The potential for pollution entering your well is affected by its placement and construction — how close is your well to potential sources of pollution? Local industrial activities, your area’s geology and climate also matter.
The best way to identify potential contaminants is to consult a local expert. For example, talk with a geologist or someone from a nearby public water system.
Have Your Borehole Water Tested
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.
Before taking a sample, contact a water treatment company like ours. We will follow the procedure to collect the water sample and liaise with the lab that will perform the water tests.
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.
Reasons to Test Your Water
| Conditions or Nearby Activities: | Test for: |
| Recurring gastro-intestinal illness | Coliform bacteria |
| Household plumbing contains lead | pH, lead, copper |
| Corrosion of pipes, plumbing | Corrosion, pH, lead |
| Nearby areas of intensive agriculture | Nitrate, pesticides, coliform bacteria |
| Coal or other mining operations nearby | Metals, pH, corrosion |
| Gas drilling operations nearby | Chloride, sodium, barium, strontium |
| Dump junkyard, landfill, factory, gas station, or dry- cleaning operation nearby. | Volatile organic compounds, total dissolved solids, pH, sulfate, chloride, metals |
| Odor of gasoline or fuel oil, and near gas station or buried fuel tanks | Volatile organic compounds |
| Objectionable taste or smell | Hydrogen sulfide, corrosion, metals |
| Stained plumbing fixtures, laundry | Iron, copper, manganese |
| Salty taste and seawater, or a heavily salted roadway nearby | Chloride, total dissolved solids, sodium |
| Scaly residues, soaps don’t lather | Hardness |
| Rapid wear of water treatment equipment | pH, corrosion |
| Water softener needed to treat hardness | Manganese, iron |
| Water appears cloudy, frothy, or colored | Color, detergents |
Understanding Your Test Results
Have your well water tested for any possible contaminants in your area. Do not be surprised if a lot of substances are found and reported to you.
The amount of risk from a drinking water contaminant depends on the specific substance and the amount in the water.
The health of the person also matters. Some contaminant cause immediate and severe effects. It may take only one bacterium or virus to make a weak person sick. Another person may not be affected. For very young children, taking in high levels of nitrate over a relatively short period of time can be very dangerous.
Many other contaminants pose a long-term or chronic threat to your health — a little bit consumed regularly over a long time could cause health problems such as trouble having children and other effects.
The amounts of contaminants allowed are based on protecting people over a lifetime of drinking water. Public water providers – (Package and bottle water) are required to test their water regularly before delivery. They also treat it so that it meets drinking water standards, notify customers if water does not meet standards and provide annual water quality reports.
Compare your borehole water test results to WHO or federal and state drinking water standards and water treatment solution offers by a company like ours will design a water treatment plant to rectify your water contaminant or pollution problem.
Well Construction and Maintenance
Proper well construction and continued maintenance are keys to the safety of your water supply. Our company, a water- well contractor can provide information on well construction.
Take a look at the following graphic illustration of well locations and how surface water drains to guard against water pollution.)
Talk to us for your upcoming water borehole construction and treatment requirement
Geodata Evaluation & Drilling LTD. offers borehole construction, maintenance and water treatment services. For your water services requirement. contact us at www.geodatadrilling.com Phone: +234 8037055441
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