TIS THE SEASON FOR WELL WATER ISSUES
Spring means new beginnings, the world in blossom, and a slew of possible issues for your water supply.
If you live in one of the 12 million households who rely on a private or residential well for your home’s water supply, you may notice a change in water quality as the snow melts. Here are a few problems to watch out for, and what to do if water issues spring up on you.
Well-Seasoned Water
If your food is missing a little something, chances are, it’s salt. The same can be said if your water is suddenly tasting a little off.
Salt and sand work miracles on slippery roads and sidewalks, preventing falls and keeping your car on the road. As the snow melts, this salty mix dissolves and finds itself contaminating streams and ground water. Soon, this gritty mess is in your well.
Road salt is plowed away when streets and sidewalks are cleared. As the snow melts into the soil, salt, sand, and sediment are drawn down into the water table. When the concentration is exceptionally high, or larger quantities of salt are drawn down, it can contaminate aquifers and wells, too. If your well is becoming a constant hassle, it may be best to consider installing a new well, uphill from runoff.
Once your well is contaminated, your best option for removing salt and sediment from your supply is the installation of a Reverse Osmosis water filtration system. There are many options, and a dealer can help you identify your needs and which filtration system is best for your home. Eclipse® R.O., Impression Series® R.O., and UltroWater® all use multiple carbon filters, ensuring the most purified water possible.
Waste in Your Well
While salt can become a corrosive, foul-tasting nuisance, there may be more lurking in your water supply. Agricultural runoff could mean you’re sipping on an ice-cold glass of pesticide, or showering in animal waste.
In areas of high precipitation, or areas that employ irrigation methods to maintain crops or livestock, often melted snow and rain will cause agricultural runoff. As the water from these fields flood lakes, rivers, and private wells, they bring with them herbicide, animal waste, fertilizer, and pesticides.
Wells located near factories and farms, or near septic systems are the most at-risk for runoff and contamination. The higher your well is set, the less unwanted foreign bodies it will be exposed to.
There are a number of options to treat your well water, and several factors to consider before investing. If chemical contaminants are your main concern, you may be interested in a UV water treatment system, such as the Viqua Home™ Series. If salt, sediment, and minerals are your primary concern, Eclipse® R.O., Impression Series® R.O., and UltroWater® multi-filter systems ensure the purest water, straight from the tap.
Spring Clean Your Water
As Spring approaches and the warmer weather thaws snowbanks and ice patches, you may notice the fresh smell of Spring in the air, and a foul smell rising from your water. Fresh washed clothes may smell like sewage, while your drinking glass reeks of rotten eggs.
This sulfuric smell is a side effect of H2S, or Hydrogen Sulfide gas. Even a small amount in your supply can quickly become a pungent problem. While this isn’t a direct health threat, it does make life a lot less pleasant for homeowners. Your children understandably refuse to drink water, you never feel like your home is clean, and the smell left on your dishes affects the way your food tastes. And while eventually you yourself become so accustomed to the smell that you don’t notice anymore, any time you invite guests over, they will get a fresh dose of musty egg. It’s not something you can wash off, since it’s the wash water itself leaving the smell.
Options like Impression Plus Series® Air Sulfur Water Filter, WaterCare® Ion Pro® Air Sulfur, and Evolve® EVS can completely eliminate odors caused by sulfuric gas, chlorine, and other contaminants. An air-injecting technology oxidizes sulfur, converting it to a particle and then running it through the filtration system, removing it from your water.
Knowledge is Power
While the EPA regulates municipal water supplies, private wells are the sole responsibility of the homeowner. This means you are the only one who knows if your water is compromised.
If you are concerned with your water quality, have noticed unpleasant smells or flavors, or know that your well has been subject to agricultural runoff, the safest option is to have your water tested by a professional annually.
Many Evolve® and WaterCare® dealers are qualified to test your water, or will be happy to refer you to someone who can. The more you know about your water quality, the better equipped you will be to make decisions about possible treatment needs.
Learn more about our products, and to decide which filtration system is best for your family at www.omahawater.com