In part one of this two-part blog, we went over some of the requirements and basic contaminants that are tested for during well water testing processes. These kinds of tests are vital for any water supply, ensuring that no risks to human health are presented by pollutants or contaminants in water.
At Mike Zimmerman Well Service LLC, our well treatment and rehabilitation services include several potential contaminant tests. In today’s blog, we’ll go over several additional contaminants that might be detected during these tests, plus the risks they pose and why it’s important for them to be removed from your water supply.
Nitrate
When it’s consumed in certain smaller amounts, including being found in certain food types in extremely minimal quantities, nitrate is not harmful to humans. If you’re interested, you can find information online on exactly how much nitrate is present in certain foods.
When it’s consumed in large enough quantities, however, nitrate can lead to sickness and chronic conditions. One way it can be so thoroughly present is if it enters a water well through agricultural waste or poor sewer systems. The local geology of a given area will also play a large role in the risks of nitrate making its way into your well water. Our pros will be happy to explain the geological factors at play here if you’re concerned about your specific area.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
The category of volatile organic compounds is a wide one, and refers to various chemicals and waste formats that come from factories and manufacturing centers. They’re also commonly found in fuel storage areas.
If you happen to live close to any such facility, or even if you live in an area that might receive water runoff from such a location, you should be testing your water regularly for VOCs. They are considered both a pollutant and a potential contaminant, with major health risks for humans who consume them.
Other Contaminants
There are several other contaminants that may be tested for, and many of them will depend on exactly which area you live in. These tests may include each of the following:
- Mercury
- Lead
- Various pesticides
- Total dissolved solids (a measure of all inorganic and organic substances present in a given molecule)
- pH level (for pure water, the pH should be 7 – water with lower pH levels than this is considered acidic, while water with higher levels than this is considered basic, with an acceptable drinking range between 6 and 8.5)
- Coliform bacteria (a clear and often distressing signal that your well water supply has been contaminated by some form of virus, germ, parasite or other invader)
For more on water well contaminant testing, or to learn about any of our water well installation or maintenance services, speak to the staff at Mike Zimmerman Well Service LLC today.
