Have you ever asked yourself: “Does my well water need treatment?” The question is not one you can answer if you have not had your water tested recently. You should ask yourself instead: “When was the last time I had my water tested?” If the answer to this question is never or a long time ago, it’s time to do it, or do it again.

A well owner preparing to sample her well water for testing

NGWA and many other agencies constantly encourage all private well owners to test their water quality periodically to protect themselves and their family. Despite their efforts, many private well owners have never had their water tested. If they have, it may have been for nothing more than the presence or absence of coliform bacteria. This test alone is not enough to accurately answer your first question. Your next question should be: “What should I have my water tested for?”

The amount of water testing a person would recommend will vary, but never as much as public water systems are mandated to be tested for by the EPA. Most of us agree—without regulations or specific guidance from state or local governments—we can reasonably suggest private well owners test their water yearly for coliform bacteria, total dissolved solids, pH, nitrite, nitrate, and fluoride.

In addition, test your water once every five to ten years for arsenic, uranium, mercury, radon—and in some areas, perform a pesticide screen. There are many other elements I could recommend testing for in specific areas of the country.

You must keep in mind that no single treatment can remove all contaminants that might be in your well water. Depending on your water quality test results, you may have to remove more than one contaminant. If you do, you may need to combine several treatment devices into a single treatment system.

The following is a step-by-step question and answer procedure to guide a well owner in deciding if they need water treatment and what kind. The four-step question and answer sequence can guide a well owner in selecting their most likely treatment processes. If you are not attempting to install the necessary water treatment equipment yourself (not recommended), then you will at least know what processes the water treatment expert should be offering you.

Iron color in your water means it needs treatment

1. Is the water cloudy, tan, or rust colored?

Is there any visible sediment in the water? Does that sediment quickly settle to the bottom of a glass or does it take hours to settle? Does the color or sediment settle downward or upward? Does your water have a light milky color, a light tan or rusty color? Yes or no? If you answered yes to any of these questions, your water needs some form of filtration.

The size and type of filtration will vary, depending on the composition of what’s making the water appear as anything but crystal clear. It can be residual bentonite, natural clays, organic particles, or dissolved iron in the water. Whatever it is, filtration is the first step to consider if your answer was yes.

Filter Application Guide

Filtration can mean many things to different people, but keep in mind if something is filtered out of the water, it must be either removed from the filter or the filter replaced when it is full. The size of filter pores can range from hundreds of microns to one thousandths of a micron. Most water filters will be in a few tens of microns ranging from 50 down to 10. Selecting too small a filter size will require more frequent replacements.

If your answer to question 1 was no, then go on to question 2.

2. Does the water chemistry report show there is an excess of minerals or elements in the water that need to be removed?

If the report indicated excessive hardness, pH, iron, or other metals, you would need to add chemical treatment, water softeners, or pH adjustment. Treatment is needed if your water has a bad taste or smell or is excessively corrosive.

If your answer is yes, then you must seek water treatment equipment to soften the water to make it easier to treat efficiently. If your answer is no, then proceed to question 3.

3. Does the chemistry report indicate that the water is high in dissolved solids, harmful metals such as arsenic, or trace organics?

If your answer is yes, then you will probably need to perform reverse osmosis, iron filtration, and/or use activated carbon to clean up your water. Activated carbon filtration is often added after reverse osmosis treatment to “polish” the water of any remaining trace organics.

Keep in mind that reverse osmosis treatment systems are more effective operating at higher water pressures. If your well system is working at a minimal 20-40 PSI, you may be wasting considerable amounts of water keeping the RO filter membrane flushed.

If your answer to the question was no, proceed to question 4.

4. Does the water need disinfection?

After all required water treatment methods have been answered yes we do or no we don’t need one of the above steps, then the final treatment to be considered is disinfection.

Because water treatment can sometimes be a slow or low flow process, there will probably be a container to hold the treated water for later use. Anytime stored water is allowed to stand, it has the potential to grow microorganisms. Therefore, water disinfection is applied last. It is typically done through chemical chlorination or ultraviolet radiation.

The answer to this question might always be a yes, especially if your well water is treated and/or stored before use.

Now you must ask yourself one additional question: “How much water do I need to treat?”

Confirm the total gallons of water you need in a day. Most water treatment equipment can be rated in the number of gallons per day they can process—so it is very important to get this number right. One has to be careful when assembling components of a water treatment system to assure their flow-through capacities are compatible.

There is usually no need to treat well water used strictly for outdoor irrigation. There may be some cases where well water with a contaminant such as uranium or some man-made contaminants should not be applied to irrigation of food crops in a garden.

