As a private well owner, there are no municipal water treatment centers that will take care of testing and treating your water for you. While this can be a good thing because you are able to avoid some of the hazardous compounds that are placed into water to treat it, it can also mean that dangerous bacteria or chemicals are present without you knowing. Regular testing is the best way to get a handle on exactly what is in your well water and whether or not your treatment methods are getting the job done. Here’s what you need to know about how often your well water should be tested with the help of the professionals at Hague Quality Water of Maryland.

How Often Should You Test Your Well Water?

Testing your well water annually should be a habit, and the most important tests to have performed include those that look at nitrates, total coliform bacteria, fecal coliforms, total dissolved solids, and pH levels. If there have been any reports of other substances detected in the water locally, you should also have your water tested for those specific compounds or contaminants.

Outside of annual testing, there are some circumstances that indicate you should have your water tested as soon as possible, including:

• If small children or older adults live in your home or someone in your family is pregnant or nursing, as they are more vulnerable to pollutants and chemicals.
• There are new or known problems with drinking water and/or ground water in your area.
• The conditions around your home have changed in a significant way recently, including new construction, new industrial activity, flooding, a natural disaster, or other land disturbances.
• You have repaired or replaced some of your well system.
• You have experienced a change in your water quality, including the taste, color or smell.
• If the ground water for your well is influenced by the surface water and there have been surface water changes.

How do you know which test you should order depending on the changes that you have noticed?

What Can Our Tests Find in Your Well Water

Different  water symptoms or changes can be caused by a myriad of circumstances. While you may be tempted to buy an at-home test kit from a big box store or online retailer, these tests are often unreliable and may leave out crucial information, putting you and your family at risk.

Below are some of the most common problems detected. Our comprehensive, in-depth water testing process covers these issues and includes tests for:

• Radon, cadmium and arsenic in the region: Radon, cadmium, arsenic
• Household plumbing that may contain lead: Lead, pH, copper
• Recurring gastrointestinal discomfort or illness: Coliform bacteria
• Intensive agriculture nearby: Nitrate, nitrite, coliform bacteria, pesticides
• Gas drilling operations nearby: Chloride, barium, strontium, sodium
• Poor taste or smell: Corrosion, metals, hydrogen sulfide
• Scaly residue or soap that doesn’t lather: Hardness
• Smell or gas or fuel oil: Volatile organic compounds

If you have a specific concern or are unsure of the condition of your water, the qualified team at Hague Quality Water of Maryland is happy to work with you to determine exactly what may be lurking in the water you use.

How Can You Test Your Well Water?

The right testing partner is critical to ensure fast and accurate results. Hague Quality Water of Maryland works with private well owners throughout Maryland to provide them with quality water testing that gives accurate and actionable results. When you receive your results, you will have precise information about the concentration of substances in your water. One of our team members at Hague Quality Water of Maryland can then help explain your results to you and identify how to properly care for your well water to ensure it is safe to drink. No two private well water supplies are alike, so the combination of treatments for you might differ from what others in your neighborhood utilize.

How to Prevent Well Water Pollution at Your Home

Protecting your water supply is critical to ensure that your private well does not need to be tested multiple times a year or extensively treated. Some of the ways that you can prevent well water pollution at your home include:

• Sloping the area around the well so that runoff drains away from the well
• Installing a well cap or sanitary seal that can prevent entrance into your well
• Only using a certified and experienced well driller whenever you construct a new well or modify your well
• Keeping precise records of well maintenance, including testing, sediment removal, disinfection and more.
• Never use fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, fuels, degreasers, or other pollutants close to your well.
• Always pump and inspect your septic system in accordance with regulations from your local health department.
• Do not ever put harsh chemicals, petroleum products, solvents, or pesticides in your septic system or a dry well.
• Check over your well regularly to look for a broken or missing cap, cracked or damaged well casing, settling or cracking of the surface seals, and any other issue. Catching problems early is key to avoiding contamination of your water.
• Never dispose of waste in an unused or dry well.
• Do not cut off your well casing beneath the surface.
• If you have a tank on your property for diesel or home heating oil, check it regularly to make sure that your above-ground or underground storage tank is properly maintained and in good condition.
• If there is new industrial, manufacturing or agricultural activity on or near your property, you should check with your local health department and the experts at Hague Quality Water of Maryland to determine the risk to your drinking water and test your well water.

Test Your Well Water with Hague Quality Water of Maryland

Hague Quality Water of Maryland is committed to delivering high quality water treatment products and services that will benefit every aspect of our customer’s lives. Whether you need the Hague WaterMax® System or additional filtration beyond that, our team will work with you to find the best water treatment for your home.

Hague’s water treatment specialists are accredited by the Water Quality Association (WQA), giving them the qualifications needed to thoroughly test the water at your home or company and determine the best solution based on certified lab results. Whether you’re worried about water quality, taste, or water pressure, Hague is committed to delivering exceptional service that not only earns our customer’s trust and confidence, but also ensures you have a positive experience every time you turn on your water.  For all of your water testing and treatment needs, call Hague Quality Water of Maryland at (410) 757-2992.