drinking water contaminants that present a risk to human health. An MCL is the maximum allowable amount of a contaminant in drinking water which is delivered to the consumer. Click here for a list of Primary Contaminates you can test for and can be found in drinking water and there maximum contaminant levels as identified by the EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency). Click here for the EPA Safe Drinking Water Act
Though it is possible, it is expensive to test for ALL contaminants. You may choose to test for certain contamination indicators on a regular basis. If you have concerns about well water contamination, contact the local health department where your currently living or where your making a home purchase for recommendations. Below are listed contaminates that are commonly tested for as part of a Real Estate transaction or sale. While this is only a partial list of contaminates that can be found in drinking water, it is the home owner's or buyer's responsibility to decide what contaminants they want to test for.
Click here for Water Quality Analysis Fees
| Primary Contaminant |
Potential Health Effects from Long-Term Exposure |
Sources of Contaminant in Drinking Water |
| Total Coliforms (including Fecal Coliform & E. Coli) |
Not a health threat in itself; it is used to indicate whether other potentially harmful bacteria may be present. Fecal Coliform and E. Coli are bacteria whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Disease-causing microbes (pathogens) in these wastes can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. These pathogens may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, and people with severely compromised immune systems. |
Coliforms are naturally present in the environment; as well as feces; fecal coliforms and E. coli only come from human and animal fecal waste. |
| Nitrates & Nitrites |
Infants below the age of six months who drink water containing nitrite in excess of the MCL could become seriously ill and, if untreated, may die. Symptoms include shortness of breath and blue-baby syndrome. |
Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits. |
| Lead |
Infants and children: Delays in physical or mental development; children could show slight deficits in attention span and learning abilities. Adults: Kidney problems; high blood pressure. |
Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits. |
| Turbidity |
Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness of water. It is used to indicate water quality and filtration effectiveness (e.g., whether disease-causing organisms are present). Higher turbidity levels are often associated with higher levels of disease-causing microorganisms such as viruses, parasites and some bacteria. These organisms can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches. |
Soil runoff. |
| Secondary Contaminant |
Potential Adverse Effects |
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| pH |
Can be corrosive to a home's plumbing system. Can form scale, or taste bitter. |
The (pH) measurement for water is measuring whether the water is more acid (lower pH) or basic (higher pH), The pH will affect things like the solubility of various minerals in the water. |
| Iron & Manganese |
Discolors laundry and plumbing fixtures. Changes taste of water, tea, coffee and other beverages. |
Cause aesthetic concern rather than a health one. |
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