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Rural Water Woes: Bacteria In Your Well

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




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