Do you test your well water ?

woodsy · #1 07/25/12, 06:33 AM

For the 2nd time in 20 years we had our drilled well water tested , 1st time was shortly after
it was put in. Well is 240' deep , 200' casing with water about 50' down.
We were mainly concerned with arsenic which is contaminating many wells in this region but went for a fairly thorough test. The arsenic count was virtually negative, however we did test positive for coliform. All the other 13
tests for nitrites, manganese and minerals,etc were at acceptable levels .
Have no idea how long the coliform has been present .
Gave the well a chlorine shock treatment and will probably retest for coliform in a few weeks or more.
Not sure where the coliform is coming in from. I don't believe the well casing was ever grouted properly after it was drilled and the old style cap had a hairline crack in it. Replaced that with a sanitary cap which seals tight around the pipe but has a couple small screened vents.
So, for you private well owners, Do you test ?

idigbeets · #2 07/25/12, 07:05 AM

If you're using well or surface water to irrigate a garden, even moreso if you sell those products, you should test your water yearly. FYI, coliform is present in pretty much all water sources, was your level above a certain threshold?

woodsy · #3 07/25/12, 07:18 AM

According to the state, who did the test, any coliform positive water should not be consumed w/o boiling it first.

Alice In TX/MO · #4 07/25/12, 07:24 AM

info:
Coliform Bacteria in Drinking Water Supplies

Cabin Fever · #5 07/25/12, 09:33 AM

Your water was likely tested for "total coliform" bacteria NOT "fecal coliform" or "escherichia coliform" (e coli). The presence of total coliform is not necessary a cause for alarm since coliform bacteria are ubiquidous. The source of 99% of the coliform found in well water samples is from unharmful bacteria living in your well casing, hotwater heater, and plumbing. Unless you have shocked your well withing the last year or two, you probably have some coliform bacteria in your plumbing.

I always recommend shocking your well AND plumbing before taking a sample in for testing. If that samples shows the presence of coliform then you can be pretty well assured the source is the aquifer and not your plumbing. I would then take a second sample and have it tested specifically for fecal coliform.

Cabin Fever · #6 07/25/12, 09:35 AM

Read what Alice posted.

haypoint · #7 07/25/12, 09:42 AM

The water test kit comes from my local Health Department. It doesn't cost much.
BEWARE- The Health Department keeps a record of the information from your test. That is available to the public, as a public record. I get around that by listing a well at another location. That way if I were to have a problem, I can take care of it and not have a problem noted on my well.

woodsy · #8 07/25/12, 10:06 AM

The water analysis i had done included the E-coli test which was negative.
These tests can be had for $15-$20 usually, some include bacteria count and some don't, the one i had didn't .
Agree, Good link on the subject from Alice and no cause for alarm because of the coliform positive results .
As the literature says, "While the coliform bacteria are not themselves dangerous, they are an indicator of potential contaminants that could cause illness".

Cabin Fever · #9 07/25/12, 10:15 AM

Shock you well and plumbing system and bring a new water sample in for testing. I bet it will come back negative for all bacteria.

julieq · #10 07/25/12, 01:07 PM

We had the well water tested when we bought this place last October. We have a fairly new well, so mostly likely won't test again unless there's a problem.

ai731 · #11 07/25/12, 01:29 PM

We got ours tested when we bought the place, almost 4 years ago. We'll probably get it tested again soon, because our regional health authority is recommending all wells be tested in drought-hit areas, which includes ours.

OkieDavid · #12 07/25/12, 03:50 PM

I agree with what CF said and also caution you to make sure you sterilize the water tap where the sample was taken. A quick blast with a torch/cigarette lighter followed by 30 seconds or so of running water THEN pull your sample. A surprising number of coliform positive samples come from contamination at the spigot.....

Danaus29 · #13 07/25/12, 05:37 PM

You didn't list my choice. Tested it when we bought the house. Had the new well tested after it was drilled. The county didn't let us know they were coming out to take the sample and the well was never chlorinated. It still passed.

woodsy · #14 07/26/12, 08:05 AM

Am i correct to assume that the boil recommendation for total coliform positive water is a safety precaution because of other possible contaminants ? And seeing that our e-coli test was negative
would you feel safe drinking our total coliform positive water ?

frankva · #15 07/26/12, 08:08 AM

Hasn't killed you yet.

Bacteria is scared of your crusty old self.

woodsy · #16 07/26/12, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankva

Hasn't killed you yet.

Bacteria is scared of your crusty old self.

Stop by, I'll pour you a glass or two.

frankva · #17 07/26/12, 08:16 AM

Probably make my dainty self ill.

Cabin Fever · #18 07/26/12, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woodsy

Am i correct to assume that the boil recommendation for total coliform positive water is a safety precaution because of other possible contaminants ? And seeing that our e-coli test was negative
would you feel safe drinking our total coliform positive water ?

Yes, I would.

BillHoo · #19 07/26/12, 12:36 PM

Do they also test for formaldehyde leaching into the aquifer from the local cemetery?

Ramblin Wreck · #20 07/26/12, 12:58 PM

Test every once in a while. If I'm in the well working, I always add some bleach to kill anything that got through the opening and some salt to settle the sediment.

Joe.G · #21 07/26/12, 01:15 PM

Never heard of salt being used to settle a well, I shock mine every few years, I take a sample every few years, But I don't do it right before or after I take a sample or shock it.
Coliform pops up on a lot of tested wells.

Ravenlost · #22 07/26/12, 10:16 PM

Had our wells dug nine years ago. Hubby asked the guy who did it if we needed to have the water tested. He took a drink and said "There, I tested it and it passed". We've never tested it beyond that!

Micheal · #23 07/27/12, 05:32 AM

Had the water tested when the well was drilled (1971). And then once in the 1990's only because a couple of neighbors came down with a bug that was reportedly linked to their wells - my test came back clean....... haven't thought about it since.

Jim S. · #24 07/27/12, 08:24 AM

Tested when drilled in 2001 as a state requirement. It was fine. Still went ahead and treated it with chlorine after it was developed, since the tools used to drill it can introduce bugs. Haven't bothered since. Love the water, so soft and sweet-tasting. This well has never failed us, even in severe droughts when county water system users were placed on restrictions.

I could not do what haypoint is doing in Michigan. In Tennessee, every new-drilled well has to have a state ID number, and they are kept track of so that the state can ensure they are properly sealed if they fall into disuse.