Private Well Water Testing in Virginia: 5 Critical Warning Signs

Are you a homeowner or renter on a property with a private well in Virginia? Private well water testing in Virginia is essential for ensuring your water supply remains safe and potable. Having water on your property is a great resource as you do not have to rely on the public water system because you have your own source of water. Some people even prefer well water to city treated water while others take issue with the variability of mineral content found in well water sources (there are home water filters that can address hard water and other mineral concerns).

Regardless of whether you choose to filter your well water before use or not, it is important to remember that your well water needs to be monitored since it is not treated or evaluated by your local municipality. While the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that well owners have their water tested annually, there are some signs and events—red flags if you will—that you should test your well water immediately.

1. Your Property Had a Flooding Event

First, if your property was impacted by flooding and your home draws its water from a well, it is essential that you do not drink the water coming out of your taps. Floods are generally unwelcome news for wells. Why? Because these waters can carry contaminants into your water supply and can physically damage your well.

What can flood waters carry? For starters, they can put you at risk for bacterial and viral contamination. Sources of runoff like sewage, animal waste, and excrement can pose serious health risks to people. The debris picked up and carried by flood water can also cause damage to your water system and clog up vital equipment with sediment and other debris. Groundwater contamination puts you and your family at risk. All of this highlights the importance of well water testing after a flooding event.

2. Septic System Failure or Sewage Backup

If you ever find yourself dealing with a stinky mess of a yard from a septic failure, odds are that there were some signs that you may have been ignoring. Slow drainage, frequent plumbing backups, yucky odors, standing water—all these signs point to a potentially failing septic system. If your lawn is looking more fertilized than normal and you are noticing any of the signs above, it is time to get your well water tested.

A sewage issue can cause some serious health problems when it contaminates your water supply. This invites bacteria, viruses, parasites, and more into your body. E. coli is one of the big things to watch out for when it comes to this type of water contamination. The immunocompromised and young can have serious complications, like kidney failure. E. coli can kill. Hiring out for private well water testing will provide peace of mind that your water is safe to drink.

3. Something Doesn’t Taste or Smell Right

One of the more obvious signs that there may be something wrong with your well water supply is that you notice something is not right with the water. Does it taste different? Smell different? For example, if you keep smelling rotten eggs, this might be a sign of hydrogen sulfide and sulfur bacteria. This can occur when you have organic material breaking down in your well and specific sulfur-reducing bacteria.

Other smells that should raise alarm are any hint of sewage or fuel and musty, or root-like odors. Mineral deposits, lead, algae, fungi, and even bacteria can cause your water to smell earthy like this and point to an issue. If your water has a taste—salty, chemical-like, metallic, or otherwise, get it tested; these are all abnormal things.

4.Change in Your Water’s Appearance

Is your well water unusually murky? Cloudy water can indicate the presence of unwanted contaminants. If you can see a visible sediment or film in the water coming out of your taps, then there is a good chance that your well water has something foreign in it. Water testing can provide you with reassurance that your family isn’t quietly consuming anything harmful in your water supply.

It is important to note that while anything abnormal about the appearance of your home’s water supply can be an indication of well water contamination, contaminated water can also appear clear. Remember: clear water does not mean clean water and dirty water does not necessarily mean contaminated water. Regular well water testing is the only way to ensure that your water source is safe.

5. Unexplained Illnesses and Prolonged Sickness in Your Household

Maybe you have been having allergy-like symptoms without any explanation, or the members of your household have been chronically ill without a solid medical diagnosis. If illnesses impact your family on a regular basis and your family doctors are at a loss for what may be causing it, you might want to look at your water supply.

From chronic gastrointestinal illnesses to headaches, physical bodily symptoms can be indicative of well water contamination. Cramps and nausea can be early signs of a contaminated water source. It is crucial to notice the signs of water contamination and illness before it leads to larger health concerns.