How to Keep Well Water Fresh

Well water can easily be contaminated if the well is not properly maintained. Stale well water can become a suitable environment for bacteria to grow. Using water from your well that is not fresh can also result in serious illnesses, and clean well water is essential for everyday household use. You can take certain measures to ensure that your well water is kept safe and fresh. By using these basic guidelines, you can ensure that your well water is always potable.

Instructions

• 1

  Do a visual inspection of exposed areas of your well. Look for any type of damage to the well casing or well cap. Inspect the piping, pressure tank and wiring for leaks or corrosion. Get your well checked and tested annually by a professional. The annual test involves checking for contaminants and mechanical problems, as well as making sure that no other safety issues have arisen.

• 2

  Keep contaminants such as fertilizers, pesticides, paint, motor oil, gas and other harmful substances away from the well. You should not mix or store any of these contaminants near the location of your well.

• 3

  Keep your well water fresh by inspecting the area of ground around the well for slumping, meaning areas of the ground that are collapsed. If there is slumping in the ground, fill it with compacted clay soil. To prevent water from settling around the well casing, the ground surface surrounding it should slope away from the well.

• 4

  Prevent back siphonage --- the reversal of contaminated, or polluted, water flow into the well --- by using backflow devices attached to hose connections as well as faucets. Purchase them at your local plumbing-supply, hardware or home-improvement store.