Because well water is a little different from city water, you need to be aware of steps you have to take to maintain the water. With city or tap water, the local water authority would oversee a lot of these steps, but since you have your own well, you’ll need to do a little bit to ensure your water is right.
There are a variety of things to test your well water for, depending on your location and any problems in the area. At a minimum, your well should be tested every spring for harmful bacteria, dissolved solids and nitrates. It should also have its pH level monitored.
You can buy testing kits to analyze water quality yourself. Be sure the kit tests for bacteria, nitrates and fertilizer. Also, get kits that can test for contaminants like copper, lead and pesticides. These kits typically cost $20 – $30.
It always helps to contact your state or local health departments to learn if there are any problems with well water in the area. They can alert you of things these kits won’t pick up, like parasites. If you suspect there’s a bigger problem, you may have to submit a sample to a lab for testing, which can range between $50 – $500.
Wells need to be inspected annually for cleanliness, mechanical issues and contaminants. To schedule an inspection, you can locate a certified contractor through the contractor listings provided by the National Groundwater Association’s Wellowner.org. Another option is to talk with your neighbors about who they use to inspect their wells.
A water softener is a piece of filtration equipment that takes water with high calcium and magnesium content (often referred to as “hard” water) and strips it down. Hard water can cause buildup on pipes and in sinks and is rough on your skin.
If you notice hard water stains, you may need to recharge your water softener with fresh sodium.
Even with a water softener, you can get hard water stains. These stains occur because, after the water evaporates, the high mineral content remains. The best way to prevent these stains is to clean them as soon as they appear.
After showering or bathing, squeegee your tub so the water doesn’t evaporate and leave behind a stain. If you see a stain, one of the best ways to remove it is with vinegar. Spritz a mixture of 50/50 distilled water and vinegar on the stain, let it rest for 10 – 15 minutes, then rinse with distilled water and buff dry.
If you notice your drinking water smelling, tasting or looking differently, you should schedule an inspection. A lot of times small changes aren’t harmful to your health but could lead to plumbing problems down the road.
Signs like your water turning and staying orangish-brown could mean there’s iron in your water, which can cause buildup that clogs your pipes. Likewise, persistent odors of rotten eggs mean there’s elevated levels of hydrogen sulfide gas produced by bacteria. This gas can be a breeding ground for other bacteria and may produce more stains and buildup.
Well water is still true to the original idea, in that well water comes directly from the ground. To create a well, a hole is dug in the ground, in some cases as far as 1,000 feet below the surface. The well water’s hole is held open by a pipe that reaches all the way to the aquifer, the source of the water. Professionals install a pump to carry the well water from the ground to the plumbing pipes. Then, this pump, powered by a motor, pulls the well water from the aquifer and distributes it through the plumbing system, ultimately reaching the home. Once the well water reaches the house, it lives in the pressure tank, which then goes to your shower, kitchen faucet, and any other faucet in a home.
Here’s a helpful illustrated video showing the inner workings of a well system.
The process from getting water from the well to your glass is quite simple. With the use of modern plumbing, a house with well water is getting water straight from the source, resulting in fresh water that has not been through any extensive filtering from the city. However, well water only has benefits if it is monitored and treated properly.