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Time to Winterize

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Most vacation homes and cabins are considered seasonal homes. Some seasonal homes have private water wells that service the home. These types of homes are not designed to be used during the winter because of plumbing systems and structures that are not adequately insulated to withstand extreme cold. When preparing to close your vacation home for the season, leaving the home vacant and unheated, you must winterize the plumbing to protect it from bursting in freezing temperatures. This process includes going through the steps to winterize your water well.

WSC recommends that you contact a licensed plumber to winterize your home. If you must winterize on your own, follow these steps and instructions.

Pesticides & Fertilizers: Proper Use and Disposal

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Pests such as weeds, insects, molds, and fungi can damage your lawn and garden. Pesticides can help treat certain types of pests but are not always the best or only solution. If pesticides are used, proper use and disposal are necessary to prevent harm to people, pets, and plants, and to protect the air, soil, and water from pollution.

Likewise, fertilizers can be beneficial to your lawn and garden. However, many fertilizers contain nitrogen, which can convert to harmful nitrate. Careful use of fertilizers can help reduce the chance that nitrate will leach into your groundwater.

Preventing Contamination in Your Well

Pesticides and fertilizers can reach aquifers through the soil by way of rain or snow recharge. Additionally, if pesticides or fertilizers are spilled or misused near a well, they can reach your well water. Some sources say spills within 25-50 feet of wells have a greater risk for contamination; others say pesticides and fertilizers should not be handled or stored within 100 feet of a well.

You can take steps to prevent the potential for pesticide contamination of your well. First, consider whether a pesticide is the best method for treating your pest problem. Alternatives such as baits and traps are safer than pesticides.

Non-chemical pest control methods include hand picking pests from leaves. Prevention techniques include keeping your grass height no shorter than 2.5 inches to discourage pests and shade weeds, and rotating plant position periodically to minimize the spread of disease. Keep in mind that some insects, such as praying mantises and ladybugs, are beneficial to plants, by helping to kill more harmful insects and organisms.

Continue reading our information sheet for additional measures you can take in and around your home.

Additionally, your state may also have laws related to the use and disposal of pesticides and fertilizers. Check with your state’s fertilizer and pesticide regulatory agencies or call the National Pesticide Information Center at 1-800-858-7378.

Hotline HOT Topic: Location, Location, Location

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How do I locate the water well on my property?

Many states have water well records or maps online that you can search. If you are unable to find records, look for a wellhead above ground (see our sample well diagram) or follow the main water line from your home straight to the outside. There may also be a concrete slab or depression in the yard where the well is located. If you have a septic system, the well would be located on the opposite side of the septic. For instance, if your septic is in the back of the house, your well is usually in the front.

If you need assistance locating your well, contact a licensed well contractor or the wellcare® Hotline.

Zinc at the Sink

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Zinc is a necessary nutrient for your body in small amounts. Zinc is known for being in many nutritional supplements, used in plumbing and batteries, and in penny production. Did you know you can also have zinc in your water? It’s true.

Zinc can be found naturally in air, soil, and water, and enter the environment through anthropogenic activities like mining and metal processing. Elevated levels of zinc in drinking water may cause the water to have a milky, chalky, or turbid appearance and a metallic or bitter taste. Testing your well water is important to ensure your water quality is safe for you and your family. You should test for zinc initially and monitor any level found annually thereafter. Contact your state or local health department or use our interactive map for a list of state-certified laboratories in your area.

Download our Zinc & Well Water information sheet for more information.

Be Keen to Being Green

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This is a topic we cover regularly to stress the importance of water conservation because the truth is many areas are facing serious water shortages. Water is being used faster than it can be naturally replenished. You may be thinking, “I have a newer home with efficient water appliances I should not have to worry.” Not the case! New homes typically have more efficient fixtures and use less water, but they usually have more fixtures – bathrooms, garbage disposal, whirlpool tub, hot tub, or swimming pool – that consume greater quantities of water. This article is intended to help all well owners with all styles of homes take steps to reduce water use, safeguard their drinking water supply, save money, and protect the environment. Trust us, you do not want to wait until a prolonged drought or water shortage creates a water emergency like a dry well!

