CAD / USD
CART
1-866-376-2690
SoftPlus Water Softeners Iron Rival Iron Reduction Systems ecoTAC Hard Water Conditioning Systems

Testing and Purifying Private Water Systems (Wells)

Viqua VH200-F10

Viqua VH200-F10

MSRP: CDN$1,170.00
Our Price: CDN$995.00
You save: $175.00




Although the vast majority of Americans get their water from a treated municipal water source, more than 42 million Americans have privately-owned water supplies (wells, lakes, river, etc.). The responsibility to maintain private wells and water systems, including ongoing testing and purification, generally rests with their owners. Very few regulations exist to govern the quality of private well water supplies. Typically, well water is required to be evaluated for microbiological contamination only at the time the well is initially installed. Some progressive health departments require microbiological testing when the property changes ownership as well. During routine day-to-day operation however, it is up to the well owner to monitor and ensure the quality of his own well water supply.

Quick Menu:

Recent stories in the media regarding waterborne illnesses have heightened concerns about drinking water and the need for proper purification. The reality is that almost every water source is contaminated to some degree - some naturally, some by man-made chemicals introduced to the water table through industry, agriculture, leaking or poorly-constructed septic systems, or other means. This is particularly true of shallow water wells. Ground water from deep, drilled wells is naturally filtered and is generally relatively pure and free of biological contamination. However, contamination may occur following improper installation of well casings or caps, after a break in the casing or as a result of contaminated surface water entering the well. Contamination can also occur if wells are drilled in fractured bedrock without an adequate layer of protective soil and with less than the recommended minimum casing length. Most surface water (lakes and rivers) is generally significantly polluted and must be treated before drinking.

Testing Your Water Supply

It is vital that all well owners test their water for contaminants when they first purchase their property and roughly each year subsequently. You should also test your water if:

The nature of the tests you have to do will depend on the known or common contaminants in your area, your proximity to potential pollution sources, and other factors. Many county health departments offer water testing, or you may want to consider using an accredited private testing laboratory.

The following is a list of basic tests private well owners or homeowners who get their water supply from wells, lakes, rivers, or other untreated sources should consider:

Well water often contains naturally occurring minerals, such as calcium, iron and sulphur. Although these minerals are not generally hazardous to human health, they can alter the hardness, taste, odor or color of the water when present in excess quantities.
Problem Likely Cause Recommended Treatments
hard water deposits on kettles, pots, hot water heaters, humidifiers excess calcium Water softener
TAC Hard Water Conditioner
Reverse osmosis
Low Maintenance Humidifier
Tankless Water Heater
rusty red or brown staining of fixtures or laundry and/or your water has a metallic taste excess iron Whole-house iron reduction filter
black staining of fixtures or laundry excess manganese Whole-house iron reduction filter
rotten egg smell from water Hydrogen sulfide Whole-house iron reduction filter
water has laxative effect excess sulfates Reverse osmosis
water is gritty, muddy, or appears dirty excess sand, silt, dirt, clay, or other sediments in your water Whole-house cartridge filter
Backwashing sediment filter

The best time to sample your well water is when the probability of contamination is greatest. This is likely to be in early spring just after the thaw, after an extended dry spell, following heavy rains or after lengthy periods of non-use.

If you use a private laboratory to conduct the testing, nitrate and bacteria samples will typically cost between $10 and $20 to complete. Testing for other contaminants will be more expensive. For example, testing for pesticides or organic chemicals may cost from several hundred to several thousand dollars. The lab will supply you with a clean, sterile sample bottle and the necessary instructions. Samples collected in any other container will not yield meaningful results and will likely not be accepted by the laboratory. In all instances, samples should be refrigerated immediately and transported to the laboratory within 24 hours. Most laboratories mail back the sample results within days or several weeks. If a contaminant is detected, the results will include the concentration of the contaminant and an indication of whether this concentration exceeds a drinking water quality standard.

Once your water has been analyzed, you can compare your test results against EPA or state / provincial drinking water regulations to see if any contaminants are exceeding recommended levels. Once you have identified if any problems exist, you can begin your search for a specific treatment for your well water.

It is important that you conduct follow-up testing of the treated water to ensure that it has indeed solved your contamination problems. Follow-up testing should be conducted several times throughout the first year of operation of the treatment system and after any adjustments are made to the system.

You should continue to monitor the quality of your well water at least annually or more frequently if you have reason to believe a new contaminant or contaminants may have entered your water supply or that your system is not catching all intended contaminants.

Well Water Treatment

The treatment of well water will depend on the outcome of your water quality tests. Some water quality problems are better handled through point-of-entry applications, such as color and odor problems or conditions such as hardness. Other contaminants can be best handled through point-of-use devices (reverse osmosis, for example). Keep in mind that some treatment technologies may require that you pre-treat the water in order for the product to be effective. For example, reverse osmosis systems designed for arsenic or nitrate reduction will last longer if hard water is softened prior to entering the unit. In addition, arsenic can be present in water in two forms - if your water contains trivalent arsenic (Arsenic 3 or Arsenite), pre-chlorination will be required prior to using a reverse osmosis system.

Well Maintenance

You should also take steps to protect your water supply from contamination. The following are a few suggestions: