Well water testing and treatment in NH
The key to understanding your home’s water and how it affects your family is to test it. If you have well water, which conditions or situations should prompt well water testing and how often should you test?
The answers depend on the location of your well and the dynamic environment around and within your home. For example, some wells in New Hampshire are higher in calcium and magnesium, naturally occurring minerals from sedimentary bedrock. These minerals harden well water.
Private well water testing guidelines
As you’re likely aware, a public water agency doesn’t monitor your private well water, leaving the quality and safety of the water supply up to you, the homeowner. That’s why we recommend testing your well water at least annually, to determine contaminants that may cause health concerns and to maintain proper pH levels.
The Environmental Protection Agency recommends well water testing once per year for nitrates, bacteria (such as coliform) and other local contaminants.
We recommend testing well water annually if:
- You installed a new well
- You replaced or repaired any part of your well system
- Your well has a history of bacterial contamination
- You have a home water treatment system
We recommend testing twice per year if:
- Your water leaves stains on clothes and household surfaces
- An infant is in the home or a family member is in the early months of pregnancy
We recommend testing under unusual circumstances including:
- You notice a change in the taste, appearance or odor of the water
- Man-made land displacement, such as removing trees and installing lawns
- Natural disasters from floods or earthquakes
- Completed construction projects that used large equipment and trucks
- Chemical spills or leaks
- A malfunctioned septic system
- Recurring gastrointestinal illnesses
Well water testing and well water treatment on a new home
Secondwind Water worked with a family in a newly-built home in Hollis, NH. The water test reported an unacceptably high level of arsenic. It also contained a lot of iron and manganese, according to our certified water specialist. A couple with two children were buying the home, and the wife is a cancer survivor who wasn’t taking any chances with contaminated water. The home sale wasn’t going forward until a comprehensive water treatment system was installed.
We installed the home’s new water treatment system in an intelligent and orderly design, not crowded in the available space, so it is easily accessible. The reverse osmosis system is neatly and securely mounted in the basement. The plumbing is straight, not convoluted, making it easy to follow where the water is going.
The system equipment is clearly labeled with appropriate warnings and instructions. A sampling tap (faucet) was installed to allow for easy “raw water” testing in the future. Our water treatment systems drain to the customer’s preferred location — whether to the septic or the home’s exterior.
The result is a system that addresses all of the well’s water quality issues. This meant installing a whole house arsenic oxidation and removal system as well as a Kinetico K5 drinking water station to the kitchen sink and refrigerator/ice maker. We also treated the iron and manganese with a backwashing filter and water softener.
We offer a variety of well water testing services via our certified water specialists. Contact us to schedule a visit for your well water testing.
