What is in Your Well Water?

[Gene Galin]

What is in Your Well Water?

Many Chatham County residents rely on wells for their source of potable drinking water. But have you ever questioned what is in your well water? Many people may wonder why they have a certain odor, taste, stain or other undesirable characteristics present in the water. Some undesirable characteristics cannot be detected by the use of our senses and, therefore, have to be detected through water sampling.

Chatham County Public Health Department Division of Environmental Health offers residents water testing for bacteria, inorganic, nitrates, sulfur bacteria, iron bacteria, pesticide and petroleum. More information concerning applying for water sampling and the corresponding fees can be on www.chathamnc.org/publichealth. Please click on the Water Quality Sampling section on the Environmental Health Division page.

[shadow745]

Well (pun intended), I know what is in our private well...... lots of ferrous iron. After being in water treatment for close to 10 years I do know there is really no such thing as "perfect" water. Sure some is better than others, but very rarely is there water to be found that requires nothing to be done to it. I've heard many times over the years people say their well water is the cleanest/best tasting stuff they've ever had and they wouldn't touch city water, but I've yet to see well water with absolutely nothing wrong with it. Hardness, iron, bacteria, PH issues, etc. are almost always present.

When my wife found this awesome piece of property it was a turn-key situation for us but we did know there were issues with iron in the water. We had thought our Rainsoft softener could handle the iron and it would if the levels were low and stable. But we soon found that anytime we have large amounts of rain (especially after drought-like periods) or use alot of water daily (bad for the septic anyway) the static water level in the well would fluctuate and run into pockets of iron. Believe me when I say this, iron can be very hard to deal with. We had our local Rainsoft dealer come out and check the water and we ended up having a chem feed system installed. Along with the iron we also have low PH (lack of hardness) and the system removes the iron, neutralizes the PH, disinfects with chlorine, then triple filters and softens it. Hard to believe this much was needed for less than perfect well water, but I'm sure there are lots of people out there with issues similar to ours. There are fixes for these issues, but locking onto what is needed can be a pain.

I do agree 100% that knowing what is in your well is very important. It might not be as good as you think. Later!

[munn5]

We had our water tested a number of years ago when we were trying to determine if it might be a cause of our son's health issues. The only issue was a high level of manganese, which the doctor said wouldn't cause any problems.

[Silk_Hope]

The worst part about this is the County can condemn your well and your property is worthless.

[swchat]

The worst part about this is the County can condemn your well and your property is worthless.

Yes they could and/or FORCE you to go on county water supply. 

[Silk_Hope]

IF you had county water available. If not you are SOL.

[seavey]

Do you know anybody to whom that has happened, Silk Hope?  It would seem reasonable that if you added your own system to make your water potable, then you should be permitted to use it.  And, if your water isn't potable and you don't have such a system, well, then you really shouldn't be poisoning yourself.  If there's, say, petroleum in the water, it would be good to know where it's coming from so that the problem could be dealt with at the source before it spreads further. 

[Silk_Hope]

If there is petroleum in my water I need an oil well not a water well. 

[whatsup]

The BBS's banner ads are definitely content-driven.

While I am on this page I saw a bottom banner ad containing ads about well water treatment and a one top ad for "Fiji water".

[shadow745]

The worst part about this is the County can condemn your well and your property is worthless.

Yes they could and/or FORCE you to go on county water supply. 

Awhile back I was told that one of my relatives was "forced" to buy into Lee County's county-wide water supply because it was ran on his road and then the well had to be capped. Don't think so!!! This was back in the 80s I think.

We have spent roughly $8000 on our treatment system and it does make the water nearly perfect. I guarantee you this county wouldn't force us to be on their crappy county water. I don't care if it was plumbed right to the front door. This might pertain to property with unpotable water though, but it should be the choice of the property owner and never the county. County water is just as bad as most city municipalities in that the water barely meets state standards and smells/taste like somebody took a dump in it. Later!

[Falling Leaf]

We are on well water and had our water fully tested and it is great.  I love our water and when I travel, which is quiet often, I take along good old Chatham Co. water with me. 

[Stargazer]

We are on well water and had our water fully tested and it is great.  I love our water and when I travel, which is quiet often, I take along good old Chatham Co. water with me. 

I agree completely Falling Leaf.  Mine was tested too, but NOT by the county.
In fact I have friends on county water, that carry my well water back with them.

And I would not trust or believe what the county said about it - realizing that this is the very same
county gov't that revalued my house and land at an absolutely ridiculous price.

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