How To Treat Well Water

For rural homeowners in many parts of New York State, managing and treating a well is a necessary part of having a clean water supply.

Contaminants, Bacteria, pH, Minerals and More..

Unless you are terribly unlucky, the odds are pretty low that you would have every possible issue with your water, but with wells (particularly here in Upstate New York) there tend to be some common patterns and problems that many homeowners experience. These issues can come as a result of the way your well was built, how long it’s been in use, or it could just be the result of the water conditions in the ground. 

Here in the northeast region of the United States the most common water minerals/metals include arsenic, lead and iron. Other common issues include high quantities of salt, acidity and chlorine. Just because these are common issues recorded in the region does not necessarily mean that these are the issues you will have in your home. 

Our first hand experience with treating well water here in the northeast is that hardness is fairly common, as well as lead, iron and arsenic, which lines up with publicly available information we’ve seen. We’ve also seen quite a few instances of bacteria and also sulfur which is generally very noticeable due to the rancid smell.

Regular Testing and Maintenance

Because of changing conditions and a lack of oversight, government organizations generally recommend at least once yearly water testing of private wells. These same organizations, like the CDC also provide lots of valuable information about maintaining wells for future use as well as retiring wells that are no longer in use. Because of the likely presence of bacteria not found in chlorinated municipal water systems, it is often recommended that well water be run through some kind of treatment system. 

There are also several common sense tactics you can employ to check on your well and prevent future water quality issues. The first is to conduct a visual inspection yourself every few months. You may discover an obvious issue with your well simply by grabbing a flashlight and taking a look around. The other no-brainer is to make sure you’re keeping hazardous materials away from your well and disposing of them properly when they are no longer needed. These materials can find their way into your water supply if you’re not careful.

Recommended Treatment Systems and Shocking Your Well

Once you’ve gathered all the information you need about your well and water conditions, you will be prepared and informed about what actions you should take, if any. Depending on your circumstances and needs, you may be looking for long or short term solutions. We generally recommend that you consult a contractor that specializes in water treatment with this process, especially since most of those contractors will also be able to supply you with a free water test. 

“Shocking” your well (shock chlorination) refers to using bleach to kill bacteria in your water supply. This disinfection process can be effective if done correctly but also has several drawbacks. For starters, it will take some time and a lot of running water. All of the chlorinated bleach needs to be run through the well and systems in the home. After turning on all the fixtures for 10 mins or so, you’ll then want to run a hose for a few hours to completely clear out the bleach. This process is also temporary. 

You also have the option to install a water treatment system designed to address whatever issues you’re having. In the case of bacteria specifically, installing  U.V. Light is a chemical-free option that eliminates 99% of all bacteria. R.O. filters are a good option for removing nitrates and other contaminants, and Carbon Filters can remove hardness and chlorine. The best treatment system will always depend on your specific water quality. 

Address Problems ASAP

The most important thing you can do to take care of your well and drinking water is to address problems you encounter as soon as they come up. Waiting for things to get worse could result in problems that are more difficult to address. Be proactive whenever you can. 

Hurricane Home Solutions is a water treatment specialist and service provider in a majority of New York State and parts of Northern Pennsylvania. If you have well water and are looking into getting a water treatment system we can help you identify your water conditions and suggest the best possible treatment systems for your home. We can be contacted by email at info@hurricanehomesolutions.com, by web form here on our site, or by phone at 1-833-999-0039.