MONROE- Sunday, March 7 is the start of National Groundwater Awareness Week. It is wise have an annual well check up before peak water use season begins.
An annual checkup by a qualified water well contractor is the best way to ensure problem free service and water quality, says the National Ground Water Association.
Also, preventative maintenance usually is less costly than emergency maintenance, and good well maintenance - like good car maintenance - can prolong the life of a well and related equipment. NGWA further recommends water tests anytime there is a change in taste, odor, or appearance, or anytime the system is serviced.
Wells can provide high-quality drinking water, and about half of the United States population receives its drinking water from wells. But with well ownership comes the responsibility of keeping the water well in good working order. A check by a qualified water well contractor may include:
• A flow test to determine system output, along with a check of the water level before and during pumping, pump motor performance (checking amp load, grounding, and line voltage), pressure tank and pressure switch contact and general water quality.
• A well equipment inspection to assure it's sanitary and meets code.
• A test for coliform bacteria and nitrates, and anything else of local concern. Other typical additional tests are those for iron, manganese, water hardness, sulfides, and one the DNR is starting to push for is arsenic.
The local contractors in this area have come together to offer a discount on well check-ups. Come into the Land and Water Conservation office and get a coupon for 10 percent off a professional well check-up. Coupons will only be offered the week of March 7th.
The Green County Health Department has test kits available for $3 or free if you are pregnant or have a child under 1-year-old.
Once you sample the water with the kit, you send the water sample to the lab and you can choose to just test coliform bacteria and nitrates for $35 or a homeowner's test which tests for coliform bacteria, nitrates, iron, sulfides, and hardness for $44.
Remember to keep hazardous chemicals, such as paint, fertilizer, pesticides, and motor oils far away from your well, and maintain a "clean" zone of at least 50 feet between your well and any kennels or livestock operations.
Maintain proper separation between your well and buildings, waste systems, or chemical storage areas. Periodically check your well cover or well cap on top of the casing to ensure it is in good repair and securely attached. Its seal should keep out insects and rodents.
Keep your well records in a safe place. Records you should keep include the construction report, the annual well system maintenance and water testing reports.
On a side note to well water testing; to assume your water quality is good based on taste, odor, color, or family health is very wrong and could be deadly wrong.
You can not taste, smell, or see elevated levels of bactria. You can't assume you don't have elevated levels of bacteria because no family members are sick. Your family can build up immunities to the bacteria over time.
If someone new, such as a friend of the family or new baby drank water from a well with high levels of bacteria that your family had built up immunities to, that person could get very sick and in a few recorded cases could die. For as little it costs to get your well tested, isn't it worth the peace of mind to do it?
If you need assistance with conservation practices, or have any questions give the Land and Water Conservation Department a call at 325-4195.
An annual checkup by a qualified water well contractor is the best way to ensure problem free service and water quality, says the National Ground Water Association.
Also, preventative maintenance usually is less costly than emergency maintenance, and good well maintenance - like good car maintenance - can prolong the life of a well and related equipment. NGWA further recommends water tests anytime there is a change in taste, odor, or appearance, or anytime the system is serviced.
Wells can provide high-quality drinking water, and about half of the United States population receives its drinking water from wells. But with well ownership comes the responsibility of keeping the water well in good working order. A check by a qualified water well contractor may include:
• A flow test to determine system output, along with a check of the water level before and during pumping, pump motor performance (checking amp load, grounding, and line voltage), pressure tank and pressure switch contact and general water quality.
• A well equipment inspection to assure it's sanitary and meets code.
• A test for coliform bacteria and nitrates, and anything else of local concern. Other typical additional tests are those for iron, manganese, water hardness, sulfides, and one the DNR is starting to push for is arsenic.
The local contractors in this area have come together to offer a discount on well check-ups. Come into the Land and Water Conservation office and get a coupon for 10 percent off a professional well check-up. Coupons will only be offered the week of March 7th.
The Green County Health Department has test kits available for $3 or free if you are pregnant or have a child under 1-year-old.
Once you sample the water with the kit, you send the water sample to the lab and you can choose to just test coliform bacteria and nitrates for $35 or a homeowner's test which tests for coliform bacteria, nitrates, iron, sulfides, and hardness for $44.
Remember to keep hazardous chemicals, such as paint, fertilizer, pesticides, and motor oils far away from your well, and maintain a "clean" zone of at least 50 feet between your well and any kennels or livestock operations.
Maintain proper separation between your well and buildings, waste systems, or chemical storage areas. Periodically check your well cover or well cap on top of the casing to ensure it is in good repair and securely attached. Its seal should keep out insects and rodents.
Keep your well records in a safe place. Records you should keep include the construction report, the annual well system maintenance and water testing reports.
On a side note to well water testing; to assume your water quality is good based on taste, odor, color, or family health is very wrong and could be deadly wrong.
You can not taste, smell, or see elevated levels of bactria. You can't assume you don't have elevated levels of bacteria because no family members are sick. Your family can build up immunities to the bacteria over time.
If someone new, such as a friend of the family or new baby drank water from a well with high levels of bacteria that your family had built up immunities to, that person could get very sick and in a few recorded cases could die. For as little it costs to get your well tested, isn't it worth the peace of mind to do it?
If you need assistance with conservation practices, or have any questions give the Land and Water Conservation Department a call at 325-4195.
