Guide for Well Water

EWS, Inc. / Environmental Water Systems
3-1
This 24 page booklet is available @ www.ewswater.com
This Guide Contains:
?An Introduction to Well Water
?Well Owner Responsibilities
?Well Construction and Well Maintenance
?Protection of the Well Environment
?Septic Systems and the Environment
?Water Quality Sampling and Testing
?Common Well Water Problems
?Water Quality Treatment
?Resource Guide
?Properly Test Your Water
This guide has been compiled in order to empower consumers.
Information is essential to understanding your well and the water it will provide
for you, your family, and your home.
This is your water.
You do not need to be an expert. Just informed.
www.ewswater.com office: 702-256-8182 (m-f; 8:30-4:30, pst) fax: 702-256-3744 customerservice@ewswater.com

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3-2
EWS, Inc. / Environmental Water Systems
Introduction:
This guide is intended to make private well ownership a little easier and is designed to:
Introduce well owners to the basics of proper well construction, destruction, and/or maintenance.
Inform well owners of their responsibilities.
Alert private well owners to the potential for contamination and the need for independent water-quality testing
and if applicable, proper problem solving of water issues.
A percentage of all water used comes from below the ground, where layers of sand and gravel provide a natural
storage basin for water in underground aquifers. In addition to being an extraordinary storage facility, the ground-
water basin also serves as an inexpensive and efficient treatment and distribution system; as water percolates
down, it is naturally purified and spreads out for miles to serve a wide area.
The thousands of water supply wells that draw water from these groundwater basins have traditionally produced
very high quality drinking water. In recent years, however, our drinking water aquifers have been threatened by ordinary
household chemicals and by-products, toxic chemicals from industrial spills, leaking underground storage tanks, and
agricultural applications, as well as biological pathogens from sewers, septic systems and animal facilities. These
contaminants can find their way through the natural protective layers of clay and silt and into our drinking water aquifers.
The problem can be exasperated by the presence of improperly constructed wells, abandoned wells, or wells located
too near to a potential contaminant source like a septic system. These wells can act as vertical pathways, allowing
chemicals and pathogens on the surface or in shallow aquifers, to migrate into our deep drinking water aquifers. To help
control and prevent the contamination of our groundwater storage basins and to protect public health, we need the
cooperation of private well owners.
We have produced this guide to help you protect our groundwater resources and your health.
This guide is meant only as a guide for well owners. We do not claim that the recommendations made in
this document will work in every situation. Nor do we claim to have covered every possible scenario or
contaminant.
www.ewswater.com office: 702-256-8182 (m-f; 8:30-4:30, pst) fax: 702-256-3744 customerservice@ewswater.com

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EWS, Inc. / Environmental Water Systems
3-3
Well Owner Responsiblities:
To protect public health and to maintain the high quality of water in drinking water aquifers.
Well owners are required to adhere to various state and local laws relating to wells.
In general, well owners are (depending on local, district and/or state regulations) required to:
Obtain permits before any well construction, destruction, and/or modification.
Complete any well construction, destruction, or modification according to your district and state well standards.
Wells must be constructed so that they do not allow poor quality surface water or water from shallow aquifers to
migrate into drinking water aquifers. There are specific well construction practices that must be followed to ensure
that wells are constructed properly.
Register all wells. Do not fear local requirements. These requirements, codes and laws are to protect you.
Obtain well clearance before a well is used for drinking water purposes.
Properly maintain the well so that it remains in compliance with your district and state well standards. Wells must
be maintained so that they do not allow the introduction of surface waters or other materials into them through improp-
erly sealed well casings or gravel fill/sounding tubes. Wells must be secured so that children or animals cannot enter
them.
Properly destroy any wells that are not being used. When no longer in use, wells must be destroyed so that
they can never act as vertical conduits or endanger public health. Generally, wells must be completely filled with
impervious sealing materials.
According to any code, lack of knowledge is not an excuse.
This is the well providing your water to your home.
You don’t need to be an expert - just informed.
