MINERALS

We offer free on-site water testing for Iron, Hardness, PH, TDS, and Sulphur in well water.

Whether is staining or odors or if you've noticed scale build up from hardness, we can recommend a solution for you.

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Common Problems with Well Water

• IRON:  Not considered hazardous to health, but when the level of iron in water exceeds the DNR 0.3 mg/l limit, you may experience red, brown, or yellow staining of laundry, glassware, dishes and household. The water may also have a metallic taste and an offensive odor. Water system piping and fixtures can also become restricted or clogged.

• HARDNESS:  Interferes with cleaning tasks from laundering and dishwashing to bathing and personal grooming. Clothes laundered in hard water may look dingy and feel harsh and scratchy. Dishes and glasses may be spotted when dry. Hard water may cause a film on glass shower doors, shower walls, bathtubs, sinks, faucets, etc. Hair washed in hard water may feel sticky and look dull. These deposits also collect in household plumbing lines, water heaters and appliances, causing them to run less efficiently.

• PH:  Green staining indicates that the water is corrosive and usually acidic. Acidic water can leach metals from pumps, piping and fixtures. If left alone without treatment it can cause leaks in copper pipes and fixtures. Acidity is measured on a scale of 0-14 with 7 being neutral, less than 7 is acidic and above 7 is basic.

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Learn more about the effects of minerals in your well water here

Hardness

PH

Iron

BACTERIA

This is a common parameter to test water for when concerned with the safety of your well water and whether or not it contains bacteria.  There are two types of bacteria that we test for in a water sample - total coliform & fecal. Water samples collected by Venable Brothers are tested at a local certified lab.  Test results are available within 2 business days.

Sometimes total coliform bacteria are present in a water sample due to improper testing procedures.  Most times total coliform can be destroyed by simple chlorination of the well & house plumbing.  We can also provide the chlorination service.

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STEPS TO TAKE WHEN BACTERIA IS PRESENT IN YOUR WELL WATER

​The first recommendation is to chlorinate the well.  You can find instructions on this procedure on the Helpful Links page.  If you do not feel comfortable performing this procedure, one of our trained technicians can chlorinate for you.  After chlorinating the well and pumping off the water that's in the well, we highly recommend re-testing the water.  Usually the second sample with come back with a negative (absent) result. 

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When a second sample comes back positive for bacteria, we recommend chlorinating the well once again and re-test.  

In the event a third sample returns positive ("present") for bacteria, there are methods of treatment if you choose not to chlorinate and re-test.  A UV light system (picture shown) is an effective method used to treat water that contains bacteria.  This system is made up of a vessel which houses a UV light.  As the water passes by this UV light, the bacteria are killed.  A pre-filter is also required.

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You can read more about Bacteria & well water here

Bacteria & Well Water

Viqua UV Light Treatment System

LEAD/NITRITE/NITRATE

Commonly requested during real estate transactions for loan such as FHA and VA, lead, nitrite, and nitrate testing can tell you more about the safety of your well water.  

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While is it less common for lead to be found in the water straight from the well, it's more often found when samples are taken from the tap.  Houses with older metal piping can possess lead in the actual pipe, joints and solder that connects them.  Water with low PH levels increases the opportunity for corrosion allowing lead to leach from these pipes.

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Nitrate & Nitrites can occur naturally in the soil, but there are factors that can increase the opportunity for these to get into the groundwater source.   Fertilizers, septic waste, and manure runoff can contribute.

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If the levels for these testing parameters are above the Drinking Water Standard there are solutions. Ruling out any unnecessary contributors is a simple first step.  Water filtration is also a solution.

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Read more about Lead, Nitrate, and Nitrites in well water

Lead in Drinking Water

Nitrate & Nitrites in Drinking Water

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