Having a water well on your property comes with a host of benefits: fresh, clean water straight from the source, no monthly water bill, less chemicals, and more minerals for softer skin, just to name a few. But all of this comes with the responsibility of maintaining your well system. Here are a few tips to easily keep your water well system in good, working order.
Always be aware of what is going on around the well site.
Make sure your land is sloping away from the well so that runoff flows away from the
well. Keep chemicals far away from the well site to prevent leaching into the soil. Be sure to keep up on the maintenance of your septic system since septic issues can affect the cleanliness of your water. Also be on the lookout for local alerts about possible water pollutants.
Pay attention to any changes in your water.
If your water has a sudden change in color or taste, there may be something wrong with your water well system. This could include something minor like your filter, or something major like the well itself. Contact your well professional immediately if you notice a change.
Keep good records of all of the maintenance done on your well.
Keep these records in a dry, safe place so you don’t have to worry about recalling it from memory if you have an issue come up. Write down your annual testing dates, maintenance check- ups, and prevention in your records.
Check your well cover for damage.
Well covers can be damaged easily from something as simple as a lawn mower. Unwanted pests, debris or contaminants can enter the well if there is even a small crack or minor damage. So be cautious when landscaping or mowing around your well.
Periodically test your water for bacteria growth.
Bacteria growth can affect the cleanliness of your water. Testing and treatment of your well will make sure your family isn’t drinking contaminated water. Contamination can occur from a number of places. This could be the surrounding soil, improper well maintenance, water run-off from rainfall or snowmelt, etc. Make sure your well is clean before testing so you don’t end up with a false positive for
contaminants that may not actually be affecting your ground water. You can purchase a water test kit for use at home, but make sure to hire a professional if
any treatment is needed.