When you have a water well, it’s up to you to test it regularly in order to assess water quality and safety. What does “regularly” actually mean, though? While it’s ultimately up to you how often you test your water, here are some recommendations to help keep your family and your well system safe.
Basic Water Testing Frequency
A good rule of thumb is to test your water quality at least once a year. Not only does this help you assess the current state of your water supply, but it also provides a record to help you see any changes that occur over time.
Yearly monitoring can help identify potentially harmful contamination or pH fluctuations, even if they happen in small increments. If the contamination isn’t coming from your property, having these records can also be vital to getting compensation for contamination caused by others.
At a minimum, your yearly well water testing should assess the following:
- Coliform bacteria
- Nitrates
- Total dissolved solids
- pH levels
Testing for coliform bacteria and nitrates is critical in terms of testing for contaminants that can cause both short– and long–term health problems for you and your family. Testing the total dissolved solids (TDS) in your water lets you know if there are any dangerous substances present, such as lead or pesticides. TDS testing also helps you keep track of how effective your filtration and purification systems are. Testing your water’s pH is important because water that is too acidic can damage your well system and pipes, potentially leading to water contamination if left untreated.
More Frequent Water Quality Testing
While yearly testing is important, there are some situations in which more frequent testing is called for. These include:
- If someone in your household is pregnant
- If you live near a major agricultural or industrial site
- If the appearance, taste, or odor of your water changes
- If someone in your household experiences recurrent unexplained illness
Testing more often in these cases is key to preventing and/or addressing health issues that may arise from even small amounts of water contamination. When it comes to your family’s well-being, it’s better to be safe than sorry!
If you need water quality testing services in Valatie or the region, call the team at Goold Wells & Pumps today. We are here to put our 90+ years of experience to work to test the safety of your water and help find solutions to any issues that we find. Our family-owned company offers weekday, weekend, and emergency service for your convenience, and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you have about your well or your water supply. Goold Wells & Pumps—Trusted Name Since 1928.