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