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WATER TESTING
  WATER TESTING ADVICE
    SHOULD YOU TEST YOUR WATER?
    PUBLIC vs PRIVATE WATER
    WHEN TO TEST
    WATER TEST COSTS
    SPECIAL SITUATION TESTS
  ARSENIC in WATER
  BACTERIA TEST GUIDE
  CHEATING on WATER TESTS
  CHOICES of WATER TESTS
  CORRECTING BAD WATER
    Common Water Tests for Bacteria
    What to Do About Failed Water Tests
    When & How to Shock or Chlorinate a Well
    Acting on Unsatisfactory or Contaminated Water
  EPA GUIDE to WATER QUALITY
    Ground water & Well Contamination
    Drinking Water from Household Wells
    What Is Ground Water, How Is It Polluted
    Where Do Water Pollutants Come From
    Naturally Occurring Pollution Sources
    Private Well Contaminant Concerns
    Pollution due to Humans
    Level of Risk of Water Contamination
    Six Steps to Well Water Safety
    Protecting Ground Water From Contaminants
    1. How To Spot Well ContaminationProblems
    2. Well Water Test Strategy
    Reasons to Test Well Water
    3. Understanding Water] Test Results
    4. Well Construction and Maintenance
    5. Talk With Local Water Experts
    6. Fix Well Water Contamination Problems
    More Information on Well Water
    Well Water Definitions
  FHA WATER TESTS REQUIRED
  LEAD in WATER, ACTION GUIDE
  LEAD POISONING SYMPTOMS
  LEAD TEST VARIATION CAUSES
  ODORS IN WATER
  SEWAGE CONTAMINATION
  TOTAL COLIFORM TESTING
  WATER CONTAMINANT LEVELS
  WATER TEST RESULTS, ACTION GUIDE
  WATER TESTING GUIDE
  WATER TREATMENT GUIDE
  WATER TREATMENT EQUIPMENT CHOICES
  WATER ODORS, CAUSE CURE
  WATER PUMPS & WELLS
  WATER QUANTITY GUIDE
  WATER SOFTENERS
  WELL SHOCKING GUIDE
WELLS CISTERNS & SPRINGS
  WATER PRESSURE LOSS
  WATER TANK TYPES
  WELL CLEARANCE DISTANCES
  WELL TYPES
  WELL, PUMP, TANK LIFE
More Information

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Risk Assessment of Well Water Contamination
WaterAPedia ^©

- ground water pollution prevention, well water testing, well water safety, US EPA advice part 7

How to assess the level of risk of well water contamination
Sources of ground water pollution of drinking water & wells
Health concerns about water pollution
Levels of risk due to water contaminants
Steps to improve well water safety
Protecting ground water
How to correct ground water contamination

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If your family gets drinking water from your own well, do you know if your water is safe to drink? What health risks could you and your family face? Where can you go for help or advice? This pamphlet helps answer these questions. It gives you general information about drinking water from home wells (also considered private drinking water sources). It describes types of activities in your area that can create threats to your water supply. It also describes problems to look for and offers maintenance suggestions. Sources for more information and help are also listed. [Editing for clarity by DF are marked by brackets or italics] Initial Source: EPA 816-K-02-003 January 2002 Edits, content addition, & web page design © 2008 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

How Much Risk [of Water Contamination] Can I Expect?

The risk of having problems depends on how good your well is - how well it was built and located, and how well you maintain it. It also depends on your local environment. That includes the quality of the aquifer from which you draw your water and the human activities going on in your area that can affect your well water. Some questions to consider in protecting your drinking water and maintaining your well are:

What distance should my well be from sources of human wastes such as septic systems?
How far should it be from animal feedlots or manure spreading?
What are the types of soil and underlying rocks? Does water flow easily or collect on the surface?
How deep must a well be dug to avoid seasonal changes in ground water supply?
What activities in my area (farming, mining, industry) might affect my well?
What is the age of my well, its pump, and other parts?
Is my water distribution system protected from cross connections and backflow problems?