See the following pages
for information on:
Well construction
well maintenance and
record-keeping
How to protect your
environment and water
quality
Independent water
sampling and testing
Water quality problems
and solutions
Resources
www.ewswater.com office: 702-256-8182 (m-f; 8:30-4:30, pst) fax: 702-256-3744 customerservice@ewswater.com

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3-4
EWS, Inc. / Environmental Water Systems
Well Construction
WELL CONSTRUCTION:
UNDERSTANDING HOW YOUR WELL WORKS AND HOW YOU GET YOUR WATER.
The typical domestic well is constructed by drilling a hole in the ground to a depth of 100 to 300 feet. As the well driller
is drilling the hole, the driller notes the type and depth of materials that the bit passes through. This information is
recorded on the Driller Log that is submitted to the permitting agency and given to the homeowner. If a Driller Log is not
applicable to your local code, insist on one as the homeowner. This information will be of utmost importance for future
reference.
The well is constructed once the driller finds layers of sand or gravel that produce enough water to meet the well
owner’s needs. These water producing layers are called aquifers. To construct the well, the driller installs a length
of plastic or steel pipe called the well casing into the hole. The well casing keeps the hole from collapsing and
allows pumping equipment to be installed. By regulation, the well casing must have a diameter at least four inches
smaller than the diameter of the hole.
Where the hole intersects the best water producing lay-
ers, the driller installs the well casing with thick cuts or
perforations. This portion of the well is called the well
screen. The well screen allows water to pass into the
casing but keeps out sand and gravel. Where the hole
intersects layers of clay or fine silt (layers that don’t
typically produce significant quantities of water), the
driller installs un-perforated pipe called blank casing.
To keep fine sand, silt, and clay from entering the well
screen, the driller installs a sand and gravel mix called
the filter pack into the space between the casing and
the larger diameter hole. To protect the water quality in
the deeper, drinking water aquifers from poor quality sur-
face water and shallow aquifer water, the driller also in-
stalls a concrete or cement seal (annular or sanitary seal)
between the blank casing and the larger diameter hole.
Typical well seal depths are 100 or 150 feet.
The annular seal extends upward to the ground surface
where it is extended out to create a concrete pad with
the well casing extending out of the middle of it. These
surface features are called the wellhead. At the wellhead,
the casing extends at least one foot above the ground
surface and is securely capped to prevent anything, in-
cluding surface water, from entering the well. The con-
crete pad is sloped away from the casing to protect the
well from damage and from surface water contamination.
Remember, this may be a typical well application
and yet, your conditions and situation may be dif-
ferent. However, whether or not your well is deeper
or much more shallow - proper construction, main-
tenance and record-keeping will always be required.
The information provided in this guide will provide
you with the resources to be informed.
www.ewswater.com office: 702-256-8182 (m-f; 8:30-4:30, pst) fax: 702-256-3744 customerservice@ewswater.com

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EWS, Inc. / Environmental Water Systems
3-5
Well Maintenance
WELL MAINTENANCE:
THE SIMPLE THINGS TO LOOK FOR AND THE MAINTENANCE NEEDED.
A poorly maintained well can lead to a variety of problems including poor water quality and reductions in
the amount of water your well can produce. To minimize these potential problems, a well maintenance
program is an important part of a well owner’s responsibilities.
1
Look for openings that insects, rodents, water, or anything else can enter. Cap, seal, or otherwise plug them.
2
Look for cracks in the concrete pad that would allow water, and any contaminants it may be carrying, to follow the
well casing down into your drinking water aquifer. Seal cracks, or re-pour a new concrete pad.
3
If water is flowing out the top of the well, call a licensed well contractor to stop the flow. In addition to being a waste
of water, if water can leak out, contaminants can seep in.
4
Remove weeds, leaves, and other debris from around your well. These can create great homes for rodents and
other pests. Remember, do not use herbicides or any other chemicals near the well.
5
Make sure the ground slopes or drains away from your well and that your well casing extends at least one foot
above the ground to ensure that surface water does not collect or flow near the well.
6
Make sure your well registration number (if applicable to your local codes) is still visible on your well. This may be
a local legal requirement. Call your local district for information.
