Where Can I Get My Well Water Tested

A homeowner sampling for VOC's
from a faucet.

Properly constructed and maintained water wells tin can provide many years of trouble-free service, but wells tin eventually deteriorate or become damaged and allow surface contaminants to enter the water. In add-on, some groundwater can incorporate one or more chemic substances in levels higher up health-based standards. In some cases, contamination of the h2o can be detected past sight, taste or smell; however, many of the most serious problems tin only exist detected through laboratory testing of the water.

Public water systems are tested regularly for a variety of contaminants. However, if you lot have a private well, regular testing is your responsibleness. Well structure inspection and improvements, such equally fixing a crack in a casing, are important steps in keeping your well water safe.

The data on this page is likewise bachelor in the Testing Private Well H2o brochure produced jointly by the Illinois EPA and the Illinois Section of Public Health.

Here are some recommendations that you can follow to help ensure that your well water is safe:

Exam your well water at to the lowest degree once a twelvemonth for bacteria

Water that has become contaminated by man or animal waste material tin can transmit a diverseness of infectious diseases, including dysentery, salmonellosis, hepatitis, and giardiasis. Symptoms vary, but nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, with or without fever, are well-nigh common. To assess bacterial safety, drinking water is tested for a group of "indicator leaner" called coliform bacteria. These bacteria do not ordinarily cause illness themselves, but their presence indicates that surface contagion has found its way into the well and affliction organisms may also be present. When coliform bacteria are found in well water, the water should be boiled earlier being used for drinking or cooking, and the well should exist disinfected. In cases when bacteria bug cannot be solved, then y'all may want to wait into continuous chlorination treatment.

Test your well water every twelvemonth for nitrate, and always test the water for nitrate before giving information technology to an baby

Nitrate is a common contaminant in Illinois groundwater. An elevated level of nitrate is often caused by septic systems, manure storage areas, feedlots, or farm fields most the well. Wells vulnerable to nitrate contagion include shallow sand bespeak wells and big bore dug or bored wells and wells with damaged, leaking casing or fittings. Well water containing nitrate at levels above the maximum contaminant level established past the U.South. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which is ten milligrams per liter as nitrogen, should never be given to infants less than half dozen months old considering information technology can cause a potentially fatal disease called "blue baby syndrome." In many cases, amalgam a deeper well can reduce or eliminate a nitrate trouble. If you know, or suspect, that your well h2o may contain high levels of nitrate, do not boil the h2o, as this will only concentrate nitrate levels. If nitrates cannot be eliminated from your well water then you may need to look into reverse-osmosis or distillation treatments.

Testing your well water for other contaminants

VOCs

Volatile organic chemicals, or "VOCs," are mutual components of gasoline and other fuels, as well as paints, and solvents, such as cleaners and degreasers. The Target Listing of VOCs and their standards contains information on what to exam for and what the acceptable levels are. Long-term exposure to VOCs at levels greater than drinking water standards may pb to impaired immune arrangement function, may crusade liver damage or may increase the run a risk of cancer. If you lot alive in an urban or suburban area with a business, industry or gas station nearby, the Illinois EPA and IDPH recommend that you have your water tested for VOCs. Also, wells in rural areas that may be affected past leaking fuel tanks should exam for VOCs. See the general procedures for collecting water samples for VOC testing fact sheet for more data. ( Procedimiento general para recoger muestras de agua para hacerles la prueba de químicos orgánicos volátiles)

Pesticides

Enquiry by land and federal agencies in Illinois shows a depression potential for finding pesticides above levels of business in groundwater as a result of normal use on farm fields. However, if pesticides have been mixed, loaded or stored close to your well and you accept a sand point well or a large diameter dug or bored well, you should consult with your local health department to find out whether you lot should exam for those pesticides. Long term exposure to some pesticides at levels above health standards may crusade a variety of health effects, including harm to the liver, kidneys, adrenal gland or nervous systems. You may as well contact your local University of Illinois Extension function for more than information on pesticide use.

Radium

This naturally occurring radioactive chemical element is found primarily in the northern 3rd of Illinois inside the deep rocks, soil and groundwater. Radium has been detected in private wells and can but be identified through testing of the water. Long term exposure to radium at levels to a higher place wellness standards may increment the risk of bone cancer, leukemia, aplastic anemia and lymphoma.

In that location are other potential contaminants for which y'all may want to test your well water.

Affluent standing water to reduce levels of lead.

Well h2o in Illinois rarely contains detectable levels of lead. However, lead can enter drinking water through decay of plumbing materials. Homes built earlier 1986 are more likely to take pb pipes, fixtures and solder. However, new homes are also at risk: even legally "lead-free" plumbing may incorporate upward to eight percent lead. The nigh common problem is with contumely or chrome-plated brass faucets and fixtures. Exposure to lead at levels above health standards can impair a child's development, as well as cause a variety of other adverse health furnishings in both children and adults.

To minimize your exposure to atomic number 82 in drinking water, run the water until information technology gets cold earlier using it for drinking or cooking. This will flush out most of the lead that may have accumulated in the plumbing. Likewise, never utilize water from the hot water tap for drinking or cooking. Hot h2o is likely to contain higher levels of lead. The only fashion to be sure of the amount of atomic number 82 in your household water is to accept it tested by a certified laboratory.

Who can I contact to have my well water tested?

Coliform bacteria and nitrates should be tested on a yearly basis and tin can be done by nearly local health departments. To find your local county health department, visit the Illinois Section of Public Health's alphabetical list of Local Health Departments. You tin as well locate your local health department by canton on their online regional map. Certified labs also test well water and may be your merely option for sure chemicals. Consult with your local health department to see if yous should be testing for other contaminants (e.one thousand., metals, VOCs, SVOCs, etc) and the frequency of testing.

For More Data

For more information well-nigh water quality testing for private wells, including information about contacting certified labs in Illinois, contact your local health department; the Illinois Section of Public Wellness at (217) 782-5830 or visit these links:

• U.S. EPA'due south fact sheet, Home Water Testing
• American Ground Water Trust, Water Testing information
• Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) ToxFAQs provides information for volatile organic chemicals such every bit benzene, trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and vinyl chloride, besides as metals such as cadmium, pb and arsenic.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Well Water Testing Often Asked Questions
• Illinois Country Geological Survey
• Illinois State Water Survey and Their Public Service Laboratory

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Source: https://www2.illinois.gov/epa/topics/drinking-water/private-well-users/Pages/well-water-testing.aspx

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