Domestic wells have been used for centuries to provide water for drinking, cooking, and cleaning. Today, many families opt to have water wells drilled on their property to fulfill their water needs. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, about 15% of the U.S. population now relies on private wells for their drinking water. Homeowners are occasionally concerned about safety before hiring a water well drill service. Let's see if they're safe.

Safety With Precautions

Well water is considered safe to drink if you follow a few simple precautions. The Environmental Protection Agency provides guidelines for healthy drinking water, and those that depend upon a well should follow those guidelines. In fact, the EPA has the legal authority to set drinking water guidelines when it's taken from any source, including private wells. Obviously, the EPA can’t monitor the water at every individual well, so it’s the responsibility of the owner to follow the established guidelines and to have the proper types of testing done.

Water Treatment Systems

In addition to frequent water quality testing, the EPA also recommends that families using a private well install a filtration system. This will help keep dangerous contaminants out of your water. The system will also help keep the water consistently healthy over the life of the well. Even if a well is great for one year, the water quality could change in a matter of months. A water filtration system will keep it consistently safe.

Issues to Watch Out For

There are a few common well water problems that you should watch out for. One is heavy metal contamination. Another common problem is hard water, when your water is high in dissolved minerals. This is not only bad for drinking, but it can also ruin your appliances, tubs, sinks, and plumbing. You should test regularly for chemicals such as pesticides, bacteria, household waste, and other contaminants.

These issues arise because surface water eventually works its way down into the groundwater supply that is supplying the well. Anything that was in the surface water will eventually make its way into the groundwater and into the well. This can even include septic tank seepage. If this happens, the health of your water will be greatly compromised.

If you are in need of a company with a water well drill or other water quality services, contact LaBelle Well Drilling & Water Systems today. We're here for all of your well water needs. Our experts are standing by to assist you.