Even if your well water seems clean, testing it is the only way to know if it’s pure. There is grant money available to test private wells in Dallas County.
What’s in well water? Total coliform bacteria (TCB), including fecal coliform and E. coli, is a group of naturally occurring bacteria often present in well water. Arsenic is a cancer-causing element found in rocks and soil that also gets into well water. So does the element nitrogen, which is commonly found in farm and lawn-care chemicals.
At no charge, an environmental health specialist from the Dallas County Health Department can use laboratory-certified bottles to collect samples from the faucet a well owner uses most for drinking. The owner receives the results by mail and a phone call in about a week.
If results show a high level of TCB, the Health Department will request that the well owner chlorinate the well or install other treatment devices to remove the bacteria. If nitrate or arsenic levels are high, the well owner will need to find other treatment devices.
The Dallas County Health Department will guide well owners through this process. For more information about getting your private well water tested free of charge, call 515-993-5803.
Ted Trewin is the environmental health director in the Dallas County Public Health Department.
