Well & Septic questions

[PKBoo]

I've been reading here for a while, and have learned a lot! I'm sure someone can help me with these questions...

We are in the process of buying 25 acres with an 1850 house that has been vacant for a year. The well is 450 feet deep, and put in within the last 25 years. The well was tested, and the nitrate levels are 15 (limit is 10) and the total coliform was 2.6 (limit 1.1). The owner is going to have the well "shocked." Does anyone have any experience with this? I've read some info on-line, and understand how it's done, but how effective is it?

Also, the septic system was inspected and is not up to code. The tank is 15 yrs old and seems to be okay, however the drainfield is an 8 foot deep pit filled with stone, approximately 5 ft wide x 15 ft long. There does not appear to be any surface problems. THe owner says all of these things are fine. I know there's been a bunch of questions about septic systems lately, but I didn't see anything like this addressed.

Thanks for your help - we are very excited about this move, but are cautious and concerned about what this means long-term. Any feedback is appreciated!

[agmantoo]

The septic needs to have an approved leach field installed and at the sellers expense. Shocking the well will do nothing for the nitrates. Infants should not drink water with nitrate levels above 10. It the hole for the septic system is near the well that could be where the problem is originating for the nitrates and the coliform. How far is the septic system from the well?

[PKBoo]

The well is about 150 ft uphill from the septic. We figured the nitrates would be high (fields all around & uphill from the well), and were planning on putting a reverse osmosis system in. It was the coliform and septic that we were most concerned. We're anxious to get the inspectors recommendations and see what the seller says.

[Cabin Fever]

Agmantoo pretty much summed up what I would have said, too. Shocking is effective in eliminating total coliform, but they will likely be back in a few years. Almost all well water will have total coliform if the well hadn't been shocked within the past 5 years. Once a well is properly shocked, a homeowner should have the water tested again. If the water still shows coliform, the groundwater in the area is likely contaminated...most of the time by the homeowners septic system or livestock manure.

You may want to consider simply buying bottled water for infants instead of an expensive RO system. The nitrate level will not hurt anyone except infants.

As far as the septic system goes, most states require an inspection prior to a property transfer. If the system does not meet code, it must be uprgraded prior to the sale.

[Ken Scharabok]

How far into the 'process of buying' are you. If you can, insist on having the well and septic system inspected and brought up to code at the seller's expense. Some negotiating room there, such as the total upgrade if $4K. You agree to up your offer by $2K, dependent upon those meeting code.

On the nitrates, with that deep of a well, I suspect contaminants are following the well casing down to water level.

[PKBoo]

Thanks alot - we're going to contact the seller and do some negotiating. We really appreciate your feedback!