Spring – Time to Test Your CT Water
Water Testing CT: Spring time is a Great time to Test Your Water. The coming of spring is especially critical for individuals who rely on well water or a private well for their drinking water supply. Groundwater originates as precipitation, melting snow and spring rains generally provide the largest contribution of groundwater recharge to our aquifers each year. Because recharge during this time can occur rapidly, bacterial contamination of wells is more likely to occur during this time of year. Some well owners may actually notice their well water change appearance or odor after large rain events or snowmelts. Coliform bacteria tests are an easy way to determine whether your water supply is bacteriologically safe to drink. Coliform bacteria are common in soils and are not generally considered harmful to health, however; they are also found in human and animal waste. For this reason a coliform bacteria test is used as an indication of the sanitary condition of a water supply. A sanitary water supply or properly constructed well should not contain any coliform bacteria; the presence of bacteria in well water indicates a pathway for potentially dangerous pathogens such as E. coli, a type of fecal coliform, to enter the water supply. If harmful bacteria or viruses are in fact present, a variety of illnesses could occur from drinking the water. You should be testing your well water annually for coliform bacteria or any time you notice a sudden change in color, odor or taste. Think of a bacteria test for your well like going to the doctor for a check-up. Spring, particularly during the spring thaw or...Testing for Pesticides in Connecticut Well Water
Pesticides in CT Well Water: Health officials in Connecticut are telling residents who drink from private wells to test their water for the banned pesticides chlordane and dieldrin, after a study from the town of Stamford, CT found at least one of the toxic chemicals in 195 out of 628 wells tested. Over half of the wells that tested positive for one of the pesticides were found to contain concentrations at levels above what the EPA considers acceptable. Both of these chemicals were widely used throughout the country before their ban in the late 1980s. In 2009, the U.S Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and EPA conducted a survey that found chlordane in 64% of U.S households sampled. The results from Stamford, CT are considered to be only the tip of the iceberg. The Stamford Health Department began its study in 2009 after testing revealed pesticide contamination near a local town dump. Health officials expected the results to be localized, but were caught off guard as the chemicals were identified in areas away from the dump. Sharee Rusnak, epidemiologist for the Connecticut Department of Public Health said, “We believe that this problem in Stamford could reach much further than Stamford itself and it could exist even beyond Fairfield County.” Stamford Health Director Anne Fountain remarked, “As you can see, one house may have it and the one next door may not. This is happening in Stamford and I don’t think it stops at the borders.” Around 2.3 million people in New England get their water from private wells, and most all do not require pesticide testing before use due...Why test your water this summer?
As CT home owners we usually don’t give much thought to where our drinking water comes from. We turn on the faucet, the water comes out, and we drink, cook with it, shower in it. Some of us filter it through a pitcher to make it “taste better.” But how often do we consider the more important question of whether or not it is safe for us and our families to drink? Almost all water contains contaminants. These can include dissolved minerals, organic compounds, and microorganisms. Some contaminants may be mostly a nuisance, having an unpleasant taste or odor. But there are other contaminants, which at certain levels can be harmful to our health. The only way to be sure that your water supply is safe is to have it tested regularly. If your home is connected to a public water system, your utility is required by law to monitor the water supply for safety as it leaves the treatment facility. But it is possible for the water to become contaminated from contact with your plumbing system. For private water sources like wells in CT, the owner is the one who is responsible for water testing and treatment. Testing your CT drinking water regularly will help ensure your family’s health and safety. Some of the most common contaminants that should be included when testing drinking water include total coliform bacteria, nitrates, nitrites, pH, and total dissolved solids. Excessive levels of any of these can indicate conditions that could compromise the safety of your water and pose a health risk to you and your...Add Water Testing to Your CT Home Maintenance Checklist
Of all the home maintenance projects that you take on every year, testing your CT drinking water may be the single most important thing you do. No, it won’t keep your roof from leaking and it won’t make your paint stay fresh, but it could save your life or keep your hair from falling out at the very least. If you own a well that is the source of your drinking water, you know that it is not tested like city water is in Connecticut and it is not sent through the city reservoir like city water. With all of the new fertilizers and pesticides that farmers use, you could very well have contaminated drinking water and not even know it. All you have to do is add drinking water testing to your list of things to do on your house every year and then actually have it done. It only takes a small sample and bit of time to learn exactly what is in the water that you and your family are...When Your CT Drinking Water is Unsafe
If testing shows your private well water is unsafe, Connecticut residents should immediately find an alternative source of drinking water. The easiest way to achieve this is to purchase bottled water or carry water from a safe supply. Next, the source of the water contamination should be identified and eliminated, if possible. The well should be upgraded or the casing replaced, if necessary. Water in CT wells may be treated to reduce or eliminate some contaminants that cause a health risk. Treatment alternatives include: disinfection filtration distillation conditioning (water softening) Different methods are appropriate for different types of contaminants and some are more effective than others. CT residents should consider whether the water is being treated to reduce or remove contaminants that present a health risk or those that merely make the water unpalatable. The per-gallon cost of water treatment must be weighed against the total amount of water needed, the availability of another water source, and the cost of purchasing water. Disinfection by chemicals, heat, or light is effective in killing bacteria found in water, but does not remove nitrate. Shock or continuous chlorination, boiling, and ultraviolet light may all disinfect water supplies contaminated with living organisms, but will not reduce levels of minerals, metals, or man-made chemicals. Distillation will disinfect water and reduce levels of many contaminants. Boiling water contaminated with bacteria is recommended, but boiling water contaminated with both bacteria and nitrate is not safe. Boiling increases the level of nitrate because nitrate is not a living organism that can be killed through disinfection. Thus, the remaining water contains a greater concentration of nitrate than it did before boiling....Water Testing Info
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