Overview

Private water supplies need to be tested before they are used for human consumption. Periodic testing is recommended as the private water source continues to be used as potable water. Local code requirements generally cover the installation of new wells for the initial testing. Lenders who provide money to buy homes with private water systems generally require a satisfactory water test before they will allow the closing of a real-estate transfer. But, there is no one to insist that water wells be tested every so often once they are in use and the property is not changing hands.

Just because a well tests fine when it is installed doesn t mean that the water is safe to drink two years later. Water tables shift. All sort of changes take place over time. A well could be affected by an influx of surface water that is not supposed to be able to get into the well. Pesticides can become a problem over time. Periodic testing is not very expensive, but it is the intelligent thing to do.

Private water supplies can suffer from a variety of unwanted contaminants. Not all of the pollutants and contaminants are deadly, but this doesn t mean that they are desirable. In some cases the problem with well water may be taste or clarity. These problems don t usually pose a health risk, but they can make drinking the well water unpleasant.

Fixing well problems doesn t have to be expensive. In fact, it is often very inexpensive. Let s...