| Living outside of the hustle and bustle of America's | | | | out of the well. Groundwater, except in rare cases, is |
| major cities certainly has its perks - no snarled traffic, | | | | free from bacteria. Virtually all bacterial contamination |
| less noise, less crime, clean air, clean water. | | | | of a drilled well occurs when surface water is allowed |
| Right? | | | | enter the well. Surface water is water that travels |
| Most of the time these statements are true, but at an | | | | over the ground but also water that travels through |
| alarming rate rural homeowners are having trouble with | | | | the first few feet of soil. |
| their water supply. Many rural inhabitants are | | | | When a well is constructed there are rules that well |
| discovering that their once-pristine wells are now | | | | drillers must follow. These rules vary by jurisdiction but |
| contaminated with bacteria. Interestingly, there has | | | | the themes are consistent. Ensuring these steps were |
| been no nation-wide assessment of the health of our | | | | followed will go a long way to ensuring you avoid a |
| rural water wells. But two smaller scale studies | | | | bacteria problem, or cure the one you've got. |
| suggest that 20 to 40 percent of the private wells in | | | | First, figure out where your well is located. It sounds like |
| any given area are contaminated with bacteria. | | | | an elementary step, but it's surprising how many rural |
| So what is a rural well owner to do? As it should be | | | | homeowners can't tell you where their well is situated. |
| with any health related issue, the best thing you can do | | | | Second, it's critical that a well is not located close to a |
| is educate yourself first, and take action second. So | | | | pollution source. Keep wells far away from septic |
| before you pour a gallon of Javex down your well, let's | | | | tanks and weeping beds, or containers of manure. |
| take a closer look at what bacterial contamination | | | | These are notorious sources of e.coli bacteria. |
| entails and what you can do to solve your problem. | | | | Third, ensure that the well is sealed. When a well is |
| Bacteria are everywhere. They carpet virtually all the | | | | constructed, there is a space between the well casing |
| surfaces we come into contact with and are found in | | | | and the hole in the ground into which this casing fits. |
| every nook and cranny of the Earth. Most of them are | | | | This is known as the annular space. To ensure that no |
| harmless to humans, but a small percentage has the | | | | surface water is allowed to collect around the casing |
| ability to cause disease. | | | | this space must be filled with watertight material to a |
| The most common bacteria found in wells are coliform | | | | certain depth. A visual inspecting will at least confirm |
| bacteria and e.coli. Coliform bacteria are a family of | | | | that the top of the annular space has been filled and |
| bacteria that are found in many places including soil. | | | | sealed. |
| Coliform is not particularly concerning unless water | | | | Fourth, make sure the well casing extends above the |
| supplies contain massive amounts. In any laboratory | | | | level of the ground. It's important that the well casing is |
| water test the presence of coliform bacteria is always | | | | at least several inches higher than the surrounding |
| investigated because its presence in a well indicates | | | | ground to ensure that no surface water can run into |
| that there is a pathway through which bacteria can | | | | the well. |
| travel from the soil to your water. In a properly | | | | Fifth, ensure that the top of your well is sealed with a |
| constructed and maintained well, there should be no | | | | vermin proof well cap. Some bacterial problems arise |
| such pathway. More about this later. | | | | when animals climb into the well cap, fall into the well |
| The presence of any e.coli bacteria in your water is a | | | | and die. The rotting material will cause bacterial levels |
| much more serious issue. E. coli has gained much | | | | to skyrocket. |
| notoriety because of several national outbreaks of the | | | | Despite taking these measures, you may still find that a |
| disease from contaminated ground beef. While most | | | | bacterial problem persists. At this point the well owner |
| people are aware of the possibility of e.coli | | | | is faced with the expensive prospect of drilling another |
| contamination in food, many people are not aware that | | | | well. Fortunately, technology provides us with a very |
| it can turn up in a water test. E.coli contamination of | | | | reliable and much less expensive solution: ultraviolet light |
| water is common enough that all water-testing facilities | | | | water disinfection. |
| will test for it's presence as part of their standard | | | | Ultraviolet light (UV for short) is able to render bacteria |
| battery of tests. | | | | harmless. A UV system for water purification is simply |
| E.coli normally resides in the guts of many mammals | | | | a device that is plumbed on the main water line in the |
| including humans and cattle. The presence of e.coli in | | | | home. It consists of a steel chamber into which is |
| your water indicates that fecal matter has made its | | | | inserted a high-output UV lamp. As bacteria move past |
| way into your water supply. Consuming water that | | | | the lamp they are zapped and eventually die. A UV |
| contains e.coli will usually result in cramping and | | | | system will take care of e.coli, coliform bacteria as well |
| diarrhea. However, there are some strains of e.coli that | | | | as most other bacteria, viruses and cysts that might |
| are much more aggressive. Consuming these | | | | be found in your water supply. |
| dangerous strains of e.coli can result in liver damage | | | | So take the time to know where your well is, and |
| and ultimately death. | | | | inspect it to make sure nothing is visibly wrong. Adding |
| The first line of defense in avoiding bacterial | | | | a UV system can solve a recurring problem or act as |
| contamination of your well is to ensure that it was | | | | added peace of mind. Remember, whatever road you |
| constructed properly, and that it has been maintained | | | | take, there is no substitute for frequent water testing |
| as required. The most critical part of well construction | | | | to ensure your well water is always safe to drink. |
| and maintenance is to strive to keep all surface water | | | | |