How Often Do I Need My Well Water Tested?

If you own a property that runs on private well water rather than the municipal water system, you should know that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules governing public drinking water do not apply to your private well. This means it’s your responsibility as the owner of the well to make sure your water is safe and free of potentially harmful contaminants, which will require you to bring in professionals for well testing in Tampa, FL.

As a general rule, you should plan on having your well tested every spring to ensure there are no mechanical issues, and that the water remains safe to drink. If spring doesn’t work for whatever reason, just find a time each year to get this done.

There are a few specific quality indicators and contaminants you should test for during your annual testing. At the very least, you should test for nitrates, total coliform bacteria (TCB), total dissolved solids (TDS) and pH levels, but if you have any reason to suspect other contaminants, you can test for those as well.

Aside from your annual testing, you should have your well tested in the following circumstances:

• You know there have been recent or historical problems with well water in your area
• You need to replace or repair any of the parts in your well system
• You notice clear changes in some of the qualities of your water, such as its odor, color or taste
• You have had certain problems near your well recently, including flooding or land disturbances
• You are located near a waste disposal site and therefore wish to partake in more frequent testing

To make sure you get accurate testing results, it is important you work with qualified professionals when conducting your well testing in Tampa, FL. Representatives from state and local health or environmental departments will often test for all of the above contaminants. They can also connect you with licensed laboratories in your area that will test for these or other substances.

The substances

Some of the common substances that will be tested for include:

• Total coliforms: Coliform bacteria live in the digestive systems of warm-blooded animals, and can also be found in surface water and on plants and soil. While these microbes usually do not cause illness, it is possible an elevated presence of these microbes could indicate a presence of other harmful substances like viruses, parasites and actual harmful bacteria.
• Fecal coliforms: Fecal coliform bacteria are a specific kind of coliform found in stools of warm-blooded animals. These include E. coli, which can cause diarrhea, hepatitis and dysentery.
• Nitrates: Nitrates are often found in foods, and high levels of nitrates in drinking water can cause people to become sick. They might come from septic systems, animal waste, sewer flooding, wastewater, stormwater runoff, agricultural runoff or plant decay.
• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs): VOCs are chemicals from industry and fuel that can cause health issues when found at certain levels.

For more information about well testing in Tampa, FL, contact the team at Advanced Pump & Well Service today.

Categorised in: Water Testing