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What You Need to Know About Your Drinking Water Well
When should I have my water tested?
The standard recommendation is to test your well water once each year, usually during the spring. It should also be tested after repairing or replacing an old well, pump, or pipes, or after drilling a new well.
You should have your water tested if any of the following occur:
- Family members or houseguests have recurring incidents of gastrointestinal illness.
- An infant is living in the home.
- You are buying a home and wish to assess the quality and safety of the existing supply.
- You wish to monitor the efficiency and performance of home water treatment equipment.
- You notice a change in the taste, smell, or appearance of the water.
Choosing a water well contractor. . .
The Iowa Department of Public Health administers a statewide certification program for water well drillers. To become certified, drillers must pass an exam and attend continuing education classes. Choosing a Certified Water Well Contractor is one way of assuring that the job is done by a qualified professional. The Scott County Health Department can provide you with a list of certified contractors.
What is a drilled well?
A well consists of a hole drilled into the ground (borehole), with the upper part being lined with plastic or steel pipe, known as casing. The casing prevents the collapse of the borehole walls and prevents surface contaminants from entering the water supply. The casing also provides a housing for a pump and for the pipe that moves water to the surface.
Below the casing, the lower portion of the borehole may be an open hole in solid bedrock or it may be screened and gravel-packed, depending upon the geologic conditions.
How safe is well water?
Water wells drilled according to State and County code requirements by a Certified Water Well Contractor provide a safe and plentiful supply for the daily needs of a household. But even with these safeguards, the only way to be sure that your water is free from contaminants is to have it tested.
How do I have my water tested?
The Scott County Health Department participates in the Iowa Department of Public Health’s Grants to Counties Program. Funded by mandate of the Ground Water Protection act of 1987, grants are made available to provide services that help prevent further contamination of Scott County ground water. This grant allows the Health Department to take a sample of your water at no cost to you. The sample is sent to a state certified laboratory, and the results are then mailed to you. Call the Health Department to set up a time to have your water sampled.
What will the water be tested for?
Your water will be tested for coliform bacteria and nitrates.
- Coliform bacteria are a group of naturally occurring bacteria that are present throughout the environment. The presence of coliform bacteria in your well water indicates that a pathway exists that has allowed contamination of the well. The pathway may be caused by surface water run off, structural defects in the well or distribution system, repairs without proper disinfection, or groundwater contamination.
- Nitrogen is an element that occurs naturally in the environment.
All sources of nitrogen are sources of nitrate. There is a potential
health risk to infants under one year of age and pregnant or nursing
mothers when drinking water containing elevated amounts of nitrates.
This is because high nitrates can reduce the oxygen carrying capacity
of the blood and cause "blue-baby" syndrome (or methemoglobinemia).
Nitrate concentrations exceeding the infant health advisory level of 45 mg/l (as NO3) are generally an indication of contamination from major nitrogen sources such as a sewage disposal system, animal manure, or nitrogen fertilizers. Nitrate contamination is more likely to occur in shallow wells or in wells that are poorly located, constructed, or maintained.
Public vs. Private-What's the difference?
The rule of thumb is that if your well provides service to 7 or more connections, serving 25 or more people, it is classified as a "Public" water supply and is regulated by the Iowa Department of Public Health.
Resources:
- National Well Owners Association
http://www.wellowner.org
- U.S. Geological Survey
http://water.usgs.gov
Water Resources of the U.S. - National Ground Water Association
http://www.ngwa.org
- Iowa Water Well Association
http://www.iwwa.org
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources: Geological Survey
http://www.igsb.uiowa.edu