How to Spot Contaminated Drinking Water in Household Wells

How to spot sources or likely causes of contamination in water wells
WELL WATER CONTAMINATION: CAUSES, CURES - home

EPA GUIDE to WATER QUALITY - annotated,illustrated & expanded guide to Ground water & Well Contamination
Questions & Answers about how to approach testing water wells for contamination
References

Click to Show or Hide Related Topics

InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.

This article 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. The original EPA version of this document has been edited, annotated, illustrated & expanded by InspectApedia editors & contributors. The initial document was EPA 816-K-02-003 January 2002. Edits, content addition, & web page design © 2013 InspectApedia.

How Can we Spot Potential Well Water Contamination Problems?

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 agricultural and industrial activities, your area's geology and climate also matter. This document includes a checklist to help you find potential problems with your well.

Take time to review it in the box labeled "Protecting Your Ground water Supply."

Because ground water contamination is usually localized, the best way to identify potential contaminants is to consult a local expert. For example, talk with a geologist at a local college or someone from a nearby public water system. They'll know about conditions in your area. (See item # 5)

[I have some other suggestions that have really paid off in the past when our clients were researching possible water contamination sources: Call water testing labs and home inspectors in your local area - these sources very often know about local pollutants. Talk to your neighbors - sometimes they know of very local problems or "events" that have contaminated nearby wells.

One of our clients was told by a neighbor that the local paper company had been dumping acetone and other chemical waste in a farmer's field right across the street from their well. We'd never have known to test for the particular chemicals involved had we not stumbled on this information - by asking. --DF]

[If you are buying a home, see Cheating on water tests: Testing Water for Real Estate Transactions - make sure your water test is valid ]

More Steps in Spotting & Protecting Wells from Water Contaminants or Pollutants

In the articles just below we describe the most common sources of well water contaminants.

WATER POLLUTANT SOURCES
WATER WELL PROTECTION & RESTORATION eplains the importance of protecting a well from polluted groundwater, of protecting groundwater from accidental pollutaion through open wells, and also how to return a well to operation and use after area flooding.
WELL FLOOD DAMAGE REPAIR describes how flood waters can cause well and water system piping contamination and what to do about it before using well water after area flooding.

For details on clues that can suggest water contamination problem, also see these non-EPA documents:

SHOULD YOU TEST YOUR WATER?
CHEATING on WATER TESTS - warnings about how some home sellers or others may fudge on a water test
LEAD in WATER, ACTION GUIDE
ODORS IN WATER - odors in drinking water may be harmless though unpleasant (such as some sulphur levels) or they may indicate dangerous methane gas contamination or unsanitary sewage contamination of the water supply. Also see SEWAGE CONTAMINATION
WELL CLEARANCE DISTANCES - if the water well is located too close to certain site features or potential sources of contamination you have a visual warning that the sanitation of the well water may be undertain or inconsistent

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

...

Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia

Questions & answers or comments about how to spot potential well water contamination problems by visual inspection or by checking records..

Ask a Question or Enter Search Terms in the InspectApedia search box just below.

Technical Reviewers & References

Related Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.

[1] Drinking Water from Household Wells - PDF, U.S. EPA, Original source last retrieved 2/13/2013, original source: http://www.epa.gov/privatewells/pdfs/household_wells.pdf
Cheating on water tests: Testing Water for Real Estate Transactions - make sure your water test is valid
Drinking Water Contaminant Levels - Maximum Allowed
Drinking Water Supply, Contamination Levels, Water Testing Procedures
Drinking Water Testing Advice for home buyers home owners home inspectors
Interpreting Drinking Water Test Results and Correcting Unsatisfactory Water

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.

The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume. Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.

Or choose the The Home Reference eBook for PCs, Macs, Kindle, iPad, iPhone, or Android Smart Phones. Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAEHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.

Building inspection education & report writing systems from Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd


	InspectAPedia^®	InspectAPedia
	Free Encyclopedia of Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, Repair	Ask a Question or Search InspectAPedia

Free Encyclopedia of Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, Repair