{"id":9414,"date":"2022-09-21T20:01:31","date_gmt":"2022-09-21T20:01:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aaes.auburn.edu\/wrc\/?p=9414"},"modified":"2024-09-20T20:24:26","modified_gmt":"2024-09-20T20:24:26","slug":"step-by-step-guide-well-water","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aaes.auburn.edu\/wrc\/step-by-step-guide-well-water\/","title":{"rendered":"A Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Your Well Water Tested"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

by Jessie Curl<\/span><\/h2>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/aaes.auburn.edu\/wrc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/09\/Step-by-Step-Guide-To-Getting-Well-Water-Tested-Pub-16×9-1.jpg” alt=”Step-by-Step-Guide-To-Getting-Well-Water-Tested” title_text=”Step-by-Step-Guide-To-Getting-Well-Water-Tested-Pub-16×9″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

“I need to get my water tested”.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0If you are a property owner with a well in Alabama, it’s likely that you have had this very thought.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With over 500,000 well owners, it’s important to be aware of the resources available for testing well water in our State.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Alabama Private Well Program (APWP) was established in 2020 with the goal of answering some of these questions from well owners living in Alabama. Recently, the APWP has partnered with the Alabama Department of Public Health<\/a> (ADPH) to get a Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Your Well Water Tested<\/a> publication into County Health Department and Alabama Extension offices in all 67 counties.<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/aaes.auburn.edu\/wrc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/09\/JC-Side-by-Side-Pub-16×9-1.jpg” alt=”AUWRC’s Jessie Curl with the Side-by-Side Guide to Getting Your Well Water Tested” title_text=”JC-Side-by-Side-Pub-16×9″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

AUWRC’s Alabama Private Well Program Coordinator, Jessie Curl, showcases the Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Your Well Water Tested. Photo Credit: AUWRC Staff<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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Why Test My Water?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

The quality of a water source may change over time but go unnoticed as the water may smell, appear, and taste the same.<\/strong> Because of this, many well owners will not know that their water is contaminated unless they get it tested.<\/span><\/p>\n

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules that protect public drinking water systems do not apply to individual water systems such as wells. It is a well owner\u2019s responsibility to ensure that the water they are drinking is safe. Regular testing of residential well water will identify any problems, ensure that the water is suitable for its intended use, track water quality over time, and determine the effectiveness of a treatment system if there is one.<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||-146px|||” custom_padding=”1px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/aaes.auburn.edu\/wrc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/09\/Private-Well-16×9-2.jpg” alt=”Private Well at a Home Site” title_text=”Private-Well-16×9″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

A private well on a home site. Photo Credit: Jessie Curl<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that well owners check for mechanical issues each spring and perform a water quality test at least once a year. Owners should also test well water quality under any of the following circumstances:<\/span><\/p>\n