Well Water: Is Your Water Source Safe?
8/16/2017
More than 15% of Americans get their water supply from private wells. In Missouri, nearly 40% of resident's water supply comes from a well. With such a vast amount of well water recipients, it's important to know exactly what that means for your home's water supply. So this week, Lindyspring Systems is sharing some advantages, disadvantages, and ways in which you can ensure healthy drinking water from your well source.
What is Well Water?
Well water is water that comes from the ground, called ground water. There is a threshold underground where water is stored beneath the surface of land. A well is a structure that is created to tap into, and deliver ground water, to a home or structure for use. A hole is dug into the ground and a pump is installed to pump fresh water to a residence for consumption.
Types of Wells
There are three types of private drinking water wells:
- Dug wells are holes in the ground dug by shovel or backhoe and are typically lined (cased) with stones, brick, tile, or other material to prevent collapse. Because dug wells are typically shallow (approximately 10 to 30 feet deep) they have the highest contamination risk.
- Driven wells are hammered or hydraulically pushed into the ground and pull water from the water-saturated zone. Driven wells are also shallow (approximately 30 to 50 feet deep) and have a moderate-to-high risk of contamination from nearby land activities.
- Drilled wells are deeper (approximately 100 to 400 feet) and typically have metal or plastic pipe casing which protect the well water from sources of contamination. Drilled wells have a lower risk of contamination. However, no well can be assumed to be contamination-free.
Advantages of Well Water
One of the biggest advantages of well water is that owning a private water well means no more municipal usage fees. Public water is typically treated with chlorine, fluoride and other harsh chemicals that are difficult to filter out. Well water is filtered naturally, so that drinkers get all of the health benefits without the extra additives. And because it’s natural, it often tastes better than chemically-treated municipal water.
One of the biggest advantages of well water is that owning a private water well means no more municipal usage fees. Public water is typically treated with chlorine, fluoride and other harsh chemicals that are difficult to filter out. Well water is filtered naturally, so that drinkers get all of the health benefits without the extra additives. And because it’s natural, it often tastes better than chemically-treated municipal water.
Disadvantages of Well Water
Well water typically contains more minerals in solution than surface water and may require treatment to soften the water by removing minerals such as calcium, magnesium, arsenic, iron and manganese. Calcium and magnesium causes what is known as hard water, which can precipitate and clog pipes or burn out water heaters. Iron and manganese can appear as dark flecks that stain clothing and plumbing, and can promote the growth of iron and manganese bacteria that can form slimy black colonies that clog pipes.Ensure Your Well Water is Safe
If your home operates on a well system, your water supply's quality can change at any time. To ensure that your drinking water source is clear of harmful minerals and contaminants, it's best to have your water source professionally tested and treated. Lindyspring Systems has several water treatment solutions at the Lake of the Ozarks that can treat all kinds of water problems. Whether you have hard water, contaminated water, or just don't care for the taste of your tap water, we can install a water treatment system to take care of your water needs. Contact us today to schedule an appointment so we can come test your water to determine the best water treatment system for you!
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