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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. 2. Strategy: Have Your Well Water Tested [for Contaminants - EPA Suggests a Well Water Testing Strategy]Test your water every year for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids, and pH levels. If you suspect other contaminants, test for these also. Chemical tests can be expensive. Limit them to possible problems specific to your situation. Again, local experts can tell you about possible impurities in your area. Often county health departments do tests for bacteria and nitrates. For other substances, health departments, environmental offices, or county governments should have a list of state certified laboratories. Your State Laboratory Certification Officer can also provide one. Call EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline, (800) 426- 4791, for the name and phone number of your state's certification officer. Before taking a sample, contact the lab that will perform your tests. Ask for instructions and sampling bottles. Follow the instructions carefully so you will get correct results. The first step is getting a good water sample. It is also important to follow advice about storing the samples. Ask how soon they must be taken to the lab for testing. These instructions can be very different for each substance being tested. Remember to test your water after replacing or repairing any part of the well system (piping, pump, or the well itself.) Also test if you notice a change in your water's look, taste, or smell. The chart below ("Reasons to Test Your Water") will help you spot problems. The last five problems listed are not an immediate health concern, but they can make your water taste bad, may indicate problems, and could affect your system long term. [For details on water test choices, strategy, and typical costs, also see these non-EPA documents: 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 | |
| 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 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 InspectAPedia TM Home & Site Map Air Conditioning InspectAPedia Bookstore Electrical Environment Exteriors Heating Home Inspection Insulate Ventilate Interiors Mold Inspect/Test Plumbing Water Septic Roofing Structure Accuracy & Bias Pledge Contact Us |
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03/28/2008 - 12/31/2002 www.inspect-ny.com/water/Water_Pollution_35.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
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