Every private well owner should know how to run a bacteria test on the well that supplies the household’s drinking water. It’s easy for bacteria to be introduced into a private water well and it can happen at any time. In fact, bacteria is the most common type of well contamination.
Therefore, owners of homes supplied with private water wells need to be familiar with the most effective method of quickly detecting bacteria. They should also know exactly how to properly disinfect their well if a positive test is received. After all, in this situation, the health of the well and family members who drink that water is the sole responsibility of the property owner. No federal, state or local government agencies control the quality of well water.
This article can help a private well owner understand:
- Why bacterial testing is vital
- How well water can become contaminated
- Which types of bacterial contamination are most concerning
- Who’s most at risk
- How to select the best test kit to monitor your well
Detection of Bacterial Contamination in Well Water Is Vital
When you have bacterial contamination of your well water, you probably won’t see, smell or taste anything unusual. Bacteria in your drinking water are invisible but can still cause gastrointestinal illness and other serious health issues. Children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems are the most at risk.
Private well water needs closer monitoring than municipal water. City water systems are disinfected and regularly tested; however, well water can easily be exposed to bacterial contamination. Even a well that has delivered pure water for years can be contaminated and become a source of illness today. Bacterial testing must be a part of regular well maintenance.
Where Does Bacterial Contamination Come From?
No matter how properly a well was built, it can suffer bacterial contamination. For this reason, wells should be inspected above ground and inside annually so any entrance point for bacteria can be detected and repaired. Here are some of the most common ways that bacteria might invade your private water well:
- Cracked or Damaged Well Casing: The casing of a well is a protective lining that keeps outside contaminants from entering the well. Casings can crack due to ground movement, age, or improper installation. Once the casing is damaged, bacteria in surface water can be carried into the well by seeping through the soil surrounding the well.
- Poorly-Fitting or Damaged Well Cap: A well cap is designed to fit tightly to keep out insects, small animals, and surface waters. If the cap is loose, damaged or missing, the well can be contaminated with bacteria from the surface. Small insects, like ants, earwigs, or even bees, can get inside and create nests. Mice and other small animals may also crawl into unsealed wells and drown in the well water, introducing a direct source of fecal bacteria.
- Flooding or Heavy Rainfall: During storms, snowmelt or floods, the well cap is supposed to prevent surface water from entering the well. If it fails, water contaminated by manure, sewage, or decaying plant matter can enter your well. Your well should also be located in the area that is least likely to be flooded during storms.
- Nearby Septic Systems: If your property or the ones next door have septic systems, there is a possibility of contamination resulting from leaks or septic system failure. Bacteria can be conveyed through the soil by water and reach groundwater supplies or your well. Old septic systems that are no longer used must also be properly decommissioned to prevent this problem.
- Agricultural Activities: Wells located near farms are at higher risk due to the use of animal manure, fertilizers, and pesticides. Runoff from agricultural operations can introduce bacteria into the soil or into the well itself in the event of flooding or heavy rain.
The diversity of these sources makes it clear that finding the source of bacteria in a well is not always an easy task. Eliminating the reason for bacterial contamination may require ruling out one possible source after another until the right source is discovered.
The Most Common Bacteria Found in Well Water
Many different bacteria may be present in well water, but there are a few groups that are particularly common and important to monitor:
- Total Coliform Bacteria: Coliform bacteria are a broad group of microorganisms found in soil, plants, and the digestive systems of animals. While most coliforms aren’t harmful, when they are found in drinking water, it is a sign that the water has been contaminated. The water could therefore contain other disease-causing bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites. More detailed testing is recommended.
- E. coli (Escherichia coli): E. coli is another group of bacteria, some of which are harmless and some of which can cause serious illness. Its presence in water almost always indicates fecal contamination from humans or animals. The contamination could come from farm waste, leaking septic tanks or animal intrusion into the well. Any signs of E. coli in drinking water should lead to immediate action to disinfect the well. Children and the elderly or immunocompromised are particularly at risk when these bacteria are present.
- Iron and Sulfur Bacteria: Both iron and sulfur bacteria are naturally occurring in soil and rock. When present in a drinking water well, they make the water smell and taste bad. They can also stain plumbing fixtures and create a slime that clogs pumps and pipes. While they are not a health hazard, disinfection should follow any discovery of these bacteria.
Health Risks of Bacterial Contamination
For someone with a strong immune system, minor exposure to bacterial contamination may not be a big problem. It may only result in stomach cramps and some diarrhea. They could also suffer from a low fever and fatigue. These symptoms could last for a few days to a week. However, even if the symptoms are not severe, exposure to harmful bacteria is never a good idea.
For certain individuals, exposure to bacteria in drinking water can be dangerous or even deadly.
- Infants and young children have immature immune systems that may not be able to deal with the bacteria. Severe diarrhea and vomiting often lead to dehydration, which can be life-threatening.
