Just as you seasonally check your furnace or smoke detector batteries, spring here in the Northern Hemisphere is a good season to have an annual water well checkup before the peak water-use season begins. The National Ground Water Association (NGWA) once again recommends annual water testing and well maintenance during Ground Water Awareness Week.

You regularly have your vehicle and teeth (and maybe your furnace) checked regularly, don’t you? If you operate a private water supply well, it is your source of drinking water (that is, the water that goes into your body). If you manage a wellfield, each well is a revenue- and essential water-producing asset. In both cases, people count on you to be a good steward of a valuable source of water.

Why is it a good idea to have my water well checked annually?

• An annual checkup by a ground water professional is the best way to ensure problem-free service and quality water.
• Preventative maintenance is typically less costly (and certainly more convenient) than emergency maintenance or replacement.
• Good well maintenance, like good car maintenance, usually prolongs the life of your well and related equipment.

The checkup should include:

• A flow test to determine system output, along with a check of the water level before and during pumping (if possible), pump motor performance (check amp load, grounding, and line voltage), a check of electrical and mechanical systems such as pressure tanks and pressure switch contacts, and general water quality (odor, cloudiness, etc.).
• An inspection of well equipment (for example, the well cap) to assure that it is sanitary and meets local code requirements.
• A test of your water for coliform bacteria and nitrates, and anything else of local concern, such as arsenic. Other typical additional tests are those for iron, manganese, water hardness, sulfides, and other water constituents (such as clogging and corroding bacteria) that cause problems with plumbing, staining, water appearance, and odor. Changes in these constituents also may indicate changes in your well or local ground water. Additional tests may be recommended if water appears cloudy or oily, if bacterial growth is visible on fixtures, or water treatment devices are not working as they should. Your ground water professional should be able to advise you.
• A concise, clear, written report should be delivered to you following the checkup that explains results and recommendations, and includes all laboratory and other test results.
• An often-overlooked resource is the water well self-assessment checklist available from your US-state agriculture-services agency. It guides you through the process of checking out your well and its surroundings, and going through the process is educational.