For some applications, under-the-sink RO units can supply a sufficient supply of treated water for household needs. I suggest you ask a water treatment professional for advice on this issue.

Water Treatment Sequence

In other instances, a whole house water treatment system may be needed. This sort of system might be placed near the pressure tank for convenience and protection, or it may need to be placed in the basement or an ante-room to the house. Getting advice from a water treatment professional is recommended for making this very important decision.

Once you have worked your way through these questions and have made your decision about the need for treatment of your well water, you’ve just begun protecting yourself and your family.

Now it’s time for the next question: “How often do I need to check the operation of my water treatment equipment?”

Let’s leave the answer to that one for another time.

A water treatment system on a private well

About the Author

Gary Hix is a Registered Professional Geologist in Arizona, specializing in hydrogeology. He was the 2019 William A. McEllhiney Distinguished Lecturer for The Groundwater Foundation. He is a former licensed water well drilling contractor and remains actively involved in the National Ground Water Association and Arizona Water Well Association.

To learn more about Gary’s work, go to In2Wells.com. His eBooks, “Domestic Water Wells in Arizona: A Guide for Realtors and Mortgage Lenders” and “Shared Water Wells in Arizona,” are available on Amazon.

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Any resource taken for granted is a resource at risk of being lost, which is why National Groundwater Awareness Week 2021 to dedicated to advocacy of groundwater safety and protection and increasing its access across the country.

#GWAW also serves as an annual reminder for water well owners to test, tend, and treat their private water systems. NGWA encourages annual inspections of private water systems by certified water well contractors to ensure systems are operating correctly and producing safe and healthy water.

Our most valuable and precious resource needs advocates who understand the importance groundwater plays in our lives and community.

How can you help?

Practice Groundwater Awareness Week in your home by using the following tips:

• Schedule your annual checkup on your water well. A properly constructed and maintained household-supply well will provide you with many years of quality service. Routine inspection of a water well system can help ensure it is operating properly, prolong its useful life, and protect your investment. Most importantly, inspections can protect your health by discovering issues that could result in water quality problems presenting a health risk.
• Keep hazardous chemicals, such as paint, fertilizer, pesticides, and motor oil far away from your well, and maintain a “clean” zone of at least 50 feet (15.24 meters) between your well and any kennels or livestock operations. Also, always maintain proper separation between your well and buildings, waste systems, or chemical storage areas. Your professional water well contractor is familiar with the applicable local codes.
• Get your water tested anytime there is a change in taste, odor or appearance, or anytime the system is serviced.

In addition, share the social media graphic below to educate others about the importance of water well maintenance.

You can find other social media graphics to share before and during National Groundwater Awareness Week here.

The post Save the date: National Groundwater Awareness Week 2021 appeared first on Wellowner.org.

While many of the water well systems in the northern U.S. are required to be built under the frost line, there is a large section of the South and Midwest where pumping systems are constructed above ground or above the frost line.

For these systems, it’s important to take steps to keep your well safe and operating through the winter.

Here are some suggestions to keep your water well safe this winter:

Protect Your Pump
Many well systems are buried deep underground, which provides protection from the cold. But for well owners with above ground pumps, action should be taken to keep the system insulated and warm. Constructing a small insulated enclosure covering the pump will help keep the system above 32 degrees and reduce the risk of freezing and other damage. This small “well house” can save thousands of dollars in repairs and ensure a well operates throughout a cold winter. Find a qualified contractor.

Protect Your Pipes
As water freezes, it expands and can burst your pipes, leading to significant damage to your home and well. Frozen pipes are a common winter issue for homeowners, but can be avoided with a few easy steps.

• Turn off your exterior water and blow out your pipes.
  Ideally your house will have a shut-off valve for its exterior water supply. If so, turn off any water that flows to outside irrigation systems and faucets. Once you have turned the water off, then drain the remaining water or use an air compressor to blow out the pipes. If you don’t have a shut-off valve, find a local contractor for other options to shutting off exterior water.
• Insulate your pipes.
  For houses with piping that runs through non-heated spaces like basements, we suggest insulating pipes. Wrapping pipes with rubber casings or fiberglass insulation can keep their temperature above freezing and the water flowing.
• Inspect your pipes.
  This is a great time to do a general inspection of your water system and piping. Spotting a problem in your system now could save you from a costly problem this winter. Find a certified contractor to schedule an inspection.

Prepare for a Power Outage
While there is little that can be done by the homeowner to prevent power outages due to winter weather, there are steps to take so you have water to drink while waiting for the lights to come back on.

