The Ridgefield Health Department recommends that all private well owners test their wells on an annual basis. While most well water
is of good quality, some wells can become contaminated from a variety of sources including agriculture, industry, transportation,
or incorrect disposal of household chemicals, use of lawn chemicals, or a faulty septic tank. Some contaminants in drinking water have been linked to cancer and toxicity, posing a risk to human health. Many contaminants
often have no taste, odor, or color. Their presence can only be determined by laboratory testing. It is the responsibility of
homeowners to keep their self-supplied well water free from health risk.
What are some common contaminants?
There are several types of contaminants that can be present in your well water. Some of them pose health related concerns,
while other only affect taste and color of the water. A standard water analysis will test for bacteria, color, turbidity, chloride,
copper, hardness, iron, manganese, sodium and pH. More tests can be added to further test water quality, if necessary. Most
contaminants discovered through water analysis can be corrected by a licensed well contractor.
When to test your water
The Ridgefield Health Department recommends that prospective home buyers test the water in a home with a private well prior to
purchase. Once you’ve purchased the home testing should be conducted annually. However, the following conditions would prompt
more frequent testing:
* Heavily developed areas with land uses that handle hazardous chemicals
* Recent well construction activities or repairs. We recommend taking a bacterial test after any well repair or pump or plumbing
modification, but only after substantial flushing of the water system.
* Contaminant concentrations above state or federal standards found in earlier testing
* Noticeable variations in quality like a water quality change after a heavy rain or an unexplained change in a previously
trouble-free well (i.e. funny taste, cloudy appearance, etc.)
When taking any sample, it is recommended that it be taken after a heavy rain-storm. These events tend to highlight condition of
improper well construction or poor soil filtration.
What the tests tell you
Test results will reveal the level at which any of the tested substances were found in you water sample. The mere presence of
these contaminants in the well water does not necessarily imply that there is a problem. However, when levels exceed state of
federal health standards, you should take steps to correct the situation. Several methods are available from commercial contractors
to treat contaminated water.
Who to contact for well water quality testing
A well water analysis can be completed by any state approved testing laboratory.
Approved testing laboratories in our area include: