How do I know if my water is safe to drink?

Of all the things you do to maintain and protect your well and water system, collecting a water sample is one of the simplest things you can do to ensure your water is safe to drink. It’s a critical part of an overall well management strategy that provides you with some confidence that you are properly maintaining your water system.

Researchers in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota surveyed over 1700 well owners about their water wells, testing, and perceptions about their well water quality. They were trying to understand why so many private well owners do not get their water tested, even though sometimes counties or other local groups offer free testing programs. As you can see from Figure 1, many people assume it’s safe.

In some cases, they may be right, but there are some specific areas in the U. S. where more than half of the private wells in a county may be contaminated. An initial water sample can identify your general water chemistry to help you, as a well owner, understand any nuisance concerns you might have. If iron is high, for example, or the water is hard or slightly acidic. Knowing your water chemistry could save you ruined clothes. Low pH can cause pitting in copper pipes, which would be expensive to fix. Regular sampling can also alert you to possible changes in your well. If values change with time, for example, it could be an indicator of something going on in or near your well.

For more information on frequencies of testing, what to test for, how to get your water analyzed, and how to interpret the results, check out our article "What do I need to know about sampling my well water?"