[For details on procedures for evaluating the risk of well water contamination see these articles which are outside this EPA document:

  WATER TESTING ADVICE
    SHOULD YOU TEST YOUR WATER?
    PUBLIC vs PRIVATE WATER
    WHEN TO TEST
    WATER TEST COSTS
    SPECIAL SITUATION TESTS
  ARSENIC in WATER
  BACTERIA TEST GUIDE
  CHEATING on WATER TESTS
  CHOICES of WATER TESTS
  CORRECTING BAD WATER

FHA WATER TESTS REQUIRED
  LEAD in WATER, ACTION GUIDE
  LEAD POISONING SYMPTOMS
  LEAD TEST VARIATION CAUSES
  ODORS IN WATER
  SEWAGE CONTAMINATION
  TOTAL COLIFORM TESTING
  WATER CONTAMINANT LEVELS
  WATER TEST RESULTS, ACTION GUIDE
  WATER TESTING GUIDE
  WATER TREATMENT GUIDE
  WATER TREATMENT EQUIPMENT CHOICES
  WATER ODORS, CAUSE CURE
  WATER PUMPS & WELLS
  WATER QUANTITY GUIDE
  WATER SOFTENERS
  WELL SHOCKING GUIDE

--DF]

Use links at the left of each page to continue to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links at page left show where you are in our document or website.

More expert information on wells, water testing, and contaminants

More Information on Water Testing, Septic System Inspection, Testing, Maintenance, and Building Diagnostic Inspections and Repairs

Drinking Water Supply, Contamination Levels, Water Testing Procedures

Drinking Water testing, contamination, correction - all topics
Drinking Water Testing Advice for home buyers home owners home inspectors
Choices of Water Tests & Fees: A Summary of Types of Water Tests, Degrees of Comprehensive Water Testing, Details of Water Test Parameters
Cheating on water tests: Testing Water for Real Estate Transactions - make sure your water test is valid
Drinking Water Contamination and Pollution How to Detect, Test, Correct, and Prevent Well Water Contamination - US EPA - Groundwater
Interpreting Drinking Water Test Results what the results mean and what to do about them
Correcting Unsatisfactory Water what to do, when to do it, treatment alternatives, equipment, filters, etc.
Water Treatment for Contamination, Hardness, Odors, Sediment, Etc: choices of systems, recommendations
Drinking Water Contaminant Levels - Maximum Allowed
How to Reduce Lead Contamination in Drinking Water: how to test & correction lead in drinking water
Lead Contamination from Water Supply Lines/Entry Mains, Lead Testing & Correcting Contamination from - Lead Pipe Problems/Advice
Extreme Lead Poisoning Symptoms Suggested by Feb 2006 NY Times Article on Kosovo Roma Camps
When and How to Shock or Chlorinate a Well - Procedure for Shocking a Well to (temporarily or maybe longer) "Correct" Bacterial Contamination
Water Requirements, Home & Outdoor Living
Water Supply & Drain Piping, Wells, Pumps, Water Supply Equipmentt
The Septic System Information Website - Extensive, Detailed Consumer and Industry Information on Septic System Inspection, Testing, Maintenance, Alternatives for on-site waste disposal
Sewage or Septic contamination in buildings - Investigation, Testing and Remediation

Water Supply & Drain Piping, Wells, Pumps, Water Supply Equipment

Water pressure tanks - how to diagnose the need for air, how to add air, stop water pump short cycling to avoid damage - water storage water pressure tank safety.
Diagnosing Clogged Drains: Is it a blocked drain or the septic system? - A First Step for Homeowners
Water Requirements, Home & Outdoor Living
Drinking Water Contamination, Testing, Well Sanitation, Water Tests

Drinking Water Supply, Contamination Levels, Water Testing Procedures
Water Supply & Drain Piping, Wells, Pumps, Water Supply Equipment
Septic Systems - Onsite Waste Disposal Inspection & Testing Procedures
Oil Tank piping, tank abandonment, leak and contamination issues

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CONTACT Daniel Friedman - Dan is a senior ASHI home inspector, nationally recognized expert on building inspection, building failures, and sick building investigation Contact Daniel Friedman for website content suggestions or for fee-paid consulting

03/28/2008 - 12/31/2002 www.inspect-ny.com/water/Water_Pollution_27.htm - Web page design © 2008 Copyright Daniel Friedman All Rights Reserved; content, less minor edits, is US EPA public document EPA 816-K-02-003 January 2002