- Elderly adults may suffer from health conditions that weaken their ability to overcome exposure to bacteria. If they become dehydrated from vomiting and diarrhea, they could suffer complications such as kidney or heart stress.
- Pregnant women are more prone to infections due to changes in their immune systems. A severe gastrointestinal illness during pregnancy can, at worst, result in premature labor, miscarriage or stillbirth.
- Anyone with a weakened immune system could suffer more severe effects from exposure to waterborne bacteria. This would include someone undergoing chemotherapy, using any immune-suppressing drugs, living with HIV/AIDS or recovering from major surgery.
- A person with a chronic health condition like diabetes, kidney disease or gastrointestinal disorder is more susceptible to harm. Gastrointestinal disorders that weaken resistance to infection include inflammatory bowel disease, peptic ulcer, dysbiosis or chronic gastroenteritis.
If any of these individuals live in a home supplied with private well water, bacteria contamination tests should be frequent events, with positive tests followed immediately by disinfection.
An Alert for Those Supplied by Municipal Water Systems
While this article addresses bacterial contamination of private well water, homeowners in areas supplied by municipal water systems would still be wise to test their water from time to time. Municipal systems routinely test and disinfect their supplies with chlorine or chloramine. However, aging infrastructures, cracked pipes or corroded service lines can allow bacteria to infiltrate water supplies before they reach a home’s taps.
An occasional and inexpensive test for bacterial contamination of your municipal water supply can provide extra peace of mind, especially if there is a vulnerable person in the household.
How to Choose the Best Well Water Test Kit
When you’re looking for well water test kits, you will find do-it-yourself test kits and professional labs that offer detailed testing. A DIY test kit can give you a general positive-negative result, but no indication of which bacteria are present. You also won’t find out the level of contamination.
For the health of your family, it is essential to get a reliable, accurate and professional evaluation of your water. This is even more true when there are sensitive individuals in the home. A professional lab can also provide a further evaluation of your results. They can determine exactly which bacteria are present and provide a bacteria count so you know how severe the infiltration is. They can also recommend actions to track down the source of contamination, plus repairs that might be needed to the well itself or your plumbing system.
If you choose to start with a DIY test, any positive result should be followed by a more detailed professional analysis to determine which types of bacteria caused the positive reading and the level of contamination.
How Frequently Should You Perform a Bacteria Test on Well Water?
Both the Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that private wells be tested annually for bacteria. However, other events should trigger an immediate test for bacteria.
- The water suddenly smells or tastes different
- The water is cloudy or discolored
- There has been flooding, heavy rain or snowmelt near the well
- Landscaping or construction work has occurred in the area of the well
- There has been work on a nearby septic system
- The well has been unused for a month or more
- The well has been repaired or had other maintenance work done
- Someone in the household becomes ill with a gastrointestinal condition
- An unexplained health condition shows up among members of the household
- A new baby or elderly resident arrives or someone becomes pregnant
A bacteria test in each of these situations is an important way to keep everyone in the household healthy.
What if Your Well Water Bacteria Test Is Positive?
If your test is positive for any bacteria, immediately disinfect your well. ETR Laboratories offers a safe and effective disinfection kit that uses an FDA-approved disinfectant. Using ordinary household bleach can result in this heavier-than-water substance lodging in the corners of your plumbing system. The disinfection agent from ETR Laboratories clears more fully, leaving your water sweet as well as clean.
If the bacteria found were coliform or E. coli, follow these steps:
- Stop drinking the water immediately and switch to bottled water for drinking and cooking.
- Inspect the wellhead for signs of damage or contamination, including damaged well caps, animal intrusion, or flooding.
- Disinfect the well.
- Retest the water to ensure the problem has been resolved.
- If bacterial contamination persists, contact a licensed well contractor for a detailed inspection to detect the continuing source of bacteria.
ETR Laboratories Has Bacteria Water Tests for Every Need
When customers come to ETR Laboratories for water testing to detect bacteria, they have many more choices than a test that provides nothing more than positive or negative results. ETR Laboratories can, of course, test for coliform bacteria and E. coli, but their capabilities go much further.
For example, the Advanced Environmental Scan not only looks for bacteria but it can identify microorganisms and organisms such as bacteria, fungi, parasites or insects to a very detailed level. A scanning electron microscope is used to identify and even count the microorganisms. By the way, the Advanced Environmental Scan also looks for more than 200 other substances you don’t want in your water, like industrial chemicals, heavy metals, pesticides and much more.
At the other end of ETR Laboratories’ range of offerings, there’s an E. coli enumeration test that provides a count of these bacteria. A few of these bacteria in water may not be harmful, but a higher count informs a well owner of the need to immediately disinfect and possibly repair their well. They should also look for an unsuspected source of animal or human fecal contamination.
Order the Right Water Test for Your Needs from ETR Laboratories
When you need to get a fast, professional test for bacteria in your water, choose the experienced staff at ETR Laboratories. Order online now!
