Why Sedgwick County Home Owners Should Have Their Private Wells Tested
The importance of knowing the quality of the water coming from a ground well cannot be overrated. Regular testing allows residents to be aware of any potential issues in the water that might affect them and their families in a negative way. If any problems are discovered they can be addressed and corrected. Regular testing of the water source gives peace of mind in knowing that no contamination is occurring and that any treatment currently being applied to the water source is working properly. Sources that are used to water livestock should also not be neglected. The quality of water directly affects livestock health and performance. Poor quality water may be consumed in inadequate amounts affecting the health and gain of the animal. Regular testing allows the homeowner to track changes in water quality over time as well as show if the current treatment system is working properly or if changes need to be made. Changes in water quality may occur suddenly and may not be evident by the taste, smell, and look.
How Safe Is My Water To Drink?
The only accurate and reliable way to tell how healthy your water is to drink is to have a sample taken and tested by a certified laboratory. Many problems with water can not be seen with the naked eye. The water may taste good and look fine but that does not necessarily mean it is safe to drink. Parasites, viruses, and harmful bacteria may be lurking in both groundwater and surface supplies and can cause serious health problems for both humans and animals if not treated right away. Some of the health problems caused by drinking contaminated water may not show up for years as is the case with certain types of chemical contamination. This is why it is crucial to have regular water testing done to insure that none of the above contaminants are present and that the current method if any being used to treat the water is working correctly.
Well Water Tests To Consider Having Done.
The following test can be used to check the quality and safety of your water supply as well as the performance of any systems you may be using to treat the water. The Sedgwick County Health Department can assist you with these tests.
A basic water portability test will look for nitrates, sodium, coliform bacteria, manganese, iron, hardness, ph, chloride, hardness, total dissolved solids, sulfate, and fluoride. The information below contains additional information on how these elements found in water may be detrimental to the health of those consuming such water.
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- Coliform Bacteria: This will test to see if there are microorganisms in the water that could potentially be harmful to health
- Nitrate: High concentrations of nitrates can be especially dangerous for babies 6 months and younger as it can affect the ability of blood to carry oxygen.
- Fluoride: While some fluoride is good too much found in drinking water can lead lead to dental problems.
- Sulfate: Large amounts of sulfate found in drinking water can lead to gastrointestinal distress.
- Ions: These ions such as iron, manganese, chloride, and sulfate can cause water to have an unpleasant taste or bad smell.
- Dissolved Solids: This is the number of inorganic substances such as chloride, sodium, and sulfate among others. A high reading of TDS (total dissolved solids) can reduce the palatability of the water.
Why Sedgwick County Home Owners Should Have Their Private Wells Tested
The importance of knowing the quality of the water coming from a ground well cannot be overrated. Regular testing allows residents to be aware of any potential issues in the water that might affect them and their families in a negative way. If any problems are discovered they can be addressed and corrected. Regular testing of the water source gives peace of mind in knowing that no contamination is occurring and that any treatment currently being applied to the water source is working properly. Sources that are used to water livestock should also not be neglected. The quality of water directly affects livestock health and performance. Poor quality water may be consumed in inadequate amounts affecting the health and gain of the animal. Regular testing allows the homeowner to track changes in water quality over time as well as show if the current treatment system is working properly or if changes need to be made. Changes in water quality may occur suddenly and may not be evident by the taste, smell, and look.
How Safe Is My Water To Drink?
The only accurate and reliable way to tell how healthy your water is to drink is to have a sample taken and tested by a certified laboratory. Many problems with water can not be seen with the naked eye. The water may taste good and look fine but that does not necessarily mean it is safe to drink. Parasites, viruses, and harmful bacteria may be lurking in both groundwater and surface supplies and can cause serious health problems for both humans and animals if not treated right away. Some of the health problems caused by drinking contaminated water may not show up for years as is the case with certain types of chemical contamination. This is why it is crucial to have regular water testing done to insure that none of the above contaminants are present and that the current method if any being used to treat the water is working correctly.
Well Water Tests To Consider Having Done.
The following test can be used to check the quality and safety of your water supply as well as the performance of any systems you may be using to treat the water. The Sedgwick County Health Department can assist you with these tests.
A basic water portability test will look for nitrates, sodium, coliform bacteria, manganese, iron, hardness, ph, chloride, hardness, total dissolved solids, sulfate, and fluoride. The information below contains additional information on how these elements found in water may be detrimental to the health of those consuming such water.
