Regular well water testing is essential. In fact, it’s the only way to ensure that your water is safe to drink. And, as a private well owner, the task is your sole responsibility.
Testing allows you to identify problems and track changes in water quality over time. The results also show the effectiveness of installed treatment systems. Most important, well water testing helps protect your family’s health, so it’s critical for you to understand the basics.
What Should You Test for in Well Water?
A wide range of potential groundwater contaminants could find their way into your private well. For the health and safely of your drinking supply, well system experts recommend testing for the following water quality indicators and contaminants:
- Coliform bacteria
- Nitrates
- pH
- Total dissolved solids
Additional tests may be necessary if the groundwater is suspected to contain a particular contaminant or if there’s a noticeable change in taste, color or odor. These tests may include:
- Chloride
- Sulfate
- Lead
- Iron
- Arsenic
- Manganese
- Chromium-6
- Volatile organic compounds
How Often Should You Test Water Quality?
Well system experts advise testing water quality at least once per year. If your drinking supply comes from a shallow well, seasonal testing is recommended. Tests should be completed both at the tap and at the well source.
Testing should also be done under the following circumstances:
- You recently serviced or repaired your private well.
- Someone in your household is pregnant or planning a pregnancy.
- You have an infant who drinks formula in your household.
- Someone in your home has an illness that may be waterborne.
- You notice a change in water quality.
- You experience a land disturbance or flooding around your private well.
- Your neighbor’s private well is contaminated.
Who Should Test Your Well Water?
You can do your own testing. However, many private well owners hire a professional well service instead.
With a well technician on the job, you don’t have to decide which tests are important for your private well. And, you don’t have to worry about collecting samples correctly or locating a qualified environmental laboratory for the water quality analysis.
Plus, when you hire a professional well services contractor, you’ll have an expert on hand to interpret the test results and recommend a fix for any quality issues.
Is it time for you to test your water quality? With over 30 years of experience in maintaining private wells throughout Utah and Wyoming, Mike Zimmerman Well Service LLC is your go-to source for expert well water testing.
The licensed Z-Team contractors at Mike Zimmerman Well Service LLC will provide you with detailed test results and discuss recommendations for treatment based upon the findings. For affordable and thorough well water testing, contact our Salt Lake City office today.