7
If you have an inactive well, turn the pump on several times during the year to make sure that everything is
functioning properly. Inspect and maintain your inactive well following the same guidelines as for your active well. If you
never plan to use the well again, you may be legally required to properly destroy it. Properly destroying the well will prevent
it from being an accidental pathway of contamination into your active well, your neighbor’s well, or the groundwater.
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3-6
EWS, Inc. / Environmental Water Systems
Well Maintenance and Record Keeping
WELL MAINTENANCE AND THE ALL IMPORTANT RECORD KEEPING
Inspect Your Wellhead
Get in the habit of doing a visual check on your well at least once a year. More often is better.
Maintain Complete Well Records
Effective maintenance programs begin with complete records on the construction, testing, and maintenance of your
well. You should work with your contractor to establish inspection and routine maintenance schedules based on the
specific characteristics of your well and water supply needs.
Complete well records should include:
The Driller Log:
The document describing the construction of the well: how deep, what depth it draws water from (the perforated interval),
piping material, soil types encountered while drilling and the initial start-up date.This important information will help to
trouble shoot problems, should they arise. The drilling contractor should provide you with a copy of the Driller Log following
completion of the well construction and testing. If not a code requirement, you should request one as the consumer.
Pump Test Data:
The pump test gives information on how much water (GPM - gallons per minute) the well can produce and at what pressure
(PSI). This information is also useful to assess well performance as the well ages.
Distribution Map:
Draw a map showing the location of all the buried pipes, the materials and line sizes used, connected to the well. If you
share a well with adjacent properties, it is a good idea to have a map of all the plumbing on your neighbors’ property as well.
This information can be invaluable as the properties change hands and repairs need to be made, or as new wells are added.
The Physical Location of the Well:
Measure the distance to the well from permanent structures (e.g. the centerline of the road or corner of the house).
Maintenance Records:
Record whenever you have any maintenance done, such as replacing the pump or check valves. This is important informa-
tion to keep track of, regarding the age of various components, what work was done, and who repaired them last.
Water Quality Data:
Keep all your past water quality testing information in one place. By comparing results from one year to the next you will
be better able to detect changes which may indicate problems.
Disinfection History: If you disinfect your well, keep track of when, why, and how it was done.
Deteriorating Well Performance
The performance of all wells will deteriorate over time, but proper well construction and maintenance can delay this
problem. The typical causes of performance deterioration include one or more of the following: mineral encrustation or
biofouling (bacteriological encrustation) of the well screen, physical plugging of the well screen, filter pack, and/or sur-
rounding soils by fine particles, corrosion of the well casing, and pump problems. Many of these problems can be pre-
vented by proper well design and construction, proper pump sizing, proper operation and maintenance, or preventative well
maintenance. If not allowed to progress too far, most well performance problems can be corrected. To prevent or correct
performance problems, you should work with your Water Well and/or Pump Contractor.
Well Destruction
Any well that is no longer being used for its intended purpose is required by law to be properly destroyed. Because unused,
abandoned wells can act as pathways that allow poor quality surface water or shallow groundwater to move into deeper
drinking water aquifers, it is very important that they are properly destroyed. This is especially true if other water supply
wells are operating in the area. When a well is being used in the vicinity of an abandoned well, the pumping activity in the
operating well can actually pull poor quality water down the abandoned well, into the drinking water aquifers, and then into
the operating well.
To eliminate these vertical pathways for contaminant migration, abandoned wells must be destroyed by filling the entire
well casing with cement based sealing materials. As with all well construction, modification, or destruction, any well
destruction work must be completed by a licensed contractor and a permit.
www.ewswater.com office: 702-256-8182 (m-f; 8:30-4:30, pst) fax: 702-256-3744 customerservice@ewswater.com

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EWS, Inc. / Environmental Water Systems
3-7
The Protection of Your Well Water Environment
Why should I protect the groundwater?
For most well owners, groundwater is their only source of water and should, therefore, be protected. Groundwater
moves very slowly, often only a few feet per year, and because it moves so slowly, once it becomes polluted, it takes
years for it to be naturally flushed clean. Manually cleaning pollutants out of groundwater can be extremely costly
and difficult. Often, the only solution is to find a new source of water.
What can I do to protect the quality of my water?