Average Water Use

The average family uses more than 300 gallons of water per day at home and 70 percent of this use occurs indoors. Efforts to reduce water consumption are especially important if you have a low yielding well (less than 5 gallons a minute), if you live in a drought region, or in an area of rapid development where groundwater supplies are strained. The following chart shows average indoor water uses with no conservation measures to help you make an informed decision on where you can save water! Keep an eye on the Drought Monitor map throughout the dry months.

Conduct a Household Water Audit

A household water audit is an evaluation of how much water is used and how much water can be saved. This is important for well owners since they do not have a water bill that provides this information. Conducting a water audit involves calculating water usage first. This Water Footprint Calculator can help. It is very thorough and upon completion, you can have the report emailed to you. You can compare your results with the chart above. Consider what the reasons may be for high levels of water use. Are fixtures leaking or are appliances old and inefficient? Or is it the way you use the water (e.g., long showers, half-full loads of laundry)? Continue your water audit by reading through the following simple ways to save water in and around your home.

Change Behavior

Small changes in behavior can also reap major benefits in water conservation and save money by reducing wear and tear on your well and septic system. Just think about the hundreds of gallons of water you are pumping from your well each day to your home. That water is then released from your home which goes to your septic system. These heavy uses will eventually cause expensive repair or replacement and exhaust groundwater resources. Limit demand by spreading out your daily and weekly water uses, such as bathing, watering the garden, and washing dishes or clothes. Remember, even seemingly small measures can save thousands of gallons of water per year. Try using some (or all!) these methods to save:

Inside

  • Turn off the tap when brushing teeth, shaving, or scrubbing.
  • Use the sink, not running water, to rinse your razor.
  • Do not use the toilet as a wastebasket.
  • Take shorter showers.
  • Keep a pitcher of drinking water in the refrigerator rather than running the tap.
  • Run the clothes washer and dishwasher only with full loads.

Outside

  • DO NOT use your well to fill pools, hot tubs, or for other large uses. Use a water delivery service instead.
  • Water during the coolest part of the day, preferably in the early morning, to reduce evaporation. Most established lawns and gardens need just one hour of deep watering once a week to remain healthy. Remember to water just the grass, not the pavement!
  • Set the lawnmower to 3 inches. Longer grass allows less evaporation and shades the roots from drying out so quickly.
  • In the garden, switch from sprinklers to soaker hoses.
  • Look for native perennial plants and grass seeds at the garden center. These require much less water, particularly in drier climates than tropical annuals.
  • Use mulch to retain water in the soil and reduce thirsty weeds.
  • Fit all hoses with a sprayer to control flow.
  • Use a broom, not a hose, to clear debris from sidewalks.
  • Wash the car with soap and water from a bucket.

Continue reading our Water Conservation information sheet for additional measures you can take in and around your home.

Check Your Septic Before It Gets Hectic

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How far should my septic system be from my well system?

Most states require your septic system to be a minimum of 50 feet away from your well system. However, your local requirements may be different. We recommend that you check with your local or state environmental health department for the location requirements in your area before drilling a well.

If you need assistance locating your environmental health department, contact the wellcare® Hotline.

Keep Abreast and Test

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Testing your well water is important to ensure your water quality is safe for you and your family. Private well owners are solely responsible for the quality of their drinking water, so it is up to you to decide when and how to test your water. Spring is a great time to test your water!

Download our Well Water Testing brochure and information sheet to determine what you should test for, information on contacting a laboratory, steps for sampling, and understanding your test results.

