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