• Always have a portable gas generator and plenty of gas to connect to your pumping system.
• Stock up on bottled water before the winter; this way if there is a prolonged outage, you can still have clean drinking water in the house.

Contact a local contractor to learn more about backup generators and other options to keep your water flowing during a power outage.

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When: December 7, 2020

Register today

Groundwater’s role in public health may be at highest point of public visibility and knowledge in the last 20 years. The continued threat of the PFAS contamination, ongoing drought conditions, and other emerging threats have proven to be key issues of public concern and calls to action. It is vital then for us all to keep up-to-date on the latest science, technology, and policies that will impacting groundwater’s role in public health. 

This symposium, NGWA Virtual Groundwater and Public Health— led by William Alley, Ph.D., Steven Wilson, Karen Kinsella, Ph.D., Michael J. Schnieders, PG, PH-GW, John Farner, Curtis Cooper, Ph.D., Flint Hall, and Sara Brock — is designed to share fundamental information about the groundwater resource, residential well construction and maintenance, and current issues of public concern.

Whether you are a long-time public health professional, groundwater scientist, water well contractor, or simply a private well owner, this symposium promises to be an educational and productive experience that you will be able reference for years to come. 

Those registered by November 15 will be eligible for the drawing for a free Awesome Aquifer Kit!

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Human feces would be the most likely source of the COVID-19 virus in drinking water, but according to the World Health Organization, “the risk of catching COVID-19 from the feces of an infected person appears to be low.”¹

Filtration and disinfection methods used in most municipal drinking water systems should remove or inactivate viruses. Despite the low risks, the question has arisen about the vulnerability to COVID-19 of homeowners with private wells and those who rely on untreated public groundwater supplies.

We address this question for private well owners by reviewing (1) viruses in groundwater in general and specific characteristics of the COVID-19 virus as it relates to groundwater, (2) septic systems as a potential source of COVID-19 virus to private wells, and (3) treatment systems for private wells.

Viruses in Groundwater

In general, groundwater contains fewer microbial contaminants (pathogens) than surface water, yet the biological integrity of groundwater cannot be taken for granted.² Approximately half of all waterborne disease outbreaks are associated with contaminated groundwater.³

Many of these outbreaks are from wells that serve businesses or small water systems that do not require water disinfection and have minimal microbial monitoring requirements. People drinking from household wells also can become exposed to waterborne pathogens, but these outbreaks are less well documented.

Pathogens can be introduced to groundwater through septic tanks, leaking sewers, and land applications of livestock manure and septage, among other sources. Groundwater contamination also can occur from poor well design and construction.

A proper sanitary seal around the well casing is essential to block contaminants that might migrate from the land surface down the outside of the casing (well annulus) to the water table, bypassing the unsaturated zone that naturally helps cleanse groundwater.

Human enteric viruses (those that replicate in the intestinal tract of humans) are among the microbial contaminants of greatest concern in well water. Common enteric viruses are shed in human stool in enormous numbers and commonly tied to disease outbreaks.4

Reduction of pathogens in the subsurface generally relies on three processes: filtration, adsorption, and die-off/inactivation.

Filtration results when the pathogens are too large to fit through the soil or aquifer pores and cracks. The extent of filtration depends on the type of soil and rocks through which groundwater flows. For example, silts are more effective at trapping microorganisms than sands.
Filtration reduction also depends on the size of the organisms. Physical removal by pores is less effective for viruses than other pathogens because of the very small size of viruses.

Adsorption occurs when the microorganisms become attached to particles, which removes them from the water or at least delays their transport. Virus adsorption onto sediment grains is considered the primary removal mechanism in soils and groundwater, with a complex dependence on the chemistry of the sediment and water.

Travel time can be important because viruses lose their infectivity with time in the subsurface, dependent on temperature, pH, and other factors.

Soils have been found to be effective at virus removal. Rates of removal and restriction are dependent on soil texture, composition, and reactions occurring within the soil layer. At the same time, wells in certain types of aquifers, such as karst and fractured rock, are susceptible to enhanced virus transport.5

The COVID-19 Virus

The COVID-19 virus is a respiratory virus that spreads by droplets from coughs and sneezes and by contact with contaminated surfaces. Coronaviruses are enveloped, single-stranded RNA viruses that range from 0.060 to 0.220 microns in size. Enveloped viruses are less stable in the environment than nonenveloped viruses.6

The COVID-19 virus has been detected in the feces of some patients diagnosed with the coronavirus. The amount of virus released from the body (shed) in stool and whether the virus in stool is infectious are not known.

