If you live in a rural area, chances are that your home uses well water. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, more than 43 million people—about 15 percent of the U.S. population—rely on private wells as their source of drinking water. While well water is not better or worse than municipal water, there are some additional steps that well-water owners need to keep in mind to maintain the safety and purity of their water.
Get Your Water Tested Once Per Year
Well water is sourced from the underground aquifers beneath your home. While it is often thought to be fresher and free from chemicals, it’s important to remember that well water is not treated or decontaminated. If you own a well, there are no outside entities ensuring the quality of your water. You are responsible for regular testing to ensure the safety and purity of your home’s water supply. Well water owners should test their home’s water once a year and after major floods or weather events. Make sure you and your family are not unknowingly drinking water contaminated with microorganisms, nitrates, arsenic, or other heavy metals, as these can cause serious health problems.
Consider a Plan for Well Maintenance
Since well water homes have private pump systems, these homeowners don’t get a monthly water bill. However, if your well water system needs a repair, the added cost falls to you. So, it’s important to make sure you establish a relationship with a well water repair company so that it’s easy to call them if you have an emergency with your well and make a plan for how to finance unexpected repairs.
Be On the Lookout for Stains
Since well water is untreated, it often has a high mineral content (also known as hard water), which can cause crusty build-up and staining on your appliances and fixtures. In some cases, well water can contain higher amounts of iron, causing it to appear red, brown or yellow when it flows from your faucets. Red water can also lead to additional staining in your sinks, tubs, and toilets. In some cases, high mineral content can even cause your water to smell.
Hard water and red water are usually not harmful to your health, but can present irksome home maintenance challenges. While there are some steps you can take to mitigate the staining caused by minerals in your well water, the only way to truly get rid of the problem is to stop excess minerals from entering the water as it enters your home.
Purify Your Home’s Water
Installing a Wolverine Water purification system can substantially improve the quality of your home’s well water. Our systems are customized, meaning we can help you determine the right combination of our products that will address the issues specific to your home’s water challenges. Protect your pipes, fixtures and appliances from unnecessary wear and tear, and say goodbye to annoying stains. Plus, our products can help you feel confident that when you turn on your tap, your water is safe, pure and refreshing.
Contact the Wolverine Water team today to get a free water test. The test typically only takes 20 minutes and gives instant results completely free of charge.