MONROE - Safe drinking water is something that many people commonly take for granted. While community water systems are regulated to ensure that water quality meets drinking water standards, private well owners must assume the responsibility of testing their wells and interpreting results. In a sense, private well owners are their own water utility manager. Testing well water removes any uncertainty homeowners may have about their water quality and helps many people feel better about using their water.
In March, 64 households in the towns of Washington and York participated in a Drinking Water Testing and Education Program arranged by the towns, the Green County UW-Extension Office and UW-Extension groundwater specialists from the Center for Watershed Science and Education. The program is part of an annual effort in Green County designed to provide homeowners with the opportunity to learn more about their groundwater.
Groundwater in the towns of Washington and York is characterized as having a moderate amount of hardness (calcium and magnesium) and pH. While some calcium and magnesium in the water is good, too much can cause problems, such as scaling. Water softeners are a common and effective treatment device for problems associated with hard water. While iron can also be a common aesthetic concern with well water, water tests generally indicated low levels that are not likely to cause staining or taste issues.
While the results from the program were generally very good, a few households did detect problems. Eight percent of participants detected coliform bacteria, which if detected generally indicates a problem or defect with the well water system. Coliform bacteria generally are not thought to make people sick but can indicate a pathway for other disease-causing organisms to enter the water supply. Coliform bacteria problems may be related to something as simple as a loose well cap and often can be corrected or prevented with some simple steps.
Nitrate testing also was conducted. Background or natural levels of nitrate-nitrogen in groundwater are generally less than 1 mg/L. Elevated levels are generally a result of nearby agricultural activity (i.e. nitrogen fertilizers, animal waste or other bio-solid applications) or septic system drain fields. Seventeen percent of the samples showed levels above 10 mg/L nitrate-nitrogen. Water above 10 mg/L nitrate-nitrogen should not be used by infants or women who are currently or may become pregnant because of health-concerns associated with these populations. All other persons are encouraged to avoid long-term consumption of water above 10 mg/L of nitrate-nitrogen. The ideal solution is to reduce or eliminate the source of nitrate, however short term solutions may be necessary. Water treatment systems such as reverse osmosis have been shown to be an effective method for reducing nitrate concentrations in drinking water.
In general, the water test results from the towns of York and Washington were encouraging and reveal that the majority of households are accessing groundwater that meets or exceeds acceptable standards for drinking water. Those that did observe problems were provided information of possible corrective measures. For anyone who did not have an opportunity to participate in the organized testing program, water testing kits are available through the Green County Health Department.
For more information about well water quality in your area, a state-wide mapping tool of well water quality can be accessed by using the Center for Watershed Science and Education's WI Well Water Viewer online at http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/watershed/Pages/wellwaterviewer.aspx.
For more information on the testing program or questions about groundwater and wells, contact Victoria Solomon, Green County Community Resource Development Educator at 608-328-9440 or Victoria.Solomon@ces.uwex.edu; or Kevin Masarik, UW-Extension Groundwater Education Specialist, at 715-346-4276 or kmasarik@uwsp.edu.
In March, 64 households in the towns of Washington and York participated in a Drinking Water Testing and Education Program arranged by the towns, the Green County UW-Extension Office and UW-Extension groundwater specialists from the Center for Watershed Science and Education. The program is part of an annual effort in Green County designed to provide homeowners with the opportunity to learn more about their groundwater.
Groundwater in the towns of Washington and York is characterized as having a moderate amount of hardness (calcium and magnesium) and pH. While some calcium and magnesium in the water is good, too much can cause problems, such as scaling. Water softeners are a common and effective treatment device for problems associated with hard water. While iron can also be a common aesthetic concern with well water, water tests generally indicated low levels that are not likely to cause staining or taste issues.
While the results from the program were generally very good, a few households did detect problems. Eight percent of participants detected coliform bacteria, which if detected generally indicates a problem or defect with the well water system. Coliform bacteria generally are not thought to make people sick but can indicate a pathway for other disease-causing organisms to enter the water supply. Coliform bacteria problems may be related to something as simple as a loose well cap and often can be corrected or prevented with some simple steps.
Nitrate testing also was conducted. Background or natural levels of nitrate-nitrogen in groundwater are generally less than 1 mg/L. Elevated levels are generally a result of nearby agricultural activity (i.e. nitrogen fertilizers, animal waste or other bio-solid applications) or septic system drain fields. Seventeen percent of the samples showed levels above 10 mg/L nitrate-nitrogen. Water above 10 mg/L nitrate-nitrogen should not be used by infants or women who are currently or may become pregnant because of health-concerns associated with these populations. All other persons are encouraged to avoid long-term consumption of water above 10 mg/L of nitrate-nitrogen. The ideal solution is to reduce or eliminate the source of nitrate, however short term solutions may be necessary. Water treatment systems such as reverse osmosis have been shown to be an effective method for reducing nitrate concentrations in drinking water.
In general, the water test results from the towns of York and Washington were encouraging and reveal that the majority of households are accessing groundwater that meets or exceeds acceptable standards for drinking water. Those that did observe problems were provided information of possible corrective measures. For anyone who did not have an opportunity to participate in the organized testing program, water testing kits are available through the Green County Health Department.
For more information about well water quality in your area, a state-wide mapping tool of well water quality can be accessed by using the Center for Watershed Science and Education's WI Well Water Viewer online at http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/watershed/Pages/wellwaterviewer.aspx.
For more information on the testing program or questions about groundwater and wells, contact Victoria Solomon, Green County Community Resource Development Educator at 608-328-9440 or Victoria.Solomon@ces.uwex.edu; or Kevin Masarik, UW-Extension Groundwater Education Specialist, at 715-346-4276 or kmasarik@uwsp.edu.