Always keep in mind that you live on top of your drinking water. The layer of earth between you and the water
provides some protection from contamination, but it is not perfect. The safest way to protect your water supply is to
teach your family, friends, and neighbors: If you don’t want to drink it, don’t put it on, or, in the ground!
Create a Zone of Protection Around Your Well
Your well is a direct connection between you and your water supply. Contaminants can flow down your well as
easily as water flows up it. The farther away from your well you are, the more sand, gravel, and clay there is to filter
out contaminants before they reach your water supply. So create a circle at least 50 feet in diameter around your
well where you don’t store, mix, spray, spill, bury or dump anything that you don’t want to drink. Don’t forget to look
out for your neighbor’s well if it is near your property line. Any contamination in your neighbor’s well can travel into
your well.
Some activities legally require more than a 50-foot zone of protection. For example, septic tanks, leach fields, and
animal enclosures need to be at least 100 feet away from any well to ensure that no waste products reach your
drinking water. There are many activities that do not have formal, legal setback requirements. Use your common
sense. For example, don’t tie animals to the well structure--not only do you risk breaking the casing, piping, or
electrical connection, you risk contamination from urine and feces.
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3-8
EWS, Inc. / Environmental Water Systems
Water Quality Protection and the Maintenance of Your Septic System
A septic system consists of a tank and a leach or drain field. All the solid/liquid waste from inside the home flows
into the septic tank. The septic tank is composed of two compartments. The waste is deposited in the first compart-
ment where the solids settle to the bottom and the liquid and scum float above it. Bacteria and other microorgan-
isms break down the solid materials. These microorganisms are important to the process of your septic system.
As the liquid separates from the solids, it overflows into the second compartment where more separation and
decomposition occur before it flows into the leach/drain field. The leach/drain field is a network of perforated pipes
within a trench of washed drain rock buried about two to three feet deep. The liquid waste flows out of the perfo-
rated pipe and into the soil where more pollutants are removed. By the time the wastewater reaches the groundwa-
ter, few impurities should remain.
If you have a septic system, keep in mind that whatever goes down the drain may find its way into your drinking
water. The required 100-foot setback between your well and your septic system provides relatively good protection
against bacteria and viruses when it is working properly. However, this setback was not designed to protect against
things like photographic processing chemicals, hazardous art supplies, hazardous household cleaners, paint and
paint cleaners, automotive wastes, pesticides, by-products from soaps, detergents, shampoos and conditioners, and
other hazardous chemicals that may not break down and filter out as easily.
Either from you, your neighbor, or any groundwater - these are the volatile organic contaminants (VOC’s) that are
generally odorless, colorless and/or tasteless; difficult and expensive to test for - but relatively easy to reduce and
safeguard from. See below and the next page for some of the things to be aware of, and look out for.
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EWS, Inc. / Environmental Water Systems
3-9
Inspect Your Wellhead On a Regular Basis
It is very important to keep any foreign materials, including surface water, out of your well. Therefore, it is important that
your well is free from opening and that your concrete well pad is structurally sound. Your well should be inspected annually
to be sure that there are no openings in the wellhead or cracks in the well pad. Any openings or cracks should be secured
or sealed. Refer to pages 4, 5 and 6 in this Guide for more information on how to complete an inspection.
Protect The Well Structure
Many well repairs can be very costly, so it pays to protect your well from any physical damage.
The safest way to protect your well from being damaged or lost is to build a small structure or fence around it. Keep
in mind that you will need easy access to the well for maintenance and repairs. If you don’t have a structure around your
well, then clearly mark it so when vegetation grows up, it doesn’t become buried and lost.
Lock the well enclosure to minimize the chance of vandalism.
A Word About The Brine Discharge From Softeners - Some Restrictions May Apply To Their Use.
Brine discharge may be a problem for your septic application. The brine discharge kills the microorganisms necessary for
the septic process to function. Some states or local agencies have already banned the use of softeners and their brine
discharge to septic and even to municipal supplies due to the problems created with wastewater treatment and ground water
contamination. Some restrictions require softeners to have metered valves to prevent excessive brine discharge, hot-side only
applications, or salt-exchange tanks and services.
