Protect YoUr
Family
Test Your Well’s
Water Quality Today
A Guide to Water Qualii
Tesling fo Private Wells
NIW P4AMP I1tRE
DEPA*TMEP4T O
N - ’EnvironmentaI
Services
8EPA
New England

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Private WeDs
If you have a private well, then water
quality testing should be important to
you and your family.
Some contaminants in drinking water
have been linked to cancer and toxidty,
posing a risk to human health. Many
contaminants often have no taste, odor,
or color. Their presence can only be
determined by laboratory testing.
While there is no state requirement to
have your well water tested (although
there may be from your mortgage lender
or town), the. New Hampshire Depart-
ment of Environmental Services (DES)
recommends that ll homeowners with
private wells do so.
Contamination of Wells
Well water originates as rain and snow
that then filters into the ground. As it
soaks through the soil, the water can
dissolve materials that are present on or
in the ground, becoming contaminated.
Some contaminants are naturally
occufing from features found in the
rocks and soils of New Hampshire. These
include substances like bacteria, radon,
arsenic, uranium, and other minerals.
Other contaminants find their Way
onto the land from human activities.
On a large scale, industrial / commercial
activities, improper waste disposal, road
salting, and fuel spills can introduce
hazardous substances to the ground.
However, even typical residential ac-
tivities, such as the use of fertilizers and
pesticides, fueLing of lawn equipment,
and disposal of. household chemicals

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can contaminate the ground when done
improperly. That is why taking mea-
sures to protect your well from contami-
nation is so important.
Recommended Tests
The following tests identify commoft
contaminants found in our state’s well
water. Although more testè could be
added, this list provides cost-effective,
reasonable overview of a well’s water
quality. The total cost of all of the fol-
lowing. tests is approximately $235, de-
pending on the laboratory used. It is not
necessary to do all of the tests i n one time.
& Standard Analysis
This basic analysis covers the most
common contaminants. Some of these
contaminants pose health-related con-
cerns, while àthers only affect aesthet-
ics (taste and odor). ($65).
6 Radon
Radon is a common New F ampshire
well water problem. Presently, theze are
no’ federal or state standards for radon
in drinking water, only suggesfed ac-
tion levels. DES estimates that most
private wells in New Hampshire exceed
this level, so testing.for radon is impor-
.tant. ($20) [ Note: you may also consider
checking your indoor air radon levels.]
6 Gross AJpha Screen
Radioactive minei’als, such as radium
and uranium, may be dissolved in well
water. A Gross Alpha Screen is a simple
test to judge whether further testing for
radium or uraniUm might be needed.
($50)

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Contaminants & Testing
Frequency
Standard Analysis Cost’ Testing
Frequency
Arsenic —
Bactena
Chloride i Every
Copper 3-5 yrs
Fluoride ¼. (except for
Hardness ) $65 bacteria
Iron I and nitrate
Lead I which are
Manganese i yearly)
Nitrate/Nitrite
pH I
Sodium — —
Radon $20 Every 3-5 yrs
Gross Alpha Screen $50 Every 3-5 yrs
(bedrock wells only)
VOCs $100 Every 5-10 yrs
laboratory costs as of 8/31/01
o Volatile Organic
Compounds (VOCS)
The most common VOCs come from
gaspline compounds (such as MtBE and
benzene) and industrial solvents. MtBE
can be found i ii well water even in
remote areas. ($100)
o Additional Tests
Circumstances relative to your well
may iequire additional testing not de L
scribed here. For instance, DES does
not recommend routihe testing for things
like pesticides, herbicides, or synthetic
organic compounds, mainly because of
the high cost. However, such testing

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might be warranted if your water has
elevated nitrite/nitrate concentrations
or significant amounts of pesticide have
been applied near the well.
These less-routine tests may not be
performed at all laboratQries.
When To Test
DES recommends that prospective
homebuyers test the water in a home
with a private well before purchase.
Water quality in wells is generally
stable, and if a change is going to occur,
it occurs slowly. Thus the interval be-
tween water quality tests, once you’ve
purchased the home, can generally be
in terms ,qf years (see chart) if a well is
properly constructed and located in a
safe area.
However, the following conditions
would prom it more frequent testing:
• Heavily developed areas with land
uses that handle hazardous chemicals.
•Recent well construction activities
or repairs. DES recommends taking a
bacterial test after any well repair or
pump or plumbing modification, but
only after substantial flushing of the
water system.
• Contaminant concentrations above
state or federal standards found in ear-
lier testing.
• Noticeable variations in quality like
a water quality change after a heavy
rain or an unexplained change in a
previously trouble-free well (i.e. funny
taste, cloudy appearance, etc.).

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When taking ny sample, DES recom-
mends that it be taken after a heavy
rainstorm. These events tend ta high-
light conditions of improper well con-
struction or poor soil filtration.
What the Tests Tell You
Resulth will reveal the level at which
any of the tested substances were found
in your water sample. The mere pres-
ençe of these contaminants in well wa-
ter does not necessarily imply that there
is a problem. However, when levels
exceed state or federal health standards,
you should take steps to correct the situ-
ation. Several methods are available
from commercial contractors to treat
contaminated water. DES has informa-
tional documents on the web concern-
ing all common water quality problems
and their solutions.
For More Information
For more information about water
quality t?sting for private wells, includ-
ing information about contacting certi-
fied laboratories in New Hampshire or
about preventing well contamination,
contact the DES Water Supply Engi-
neering Bureau.
N.H. Dept. of Environmental Services
Water Supply Engineering Bureau
P0 Box 95—6 Hazen Drive
Concord, NH 03302-0095
(603) 271-3139
www.des.state.nh.us/wseb
This brochure w.as funded in part by the
US Environmental Protection Agency.
® Printed on 100% recycled paper,
with 100% post consumer waste,
using vegetable based inks

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