The risk of transmission of COVID-19 from the feces of an infected person is expected to be low, based on data from previous outbreaks of related coronaviruses such as SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome). There have been no reports of fecal-oral transmission of COVID-19 to date.7

Previous coronaviruses have been reported to die off rapidly in wastewater, with a 99.9% reduction in two to three days. Coronaviruses might survive for weeks in groundwater based on limited studies of water.8

Septic Systems and Setbacks

The main potential sources of viruses for homeowner wells are onsite decentralized wastewater treatment (septic) systems and sewer lines. Properly operated septic systems are designed to protect wells from contamination by pathogens, although outbreaks associated with septic systems continue to be reported. Particular concerns are associated with areas having high septic system densities.9

A key concept recognized in local building codes across the nation is “setback”—a requirement that a water supply well be at least a certain distance from a septic system or sewer line to ensure adequate time for sufficient natural degradation of chemicals and die-off of harmful organisms that may endanger well water.

The setback approach as a barrier to contamination of wells is similar to the concept of wellhead protection—to keep potential sources of contamination away from wells. Setback distances take into account the soils and subsurface geology of an area or state to enable chemical degradation and pathogen die-off/inactivation to occur.

As examples, setback distances for homeowner wells from septic leach fields in Minnesota are 50 feet except for special cases.10 The minimum setback of a septic field from a water well in Colorado is 50 feet, but through variance the minimum setback may be 25 feet based on the hydrogeologic information for the site.11

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) expects a properly managed septic system to treat the COVID-19 virus the same way the system manages other viruses often found in wastewater.12

A second line of defense is well and septic system maintenance. Stormwater can pick up and carry viruses and other pathogens. During times or seasons of flooding, cracks in the well casing, riser, and apron around the wellhead can allow floodwater to enter the well and the annular space around the casing below ground.

Wells may be more vulnerable to contamination from viruses after flooding, particularly if the wells are shallow, have been dug or bored, or have been submerged by floodwater for long periods of time.13 Well disinfection may be required to eliminate the virus, which should be followed by a water test.

Treatment

In addition to the use of setbacks for wellhead protection and maintenance of wells and septic systems, water treatment is an optional third line of defense. Distillation, ultraviolet (UV) treatment, and reverse osmosis technologies are effective at virus removal at a household level as point-of-entry/point-of-use equipment.14

After flooding, household water from wells can also be boiled as a means of disinfection for viruses. Boiling water kills or inactivates viruses and other pathogens by using heat to damage structural components and disrupt essential life processes of the microbes.15

To maximize protection, if a well has been flooded, the well water should be tested by qualified (certified/licensed) laboratories and, if testing positive for fecal indicator organisms, should be disinfected by a qualified water services contractor.16

Conclusions

Drinking water from private wells presents a low risk for COVID-19, especially compared to direct human-to-human transmission or by touching a contaminated surface. By far and away, the best protection against COVID-19 is to follow the public health recommendations for social distancing, washing hands, and other measures.

Concerns about the COVID-19 virus in groundwater serve as a reminder of the importance of protecting against pathogens through proper care and maintenance of wells and septic systems.

The EPA, the National Ground Water Association, and many states recommend annual testing of private wells that includes indicator bacteria, analogous to an annual health checkup with a doctor.17 Inspection and maintenance may also be needed if problems are suspected.

Some home treatment systems, but not all, are effective against viruses when properly maintained. By itself, COVID-19 is not a reason to start drinking bottled water or installing home water treatment systems.

References

[1] World Health Organization. Q&A on coronaviruses (COVID-19). March 9, 2020. https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses

[2] Alley, W.M., and R. Alley. 2017. Pathogens. In High and Dry: Meeting the Challenges of the World’s Growing Dependence on Groundwater, 195-202. New Haven: Yale University Press.

[3] Craun, G.F., et al. 2010. Causes of outbreaks associated with drinking water in the United States from 1971 to 2006. Clinical Microbiology Reviews 23, no. 3: 507-528.

[4] Borchardt, M.A., et al. 2003. Incidence of enteric viruses in groundwater from household wells in Wisconsin. Applied Environmental Microbiology 69, no. 2: 1172-1180; Wallender, E.K., E.C. Ailes, J.S. Yoder, V.A. Roberts, and J.M. Brunkard. 2014. Contributing factors to disease outbreaks associated with untreated groundwater. Groundwater 52, no. 6: 886−897; Borchardt, M.A., S.K. Spencer, B.A. Kieke, E. Lambertini, and F.J. Loge. 2012. Viruses in non-disinfected drinking water from municipal wells and community incidence of acute gastrointestinal illness. Environmental Health Perspectives 120, no 9: 1272−1279.

