How Often Should Well Water Be Tested?

Although owning a private water well helps reduce your water bill and avoid harsh chemicals in your drinking water, it is the homeowner's responsibility to maintain the water's purity and safety. Managing your water quality includes having your well water tested for specific pollutants. Individual water systems, such as privately owned wells, are not covered by the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) standards that safeguard public drinking water systems. Instead, it's your responsibility if you have a private water well to ensure your water is safe to consume. But the question is, how often should you test your well? This post will cover best practices and pointers for keeping your well water safe to drink.

Testing Your Private Water Well

The health department suggests testing your private well at least once a year for coliform bacteria and nitrate contaminants by water well drilling specialists in Yerington NV. Even one glass of water tainted with these two toxins is detrimental to health. So, why test only once a year? Although you may test more regularly, the CDC and the Department of Health agree that testing at least once a year considerably minimizes the chances of pollutants in your drinking water. 

Recognizing Testing Results

Once you receive your test results, checking the nitrate level is the main thing. If your water contains slightly increased amounts of nitrate, experts recommend testing it again in six months. Since nitrate levels change with time, resampling the water guarantees that the contaminants do not increase.

Stop drinking the water immediately if the nitrate level exceeds 10 milligrams per liter. Use an alternate water source while consulting with the lab and your local health authorities about the best way to disinfect your well.

Well Water Decontamination

Accredited laboratories assess the appropriate solutions, such as re-testing your water, disinfecting your well, or considering the efficacy of your well.

When Should You Have Your Well Water Tested? 

It is entirely up to you when you test your well water. However, experts often advise testing in the spring. During the rainiest months, rain runoff can transport pollutants from the surface into your well, notably if your well has any leaks, fractures, or other damage. On the contrary, your well water may test safe for contaminants in the dry or cold winter months when the earth is frozen. The weather and lack of excess runoff conceal the underlying damage that becomes visible during the wetter, rainier months.
It depends on you whether you test in the spring or any other season. The most crucial thing is to have your water checked annually!