Look for any broken pieces, and ensure your cap is still attached to your well.
You can also ask a friend or family member to flush a toilet or turn on a sink and listen to the running water. Get a professional involved if you hear any grinding noises.
Regular inspections also protect your health by maintaining proper water conditions.
A professional can also assist you with repairs if needed. You should also contact a professional if there are changes to your water pressure, if you taste or smell something odd in your water, or any time the well cap has been removed.
Your water can get contaminated by fecal contamination from feedlots, high concentrations of naturally-occurring chemicals (like radon and arsenic), septic system problems, fertilizers, and pesticides. For more information on water-related contaminants, visit: https://www. cdc. gov/healthywater/drinking/private/wells/diseases. html
This is helpful because you will know what to look for when performing well water tests. You can also call state environmental agency officials and nearby public water system officials.
Herbicides, degreasers, and fuels are all toxic if ingested, so keep them far away from your water supply!
Keep your well at a safe distance from major sources of pollutants, like livestock yards and silos. They should also be at least 50 feet (15 m) from your well.
If your well is closer than the minimum distances, seek a professional for help replacing your well.
Do not drink or wash from flooded water, and keep your distance from the well pump to prevent electrical shocks. You can also contact a local environmental agency. For more information on what to do after a flood, check out the Center for Disease Control’s instructions here: https://www. cdc. gov/disasters/floods/cleanupwater. html
To find your local health department, search online. You can also call if you have questions about the water testing process. Be aware that bacteria tests are time sensitive, and you must return them to the lab within 30 hours. [11] X Research source In addition to regular tests, test your water immediately if there are any major changes, problems, or replacements with your well. You should also test your water if someone in your home is pregnant.
You may need to apply a little pressure at first, but the strainer should easily unscrew with the help of a tool.
Both bleach and rubbing alcohol work well to disinfect your faucet.
This helps flush your pipes and provide an adequate sample for your test. After the 5 minutes are up, do not turn off the water. Let it run until after you take your samples. Avoid touching the faucet with your hands! Touching the faucet can contaminate your water test. If you happen to bump the faucet, disinfect the faucet again and restart your 5 minute timer.
If the water overflows out of the bottle, it may remove some of the necessary testing chemicals, resulting in inaccurate tests. Most test kits will instruct you to fill the bottles up to the shoulder, the part of the bottle below the neck. Some of the bottles may have some moisture or powder in the containers. Don’t worry about this, as it is just part of the test kit.
Fill out the form neatly and completely using a pen or pencil.
You don’t have to tape up your box if you are dropping it off at a local center.
If you are mailing back bacteria test kits, keep in mind that they must reach the lab within 30 hours. You may need an expedited shipping method. [19] X Research source
Additional steps may include a well water flush, adding chlorine, adjusting pH levels, and other actions.
Your local health department have expert staff members that can help determine how to correct problems your well water.