Water Testing Discount Available for Network Members

Spring is the perfect time to have your water tested. SimpleLab created Tap Score, a service for easy home water testing and reporting. Tap Score is giving wellcare® Well Owners Network members a discount on their well water testing kits. You can order from the Tap Score website and use the discount code WCNWIN22.

Don’t Be Hasty When It Comes to Safety

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High levels of certain contaminants found in drinking water may not affect a healthy person. However, it could be detrimental to an individual with a weakened immune system. Individuals that are at higher risk of developing certain waterborne diseases include but are not limited to:

  • Those with HIV/AIDS
  • Cancer and transplant patients who are taking certain immunosuppressive drugs
  • Anyone with inherited diseases that affect the immune system (e.g., congenital agammaglobulinemia, congenital IgA deficiency)

The information provided below is specific to the most common water quality concerns for those individuals with compromised immune systems.

Concerns for Immunocompromised Individuals

Microorganisms include bacteria, protozoa, algae, and fungi. Although viruses are not considered living organisms, they are sometimes classified as microorganisms. As we mentioned previously, the only way to determine if microorganisms are in your well water, is to test for them.

Cryptosporidium is a microscopic parasite that causes the diarrheal disease cryptosporidiosis. It is one of the most common causes of waterborne disease. Exposure to cryptosporidium is especially dangerous for people with weakened immune systems, there have been outbreaks and incidences in healthy populations as well. It is highly infectious, resistant to chlorine, and difficult to filter.

Additionally, individuals should also be aware of adenovirus, E. coli and fecal coliforms, giardia lamblia, legionella, mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), pseudomonas aeruginosa, salmonella, and turbidity. Discuss these additional contaminants with your doctor to see if testing is advised.

The risk of developing severe disease will vary depending on the person’s degree of immune suppression. Discuss concerns with your doctor to determine whether your medical condition makes it advisable to follow recommendations in our brochure and information sheet on Well Water & Individuals with Compromised Immune Systems.

Children’s Health is Wealth

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Private well owners are responsible for maintaining their wells to ensure the safety of their water supply. This article provides recommendations to well owners and their families to help safeguard drinking water for children. After all, they are the future!

Groundwater is stored in aquifers – layers of soil, sand, and rocks – but can come to the surface naturally through a spring or brought to the surface through a well. More than 13 million U.S. households depend on individual wells for their drinking water. Groundwater is naturally filtered on its way from the surface to the water table, so it is relatively free of particulate organic material and bacteria. However, it will only remain so if it is protected on its way from the aquifer to the tap.

Potential Contaminants of Concern

The following section provides information on contaminants that may be of special concern to households, especially with young children.

Bacteria and Other Microorganisms

We are in contact with millions of bacteria every day and nearly all of them are harmless. Yet some of these small organisms are responsible for waterborne illnesses. Bacteria, protozoa, algae, and fungi are all microorganisms. Microorganisms can only be seen through a microscope. Since we cannot see them without one, it is necessary to test your water. Waterborne microorganisms can trigger gastrointestinal illnesses, diarrhea, and vomiting which can be life-threatening for infants, children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems.

Fluoride

Fluoride is a natural substance that comes from the element fluorine, which is naturally occurring in rocks and soil. As water passes through the earth, it absorbs fluoride. At low concentrations, fluoride is believed to prevent tooth decay and strengthen teeth. However, excessive amounts of fluoride consumed over time can accumulate in the bones and lead to skeletal fluorosis.

Lead

Lead is a highly toxic dull gray metal that is soft enough to be easily scratched with a house key. Lead can get into your water as it flows through your plumbing system. Corrosion can cause lead to leach from lead pipes, lead-based solder pipe joints, and brass alloy faucets. Lead exposure at even minimal amounts can create serious behavioral and brain developmental problems for children. Low-level exposure can cause irritability, hyperactivity, and inattentiveness. Children exposed to higher levels of lead may have delays in physical or mental development.

Continue reading about potential contaminants and the actions you should take in our Well Water & Children’s Health brochure and information sheet.