[5] Borchardt, M.A., et al. 2011. Norovirus outbreak caused by a new septic system in a dolomite aquifer. Groundwater 49, no. 1: 85-97.

[6] Gundy, P.M., C.P. Gerba, and I.L. Pepper. 2009. Survival of coronaviruses in water and wastewater. Food Environmental Virology 1: 10–14.

[7] Heger, S., ONSITE Installer. March 17, 2020. Are septic system professionals at a greater risk for COVID-19? https://www.onsiteinstaller.com/online_exclusives/2020/03/are-septic-system-professionals-at-a-greater-risk-for-covid-19

[8] Gundy, P.M., C.P. Gerba, and I.L. Pepper. 2009. Survival of coronaviruses in water and wastewater. Food Environmental Virology 1: 10–14; John, D.E., and J.B. Rose. 2005. Review of factors affecting microbial survival in groundwater. Environmental Science and Technology 39, no. 19: 7345−7356.

[9] Yates M.V. 1985. Septic tank density and ground-water contamination. Ground Water 23, no. 5: 586-591; Borchardt, M.A., P.-H. Chyou, E.O. DeVries, and E.A. Belongia. 2003. Septic system density and infectious diarrhea in a defined population of children. Environmental Health Perspectives 111: 742-748.

[10] Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. 2019. Subsurface Sewage Treatment Systems Well Setbacks. https://www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/wq-wwists4-36.pdf

[11] Colorado Department of Natural Resources, Division of Water Resources. 2005. Rules and Regulations for Water Well Construction, Pump Installation, Cistern Installation, and Monitoring and Observation Hole/Well Construction. https://www.sos.state.co.us/CCR/GenerateRulePdf.do?ruleVersionId=4344

[12] U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Will My Septic System Treat COVID-19? https://www.epa.gov/coronavirus/will-my-septic-system-treat-covid-19

[13] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2015. Overview of Water-Related Diseases and Contaminants in Private Wells. https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/private/wells/diseases.html

[14] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A Guide to Drinking Water Treatment Technologies for Household Use. https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/home-water-treatment/household_water_treatment.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fhealthywater%2Fdrinking%2Ftravel%2Fhousehold_water_treatment.html

[15] New York Department of Health. 2020. Information on Novel Coronavirus; Boil Water Response – Information for the Public Health Professional. https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/water/drinking/boilwater/response_information_public_health_professional.htm

[16] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2009. Well Testing. https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/private/wells/testing.html; and 2015. Well Treatment. https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/private/wells/treatment.html; National Ground Water Association. 2016. Water Testing and Treatment: What You Need to Know. https://www.ngwa.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/groundwater/water-testing-and-treatment.pdf?sfvrsn=bd5616c_2; Schnieders, M.J. Well disinfection. In Water Well Journal. April 18, 2018. https://waterwelljournal.com/well-disinfection/

[17] National Ground Water Association. Annual Checkup [for wells]. https://wellowner.org/annual-checkup/

About the Authors

William M. Alley, Ph.D., is director of science and technology for the National Ground Water Association. Previously, he served as chief, Office of Groundwater for the U.S. Geological Survey for almost two decades. Alley has published more than 100 scientific publications, including the book High and Dry: Meeting the Challenges of the World’s Growing Dependence on Groundwater, co-authored with his wife, Rosemarie. Alley can be reached at walley@ngwa.org.

Chuck Job is the manager of regulatory affairs for the National Ground Water Association. Prior to that, he worked at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for more than 29 years, having served since 2000 as its Infrastructure Branch chief. He is a former columnist for NGWA’s Groundwater Monitoring & Remediation. Job can be reached at cjob@ngwa.org.

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Ask yourself, when was the last time I tested my water? What actions have I taken to ensure my family’s water is safe and protected from contaminants? More than 43 million people—about 15 percent of the U.S. population—rely on domestic water wells as their source of drinking water and experts recommend having these systems inspected every year.

The Groundwater Foundation and the National Ground Water Association are urging everyone who owns a private well to make this the day they act to test, tend, and treat their ground water supply. Remember, your private well is yours to maintain and ensure it is safety and now it’s easier than ever.

This year, we have relaunched WellOwner.org to ensure more people have access to the resources they need to protect their groundwater. At WellOwner.org you can find information on testing your water well, maintaining your system and easily find a certified water well contractor in your area.

Learn more about scheduling your annual water well checkup.

Today IS the day to take action and take the first step on to protecting your groundwater!

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