Coliform Bacteria: This will test to see if there are microorganisms in the water that could potentially be harmful to health
Nitrate: High concentrations of nitrates can be especially dangerous for babies 6 months and younger as it can affect the ability of blood to carry oxygen.
Fluoride: While some fluoride is good too much found in drinking water can lead lead to dental problems.
Sulfate: Large amounts of sulfate found in drinking water can lead to gastrointestinal distress.
Ions: These ions such as iron, manganese, chloride, and sulfate can cause water to have an unpleasant taste or bad smell.
Dissolved Solids: This is the number of inorganic substances such as chloride, sodium, and sulfate among others. A high reading of TDS (total dissolved solids) can reduce the palatability of the water.
Additional testing of a well water supply may be needed depending on possible contaminants that may be thought to be present. These additional tests may be needed if the water supply may be near the site of industrial sites or decommissioned military bases. Some of these contaminants to be checked for might include selenium, arsenic, and uranium. Pesticide contamination may also be a possibility if farming operations are nearby. The past history of the property as well as what land around the property is being used will offer possible clues on what to test for.
Why Sedgwick County Home Owners Should Have Their Private Wells Tested
The importance of knowing the quality of the water coming from a ground well cannot be overrated. Regular testing allows residents to be aware of any potential issues in the water that might affect them and their families in a negative way. If any problems are discovered they can be addressed and corrected. Regular testing of the water source gives peace of mind in knowing that no contamination is occurring and that any treatment currently being applied to the water source is working properly. Sources that are used to water livestock should also not be neglected. The quality of water directly affects livestock health and performance. Poor quality water may be consumed in inadequate amounts affecting the health and gain of the animal. Regular testing allows the homeowner to track changes in water quality over time as well as show if the current treatment system is working properly or if changes need to be made. Changes in water quality may occur suddenly and may not be evident by the taste, smell, and look.
How Safe Is My Water To Drink?
The only accurate and reliable way to tell how healthy your water is to drink is to have a sample taken and tested by a certified laboratory. Many problems with water can not be seen with the naked eye. The water may taste good and look fine but that does not necessarily mean it is safe to drink. Parasites, viruses, and harmful bacteria may be lurking in both groundwater and surface supplies and can cause serious health problems for both humans and animals if not treated right away. Some of the health problems caused by drinking contaminated water may not show up for years as is the case with certain types of chemical contamination. This is why it is crucial to have regular water testing done to insure that none of the above contaminants are present and that the current method if any being used to treat the water is working correctly.
Well Water Tests To Consider Having Done.
The following test can be used to check the quality and safety of your water supply as well as the performance of any systems you may be using to treat the water. The Sedgwick County Health Department can assist you with these tests.
A basic water portability test will look for nitrates, sodium, coliform bacteria, manganese, iron, hardness, ph, chloride, hardness, total dissolved solids, sulfate, and fluoride. The information below contains additional information on how these elements found in water may be detrimental to the health of those consuming such water.
Coliform Bacteria: This will test to see if there are microorganisms in the water that could potentially be harmful to health
Nitrate: High concentrations of nitrates can be especially dangerous for babies 6 months and younger as it can affect the ability of blood to carry oxygen.
Fluoride: While some fluoride is good too much found in drinking water can lead lead to dental problems.
Sulfate: Large amounts of sulfate found in drinking water can lead to gastrointestinal distress.
Ions: These ions such as iron, manganese, chloride, and sulfate can cause water to have an unpleasant taste or bad smell.
Dissolved Solids: This is the number of inorganic substances such as chloride, sodium, and sulfate among others. A high reading of TDS (total dissolved solids) can reduce the palatability of the water.
Additional testing of a well water supply may be needed depending on possible contaminants that may be thought to be present. These additional tests may be needed if the water supply may be near the site of industrial sites or decommissioned military bases. Some of these contaminants to be checked for might include selenium, arsenic, and uranium. Pesticide contamination may also be a possibility if farming operations are nearby. The past history of the property as well as what land around the property is being used will offer possible clues on what to test for.
How Often To Test Your Well Water.
Most experts agree that at a minimum a well water test should be done once a year. If the well is shallow or the water is a surface water source testing needs to be done seasonally as these types of water sources are more prone to frequent contamination. Test both at the tap and also at the source. This is one way to help you determine if the treatment system if any you are using is performing adequately. This will also help in determining if the source of your water has been contaminated since your last test.