How to Protect Your Water Well from Contamination

 

Clean, safe drinking water is necessary for every household. If your home depends on a private water well, and you want to be sure you aren’t pulling toxins from the ground into your clean water, you need to take proactive maintenance and preventive measures. Although well owners often do not consider their well water vulnerable to contamination, this article will offer the best well practices for the prevention of contamination risks.

By following these simple but essential water well protection protocols, you help safeguard your health, save costly repairs, and make sure your well continues to provide clean water plentifully for years to come. Keep reading to discover the top 5 ways to protect your water well from contaminants.

Factors That Can Contaminate Well Water

Before diving into preventative measures for securing your water supply, it helps to understand what substances most commonly infiltrate well systems and aquifers:

• Bacteria & Viruses from animal/human waste entering through cracked casings or failed septic systems. These biological contaminants can cause severe gastrointestinal illness.
• Nitrates from overuse of agricultural fertilizers, animal manure, or septic systems leaching into groundwater. Elevated nitrate levels cause blue baby syndrome in infants under 6 months.
• Heavy Metals like arsenic, lead and mercury leaching from natural rock formations or industrial operations into aquifers. These toxins have acute and chronic health effects.
• Petroleum Compounds from leaking underground storage tanks at gas stations or improper disposal of oil-based products into the environment. Benzene and other hydrocarbons are carcinogenic.
• Pesticides & Herbicides from over-application on nearby agricultural fields or improper handling/disposal leaching down to the water table. These chemicals are linked to neurological, liver and kidney damage.
• Chloride from road salt, water softener backwash, and septic systems infiltrating groundwater. Elevated chloride gives water a salty taste and can corrode plumbing.

Understanding common contaminant sources helps well owners recognize risks and be proactive. Now let’s review 5 ways you can protect your well from contamination.

1. Proper Well Construction Standards

When installing a new well, proper placement on your property is key to preventing contamination. Adhere to all state and local regulations regarding minimum setback distances from potential pollutant sources, including:

• Septic tanks and drain fields
• Livestock yards
• Fuel or chemical storage tanks
• Areas prone to flooding

Consult with your local health department to confirm appropriate setback distances based on your lot size and existing infrastructure.

While the cost may be higher, hiring a qualified, licensed contractor to drill and construct the well properly is worth the investment. They have extensive knowledge of local geology, groundwater flow, and drilling methods to ensure your well is set at an optimal depth and location.

This helps prevent drawing water from contaminated shallow aquifers. Licensed drillers also follow codes for proper well casing installation, sanitary seals, testing, and disinfection upon completion.

2. Protecting Well Infrastructure

The well cap is the first barrier preventing debris, insects, and surface water from entering your well. Choose a vermin-proof, watertight cap made of durable materials. Check it routinely for cracks or gaps and replace immediately if any damage is found.

Landscape the area around your wellhead to divert rain, stormwater, and irrigation water away from the casing. Install a drainage ditch or slope the ground to prevent standing water around the well, which could seep down and contaminate groundwater.

Install an approved backflow prevention device on any pipelines connected to your well (e.g. irrigation systems, hydraulic equipment) to prevent contaminated water flowing back into the well. Annual testing by a professional is recommended.

Extracting water too rapidly or heavily pumping your well can disturb and draw in contaminants from surrounding soil and rock. Track your usage, limit water waste, and install a low water level shut-off switch on your pump to avoid over-pumping.

3. Routine Inspections and Testing

Test your untreated well water annually for coliform bacteria, nitrates, heavy metals and any problematic contaminants for your region. More frequent testing is advised if you detect changes in quality such as appearance, odor or taste. Use an accredited lab and keep records to compare results year-to-year.

Have a licensed well contractor conduct thorough inspections inside your well casing every 3-5 years using specialized cameras and equipment. They can detect leaks, mineral buildup, corrosion, or cracks that could compromise the structural stability of your well or allow contaminants to infiltrate.

Stay informed on construction projects, agricultural operations, or chemical use happening near your well. New contamination sources introduced by surrounding land use changes can impact your untreated groundwater over time. Address concerns quickly with local authorities.

4. Prevent Chemical Contamination

Pesticides, paints, automotive fluids and cleaners should be stored in waterproof, sealed containers away from your well. Closely follow usage directions and never dump chemicals down drains, on the ground or into storm sewers where they could leach down to groundwater.

Have a professional inspect, pump and service your septic tank and drainfield system at least every 3 years to prevent untreated sewage from backing up and potentially contaminating groundwater. Don’t dispose hazardous chemicals down drains connected to your septic system.

Around your wellhead, avoid using pesticides/herbicides, storing manure or locating livestock enclosures. This buffer zone helps filter potential contaminants from reaching your untreated groundwater supply.

5. Create a Protective Buffer Zone

Around your wellhead, avoid using pesticides/herbicides, storing manure/compost piles, locating pet enclosures, or maintaining existing infrastructure like septic tanks. This minimum 25-100 foot radius buffer zone surrounding your wellhead helps filter potential viral, bacterial and chemical contaminants from reaching your groundwater supply.

Check with your local health department regarding any buffer zone requirements in your area. Mark boundaries clearly and educate family members, guests and landscapers to keep the zone clear. Having a licensed well driller conduct periodic dye tracing tests can identify if your protective buffer area is adequately sized.

Conclusion

Protecting your private well water means adopting such protective measures, maintaining your system with some frequency, and responding quickly to contamination threats before they threaten your household’s water supply.

If you follow these best practices for securing your well, you’ll feel good knowing your family has clean, contaminant-free water for years to come. Active preventative care is a commitment that protects your health, helps avoid expensive treatment solutions in the future, and increases the longevity of your well system.