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ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS GUIDE 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 CHEMICAL CONTAMINANTS in WATER CHEATING on WATER TESTS CHOICES of WATER TESTS CORRECTING BAD WATER Common Water Tests for Bacteria FAILED WATER TESTS - WHAT TO DO WELL SHOCK / CHLORINATION PROCEDURE FAILED WATER TESTS - WHEN to RE-TEST EPA GUIDE to WATER QUALITY Ground water & Well Contamination Drinking Water from Household Wells What Is Ground Water, How Is It Polluted Where Do Water Pollutants Come From Naturally Occurring Pollution Sources Private Well Contaminant Concerns Pollution due to Humans Level of Risk of Water Contamination Six Steps to Well Water Safety Protecting Ground Water From Contaminants 1. How To Spot Well Contamination Problems 2. Well Water Test Strategy Reasons to Test Well Water 3. Understanding Water] Test Results 4. Well Construction and Maintenance 5. Talk With Local Water Experts 6. Fix Well Water Contamination Problems More Information on Well Water Well Water Definitions 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 INTERPRETATION WATER TESTING GUIDE WATER TREATMENT EQUIPMENT CHOICES WATER TREATMENT EQUIPMENT CHOICES WATER ODORS, CAUSE CURE WATER PUMPS & WELLS WATER QUALITY TESTS, CONTAMINANTS, TREATMENT WATER QUANTITY IMPROVEMENT WATER QUANTITY USAGE GUIDE WATER SOFTENERS WELL SHOCKING GUIDE WELLS CISTERNS & SPRINGS WATER PRESSURE LOSS DIAGNOSIS GUIDE WATER PRESSURE & FLOW MEASUREMENT WATER TANK TYPES WELL CLEARANCE DISTANCES WELL TYPES WELL, PUMP, TANK LIFE More Information InspectAPedia Blog - News Updates Air Conditioning InspectAPedia Bookstore Electrical Environment Exteriors Heating Home Inspection Insulate Ventilate Interiors Mold Inspect/Test Plumbing Water Septic Roofing Structure Accuracy & Privacy Policies Contact Us |
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). This article on water contaminants 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 © 2009 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. 3. A Quick EPA Guide to Understanding Your Water Test ResultsHave your well water tested for any possible contaminants in your area. Use a state-approved testing lab. (See below for sources of approved laboratories.) 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. EPA drinking water rules for public water systems aim to protect people from both short and long term health hazards. The amounts of contaminants allowed are based on protecting people over a lifetime of drinking water. Public water systems 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 well's test results to federal and state drinking water standards. (You can find these standards at www.epa.gov/safewater/mcl.html or call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline 800-426-4791.) In some cases, the laboratory will give a very helpful explanation. But you may have to rely on other experts to aid you in understanding the results. The following organizations may be able to help:
... Technical Reviewers & References
Use links just below or 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. EPA GUIDE to WATER QUALITY Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
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11/03/2009 - 12/31/2002 - InspectAPedia.com/water/Water_Pollution_37.htm - © 2009 - 1988 Copyright Daniel Friedman All Rights Reserved - InspectAPedia® is a Registered U.S. Trademark