If your family gets drinking water from a private 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? It is a good idea to have your well water tested at least once every few years for … Continue reading Test for a Wide Range of Well Water Contaminants
Background The San Lorenzo Watershed in Santa Cruz County, California is a large coastal drainage system in a temperate rainforest that funnels into the San Lorenzo River. More than 40 creeks feed into the river that eventually drains out into the Pacific Ocean, at the northern tip of Monterey Bay. The San Lorenzo Watershed creeks … Continue reading CWS Assists Undergraduate Student Research Project
Often contaminants leave behind a trace detectable by your senses, but not always. Steps to determine if you may have problems with your water: 1. Get your water quality tested in a lab! A basic mineral analysis will show the most common issues, such as iron, manganese, dissolved solids, tannins, pH, and hardness. EPA certified … Continue reading Bad Water May Look, Taste, or Smell Like Good Water!
Arsenic, a natural occurring element in the geology of many regions, is an important contaminant of well water to look out for. The map above shows wells sampled across the country and their arsenic concentration levels. The EPA's maximum contaminant level is strictly set for public health concerns at 10 micrograms per liter. Local … Continue reading Arsenic Contamination of Well Water: A Real Issue
When selecting a well water treatment system, knowing your water chemistry is the key to finding the right system. Your water chemistry can easily be determined by conducting simple water testing, using of of our test kits. Testing to Determine Water Chemistry, Depending on the Problem If you have never had your well water tested, … Continue reading Identifying Water Problems by Symptoms
Continuing with our theme of common mistakes made while selecting a well water treatment system, today we will be focusing on the failure to properly test your well water chemistry. This could be considered one of the most important mistakes as it is the first step in selecting a treatment system. If your tests are … Continue reading A Common Mistake: Failure to Properly Test the Well Water Chemistry
Testing for Coliform Bacteria in Well Water: Can I Do It At Home? A question we often get is: “I’m mainly concerned with the safety of my well water. Can I test it myself for coliform bacteria?” According to the USEPA, coliform bacteria are common in the environment. While coliform may or may not make … Continue reading Coliform Bacteria Testing: Why, How, and When
Coliform bacteria are common in the environment, present in the soil and intestines of animals, and are generally not harmful. However, the presence of these bacteria in well water or spring water usually indicates that the water may be contaminated with germs that can cause disease and can even contaminate your well water without any … Continue reading Sources of Coliform Bacteria Contamination in Home Well Water
Sources of Coliform Bacteria Contamination in Home Well Water Bacteria can contaminate your well water without any change in taste or odor to the water. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends annual testing of residential water wells for coliform bacteria. Generally, there are two categories of coliform bacteria that are found in well water, total … Continue reading What You Should Know About Coliform Bacteria in Your Home Well Water
This week, our blog will focus on well water treatment systems for removing sand and sediment, which can often be a significant issue for property owners. Sand and sediment in well water are often a serious problem for many people using well water, and they can cause rapid deterioration of fixtures and appliances. Sand and … Continue reading Removing Sand And Sediment From Well Water And The Four Most Effective Systems
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