Getting your well water tested is very important to ensure the ongoing health and well being of people in the home. Many people assume that their well water is safe to drink just because it looks clean. This however, is a false sense of security, due to those parameters hidden dissolved within.
The EPA have identified that up to 30% of well water samples have E.coli present. Contamination of well water can come from many spurces including domestic wastewater systems overflows, septic tank overflows, slurry spreading etc.
There may also be particluar chemicals present in the water supply which originate from the land itself. These may include iron, manganese which dissolve into the water from the bedrock.
Another significant factor that is present in many water supplies in Ireland is hardness, more commonly refered to as limescale. The level at which hardness is present will be determined by the nature of the bedrock through which the water is flowing. Some areas of the country such as Kilkenny have very high levels of hardness.
Sometimes, the water supply can have a pH value that is high or low. pH is a measure of how alkaline or acidic the water is. If you have an acidic water, this can corrode the pipework and fittings in your house causing leaks.
It is recommended to do well water testing annually for bacteria, make sure to sample on a wet day when the risk of bugs getting into your water are highest. It is also recommended that you get well water tested every 3 years for chemical tests.