Contaminants
Groundwater that supplies wells can contain naturally occurring minerals (e.g., arsenic, boron, selenium, or radon). Also, almost all private wells are in rural areas where agriculture occurs. A wide variety of farming activities can affect groundwater that supplies wells. These include the use of pesticides, overuse of fertilizers and animal manure, and discharges from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). Other sources of groundwater pollution include nearby factories and small business, such as gas stations and dry cleaners, landfills and waste dumps, and faulty septic tanks and septic leaching fields.
The EPA states that most U.S. groundwater is safe for human use. But the risk posed by any chemical or substance in a private well can only be determined by regular testing, and this is almost always the responsibility of the property owner.
Following are tips from the EPA on protecting private groundwater supplies.
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Building, modifying, or closing a well
- Hire a certified well driller for any new well construction or modification.
- Slope well area so surface runoff drains away.
- When closing a well:
– Do not cut off the well casing below the land surface.– Hire a certified well contractor to fill or seal the well.
Preventing problems
- Install a locking well cap or sanitary seal to prevent unauthorized use of, or entry into, the well.
- Do not mix or use pesticides, fertilizers, herbicides, degreasers, fuels, and other pollutants near the well.
- Never dispose of wastes in dry wells or in abandoned wells.
- Pump and inspect septic systems as often as recommended by your local health department.
- Never dispose of hazardous materials in a septic system.
- Take care when working or mowing around your well.
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Maintaining a well
- Each month, check visible parts of your system for problems such as:
– Cracking or corrosion
– Broken or missing well cap
– Settling and cracking of surface seals. - Have the well tested once a year for coliform bacteria, nitrates, and other contaminants.
- Keep accurate records in a safe place, including:
– Construction contract or report
– Maintenance records, such as disinfection or sediment removal
– Any use of chemicals in the well
– Water testing results.
After a flood
- Stay away from the well pump while flooded to avoid electric shock.
- Do not drink or wash from the flooded well to avoid becoming sick.
- Get assistance from a well or pump contractor to clean and turn on the pump.
- After the pump is turned back on, pump the well until the water runs clear to rid the well of flood water.
- If the water does not run clear, get advice from the county or state health department or extension service.
The EPA provides information on private wells at http://water.epa.gov/drink/info/well/index.cfm. Well owners should also check with their state health departments and local governments to be sure they are in compliance with requirements.
The elephant in the room is “Have the well tested once a year for coliform bacteria, nitrates, and other contaminants.”
This is never communicated effectively to home owners and the “other” if done the way it should be including radon, organics, and metals has a cost that most home owners can not afford. Some states offer cheaper rates at state labs, but when you read of contaminated wells being found, most have not been tested in years.