Local water dealers and other organizations do not inform consumers of these issues and believe these rules are
unenforceable, however the consumer is ultimately responsible. These restrictions apply to both sodium and potassium
chloride, since both are salts.
Softeners may also provide warranty issues with pools and spas, certain other products and finishes.
Softened water should not be used for drinking, cooking, pets or plants and is usually bypassed or “looped away” from the
cold side of the kitchen sink. Reverse Osmosis, which also has its’ drawbacks, may be sold to remove the salt from the water
that the softener put in at the kitchen sink, yet may be misapplied for your local water conditions.
Septic System Health, Hazards and Maintenance
1
Do not dump hazardous chemicals down the drain. If your drain is plugged
try using boiling water or a drain snake instead of chemical drain cleaners. Use less
toxic cleaning supplies whenever possible. Take all hazardous chemicals to a haz-
ardous waste drop-off for disposal.
2
If you notice a sewage smell, a continuously wet area in your yard, lush
vegetation around the septic tank or leach field, or liquid waste backing up through
your drains, then something is not working properly. Call a licensed septic tank
inspector immediately.
3
Have your septic tank inspected and pumped every three to five years (more
often if you have a garbage disposal). If the solid waste in the tank builds up too
high, it can flow into the leach lines, plug them, and cause your system to fail.
4
Keep the solids in your system to a minimum. Do not use your toilet as a
garbage can. Food wastes, feminine hygiene products, and other household solids
are better placed in the garbage.
5
Do not park or drive heavy equipment over your leach lines. This may com-
pact the soil around the lines and prevent adequate percolation of the liquid waste,
causing your system to fail.
6
Do not plant trees near your leach line. Tree roots often seek out the moist
environment inside your leach lines and plug them, causing your system to fail.
7
If you have a dual leach field system, change the diversion valve setting
once a year.
8
Be cautious of septic tank additives, yeast, bacteria, enzymes, or other
products to enhance the system. None of these products have been proven to be
beneficial and some can cause permanent damage.
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3-10
EWS, Inc. / Environmental Water Systems
Water Quality and What You Need To Know
As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring
minerals and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals and human activity.
Contaminants that may be present include:
Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, that may come from sewage treatment plants, septic
systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.
Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, that can be naturally-occurring or result from urban
stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, animal facility waste generation, mining, or farming.
Pesticides and herbicides, that may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater
runoff, and residential uses.
Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, that are by-products of
industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, agricultural
application, and septic systems.
Radioactive contaminants that in our area are typically naturally occurring.
Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain small amounts of some contaminants and
does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential
health effects can be obtained by calling the USEPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791) or by contacting your
local municipal water district.
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compro-
mised persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/
AIDS, diabetes, lupus, or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants, can be particularly at risk from
infections. These people should seek advice from their health care providers about their drinking water supply, and is a
standard statement among all municipal water districts.
Be aware your health care provider may be not relate water conditions and your health, and more then likely, are not
informed on water issues and may make incorrect water treatment recommendations (it’s just not their expertise). For
example; most dermatologists do not connect our chlorinated water supplies and problems with dry or sensitive skin.
Bacteriological quality of drinking water is determined by
analyzing for coliform bacteria. These bacteria occur natu-
rally in the intestinal tracts of humans and animals and in
the soil. Although coliform bacteria normally do not cause
illness, they should not be present in drinking water. The
presence of these bacteria in the drinking water indicates
that the water may be contaminated with other organisms
that can cause disease. Disease symptoms may typically
include diarrhea, cramps, nausea, and any associated
headaches and fatigue. Bacteria levels can fluctuate sea-
sonally with wet and dry periods.
Nitrate is a naturally occurring compound, but high
amounts of nitrate in groundwater are typically due to hu-
man activity such as fertilizer applications, septic systems,
and animal enclosures. Nitrate in drinking water at levels
above 45 milligrams per liter (mg/L) NO or 10 mg/L NO N
3
3-
is a health risk for infants of less than six months of age,
pregnant women and people with specific enzyme defi-
ciencies. Nitrate concentrations in groundwater may rise
quickly for short periods of time because of rainfall or agri-
cultural activity. If you are caring for an infant or are preg-
nant, you should seek advice about your drinking water
from your health care provider.
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