In many rural areas, homes depend on wells to supply for their needs. While the Environmental Protection Agency requires that public supplies be tested to ensure they meet certain standards, such tests are not generally required for private wells in the United States. Well water testing ensures a home's supply is safe for the family to consume.
Several tests are used as determiners of the quality of the supply along with the presence of contaminates. Indicator strains of bacteria and chemicals, which do not necessarily cause illness, are checked. Their presence indicates the supply may have been contaminated by germs, including those in raw sewage that can cause illness.
One of the greatest concerns is contamination by bacteria often found in the digestive systems of humans and other warm blooded animals. For example, the lab may perform a total coliform count to indicate the number of such bacteria in the sample size. If such counts are high, there is a larger chance of the presence of other bacteria, which can cause harm, being present in the sample.
Samples are also often tested for an indicator strain of E. Coli. A positive result indicates fecal contamination in the supply. Although the indicator strain of E. Coli is generally harmless, its presence indicates other germs that can cause health concerns including dysentery, hepatitis and diarrhea. Homeowners should not confuse the indicator strain with the more harmful one that often makes the news due to restaurant or food contamination.
Labs generally perform a pH test. This test is quick to perform and determines whether the sample is acid, base or neutral. While a reading of 7 is neutral, higher or lower numbers can affect quality. Non-neutral samples may erode heavy metals form pipes. This causes plumbing problems and may make consumers sick in a home.
Nitrates are a part of many foods, but should be in the pipes of the home as continual consumption can make you ill. Sources of these chemicals include flooded sewers, septic tanks, animal waste and polluted storm waters. They can also come from farm runoff, affecting the quality of wells in the area. In addition, natural deposits in the area often increase their levels.
In some regions, volatile organic compounds from fuel or industrial pollution contaminate wells. The exact VOCs for which one should test depend on the location in which one lives. If they are a problem in your region, the local health department can tell you the tests to have completed.
Other health concerns are also location specific. These could include chemicals such as radium, mercury or arsenic. You may live in an area where wells need to be tested for specific germs to ensure safety for the family.
Generally, homeowners should submit samples to a lab for well water testing annually. Samples should also be submitted when there is a difference in quality of if land disturbances have occurred. With proper testing, you ensure your supply remains healthy for the family.
Several tests are used as determiners of the quality of the supply along with the presence of contaminates. Indicator strains of bacteria and chemicals, which do not necessarily cause illness, are checked. Their presence indicates the supply may have been contaminated by germs, including those in raw sewage that can cause illness.
One of the greatest concerns is contamination by bacteria often found in the digestive systems of humans and other warm blooded animals. For example, the lab may perform a total coliform count to indicate the number of such bacteria in the sample size. If such counts are high, there is a larger chance of the presence of other bacteria, which can cause harm, being present in the sample.
Samples are also often tested for an indicator strain of E. Coli. A positive result indicates fecal contamination in the supply. Although the indicator strain of E. Coli is generally harmless, its presence indicates other germs that can cause health concerns including dysentery, hepatitis and diarrhea. Homeowners should not confuse the indicator strain with the more harmful one that often makes the news due to restaurant or food contamination.
Labs generally perform a pH test. This test is quick to perform and determines whether the sample is acid, base or neutral. While a reading of 7 is neutral, higher or lower numbers can affect quality. Non-neutral samples may erode heavy metals form pipes. This causes plumbing problems and may make consumers sick in a home.
Nitrates are a part of many foods, but should be in the pipes of the home as continual consumption can make you ill. Sources of these chemicals include flooded sewers, septic tanks, animal waste and polluted storm waters. They can also come from farm runoff, affecting the quality of wells in the area. In addition, natural deposits in the area often increase their levels.
In some regions, volatile organic compounds from fuel or industrial pollution contaminate wells. The exact VOCs for which one should test depend on the location in which one lives. If they are a problem in your region, the local health department can tell you the tests to have completed.
Other health concerns are also location specific. These could include chemicals such as radium, mercury or arsenic. You may live in an area where wells need to be tested for specific germs to ensure safety for the family.
Generally, homeowners should submit samples to a lab for well water testing annually. Samples should also be submitted when there is a difference in quality of if land disturbances have occurred. With proper testing, you ensure your supply remains healthy for the family.
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