TEN THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOUR FAMILY'S WELL & DRINKING WATER. 

       The Home Owner's Private Well. The Housing Development's  Community Well(s). Your Towns Commercial Well(s). The precious source of fresh drinking water and for various daily usage. Currently over 984.000 home's and businesses in Pennsylvania depend on wells for there source of water.       Additionally man made water wells now provide the precious liquid  for a little more then 15% of all homes and business in North America.

     Most of the residential and commercial water wells in America are constructed and maintained by the various laws mandated by state or local officials. Those laws provide the safety net needed to assure potable fresh water production from man made wells. How-ever it is unfortunate for many wells used  in America to currently not meet the requirements for proper construction methods, or proper maintenance and sanitary guide line's. 

     It's up to us, the consumer of water from those sources to be cautious about the actual purity and reliability of the water we get from wells. Home owner's need to be concerned about the importance of the quality of the water from there private well. Those of us who depend on a community well or commercial well to provide water to our homes need to be reassured by the supplier that every thing is in place to provide the purity in the water you are paying for. If in doubt, ask question's.   Get involved. 

       All of us, need  to also keep in mind the "Big Picture" when thinking about the purity of the water from Wells. The circle of influence. That area that surrounds your well. An area you should consider for several hundred feet to several thousands of feet. Standing at your well, imagine a large circle extending a thousand feet from your well. Ask your self this, are there farms where fertilizer could effect your water ? Are there gas stations or storage tanks that may be or could leak in the future that could affect the water under ground that could reach your well ? Does the run off of surface water cross an area that is considered un-safe ? I am hoping you under stand what we mean by the "Big Picture"

      Yearly Sanitizing of Private wells is highly recommended.  Additionally the testing of the water from the private well is very important. We recommend the three year tune-up / maintenance procedures to your pumping system to maintain the systems over all reliability and to reduce premature system failure, which could add up to thousands of dollars. 

    The PA  D.E.P. recommends yearly checking of bacteria in the water.  We recommend a home-owners complete scope test of the drinking water every three years. Total bacteria should be tested yearly from your kitchen faucet, usually the testing agency will also confirm the presence of fecal bacteria, is so asked. Fecal bacteria being present usually is a result of a failing septic system or a similar cross contamination related issues. Issues with the purity of your drinking water should always be corrected, for the sake of your family's health. we always recommend having a qualified well water system professional work together with you to resolve those type of issues.

 TESTING THE DRINKING WATER IS THE ONLY WAY OF KNOWING IF YOUR  WELL IS CONTAMINATED BY  CHEMICALS, HERBICIDES, PESTICIDES, OR IF YOU HAVE A BACTERIA RELATED ISSUE.

 Naturally Occurring Aesthetic Issues Such As iron, The Ph of the water (acidic-neutral-alkaline) The Hardness, (or softness) Sulfur gas, (rotten egg smell) Turbidity, Chlorine, Dissolved Solids,  Manganese, etc, are all very common in Pennsylvania and are usually determined by a simple water test to have analyzed. They are regarded as a secondary type containment. Usually easily resolved by water purification / water filtering devices / water conditioning / or water softening type systems.   Bacteria related issues should be considered a priority. 

TEN THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR WELL WATER & PUMPING SYSTEM

     1.  Be water wise. Don't allow toilets to run or toilet tanks to fill to high and spill over into the over flow tube.  Maintain proper water level height inside  the tank.  Leaking flushing flappers can leak as much as 4 gallons per hour. Do you have leaky faucets or leaky plumbing that are using up the water.

      2.   Be certain your well water holding / pressure tank is working properly. A water system that "short cycles"  (off-on-off-on) while being used will usually  cause  pre-mature water pump failure. Worn well tanks that have lost there "air cushion" or faulty pressure control switches most often are the reason  why   pumping systems will fail and require expensive repairs or replacement of water pumps, tanks, controls, etc... In  many cases a standard tank and control tune-up will make a real difference in performance.    (usually under $150 by us)

     3.   Is your water filtering / treatment / conditioning working properly. Have those units, if your home has these devices been getting regular maintenance. Do you change the filters, if any on a regular basis.  DO you need to refill the sacrificial filter media an acid neutralizing system  Do you keep salt in the brine tank, or necessary chemicals in the in solution(s) tank(s).  Are you required to some times regenerate your system with a maintenance type solution ?   Do you change the U.V. bulb yearly ?

      4.   Is the  well cap  on the top of the above ground casing on tight and able to prevent  bugs, dirt, pet waste, from getting in the well ? If your well head is under ground, does the proper type of  well seal  on the top prevent surface  water intrusion into your well ?

        5.   All of your family members  aware of the fact that you can not allow chemicals, oils, paints, and other liquids to flow into your homes drains or allowed to be spilled onto the ground ?  What goes down into your drain today may wind up in your drinking water tomorrow.

     6.  Have your drinking water tested yearly for bacteria. It is usually best to have a "Total Bacteria" test done and ask at the same time if, Is fecal bacteria is present. Seriously consider other types of water testing be performed, if you think there may be a reason or if something in the nearby area may be influencing the water quality in you drinking water.

     7.  Is your well water pumping system properly electrically protected and properly grounded. Do you have frayed or bare wiring. Do you have Lightning Protection devices in your system, do you ever need them ? Maybe your well water system would benefit from a electronic pump protection devise.

      8.   Is your existing Well Pump perhaps too old and worn out and weak. It may not have the power you need to provide the pressure and volume your home and / or water purification requires. A weak pump will not provide enough volume and pressure to back wash / regenerate your water conditioning system. It maybe using more power, running long cycles, etc..    

      9.    Is the "Circle Of Influence", that area that surrounds your well free from out side contamination dangers. Fertilized farm land, factories, land fills, live stock waste, old above ground and below ground tanks, junk yards, etc..  They may be an issue with your water being influenced or contaminated. Proper water testing for these issues are available by us.

    10.  Do you and your family members know where the well actually is. Do you know where the circuit breakers, fuses, switches are. Do you know what valve(s) will shut off the water if you have a problem. Are the circuit breakers marked / identified. Are the valves marked / identified. Do you have the phone number of a good well and water system technician on hand. 

PLUMBERS

PROTECT THE

HEALTH OF OUR NATION.