Annual Water Well Checkups Needed

The National Ground Water Association recommends annual testing of your wells to ensure quality water.

Testing for things such as bacteria and nitrates can help prevent the consumption or usage of contaminated water, which could cause illness.

“The common thing to do is to perform a bacteria test,” said Merrill Hemming, environmental health specialist. “This can be done at any local lab and all you have to do is get a bottle from them, take it to your sink or bathtub to fill it up, take it back to the lab and you can get results from it.”

Wells can provide high-quality drinking water and about half of the U.S. population receives its drinking water from wells; that’s why health department officials said testing your water is so important.

“If there’s a distinct odor in the water, discoloration, taste, that’s another thing people are concerned about. There shouldn’t be too many chemicals or different tastes in the water,” said Hemming.

The NGWA also recommends testing your water wells in cases where flooding, loss of power or overworked septic tanks have been issues in your home.

For more information, visit the health district’s website at http://phd7.idaho.gov/EH/Water/drinkingwaterresources.html