Well Testing

[David Unnerstall]

I just bought 20 acres south of Ironton that has NF on two sides. There is a well and I do want to get the water tested. I have been researching this process and am now confused. I know I need a kit but that is about it. Has anyone gone through this process, recently? And I want to install a mechanical pump. Does anyone have any recommendations?

[Old plug]

If I was you I would find out who is the locale well guy and let him test and examine the well. If the well is real old it may not have a sleeve in it either.

[Kelroy]

What are you wanting it tested for- Lead? Hardness? Bacteria? Check with your county health department, sometimes they will have kits. check area hardware stores, or even Wal Mart, for mail-in kits (lead, hardness, metals etc) Bacteria is a bit trickier since it is time-sensitive. Again, your county health dept may help. Check with any local Stream Teams and see if they do any Coliform/E Coli testing.

[David Unnerstall]

What are you wanting it tested for- Lead? Hardness? Bacteria? Check with your county health department, sometimes they will have kits. check area hardware stores, or even Wal Mart, for mail-in kits (lead, hardness, metals etc) Bacteria is a bit trickier since it is time-sensitive. Again, your county health dept may help. Check with any local Stream Teams and see if they do any Coliform/E Coli testing.

I only wanted it tested for bacteria but have not considered lead.

[David Unnerstall]

If I was you I would find out who is the locale well guy and let him test and examine the well. If the well is real old it may not have a sleeve in it either.

The sleeve looks fine. If I pull the cap off I can look down and see water.

[Old plug]

sounds like a shallow well. I would still turn the testing over to someone out there who knows. I agree with killroy. They can test the whole thing for you. The levels are so small that can harm you a Lab has to run the test. most counties I know have a office for that. Many times they will just give you a couple bottles and you fill them with water from the well and take them to them. They measure all that stuff in Parts Per Million. I am sure there is some bacteria in there. But your going to need a Lab to tell you how much.

If you are going to just use the water for washing all you need to do is drop swimming pool choline tablets down in it. That is a very common practice in many rural areas because of ground water contamination. Ground water contamination is a serious national problem. That is why almost all the people I know with wells use bottled water for drinking water.

[bfishn]

The MO Dept of Health offers the least expensive testing option, and you can take the sample yourself;

http://health.mo.gov/lab/privatedrinkingwater.php

Since you're testing your own well, you'll use the "unofficial" test form. You can find the location of your nearest office on the website. Pay them a visit on a Monday, and you'll get sample container(s) and directions for use. Follow the directions to the T, or the test will likely fail. Take the sample(s) back to the office by Tuesday PM, and it will get sent out to the lab promptly. You'll get the results in the mail a few days later.

Added

Don't get bummed if the test report says "negative", that's what you want... no coliforms.

[Jerry Rapp]

20 miles south of Ironton the water should be fine. You might want to check the well's capacity though. I have a friend who has a cabin outside of Annapolis on the river, and he is down to 150 gallons. He is wanting more rain. But as far as health issues go, you are in one of the most rural areas of the Midwest.

[jdmidwest]

Surely we need more info. Is it a professionally drilled well, it will be a 8 or 10 inch pipe with pump down in it. If it is larger, it may be a hand dug shallow and you may have issues with the water.

Professional drilled wells are drilled deep and cased to prevent shallow water that may be contaminated to leak into it. They should be fine as long as the cover has been on and no back wash has entered into it.

Local Health Dept or even a well company should be able to help you get up and running.

[Goggle-Eyed]

Surely we need more info. Is it a professionally drilled well, it will be a 8 or 10 inch pipe with pump down in it. If it is larger, it may be a hand dug shallow and you may have issues with the water.

Professional drilled wells are drilled deep and cased to prevent shallow water that may be contaminated to leak into it. They should be fine as long as the cover has been on and no back wash has entered into it.

Local Health Dept or even a well company should be able to help you get up and running.

Oh, it's okay, Jerry says so... LOL.... To the OP, I highly suggest getting it tested by the methods mentioned above!!!!