Salty-tasting well water has several possible causes, and some are more serious than others. Naturally occurring chloride, sodium, or sulfate may be dissolving from rock around the well. Road salt…
Most sudden “no water from well” emergencies are caused by electrical or mechanical trouble—not by the well abruptly going dry. A tripped pump breaker is the first thing to check.…
Cloudy well water is usually caused by one of two things: tiny trapped gas bubbles or actual material suspended in the water. Ordinary air bubbles are generally harmless and disappear…
A water softener and a water filter solve different problems. A softener removes hardness minerals—mainly calcium and magnesium—that cause scale, soap scum, stiff laundry, and loss of water-heater efficiency. A…
PFAS in well water cannot be detected by taste, smell, or appearance. The only reliable way to know whether your well is affected is to order a specialized laboratory test;…
Nitrates in well water are the most common chemical contamination problem in many agricultural areas. The water can look, smell, and taste normal while containing enough nitrate to endanger an…
Arsenic in well water is usually a natural geological problem, not a sign that someone polluted your property. Groundwater can dissolve arsenic from certain rocks, minerals, and sediments as it…
A positive test for coliform bacteria in well water does not necessarily mean the water has already made someone sick. It does mean the well’s protective barriers may have been…
The pressure tank sits between your well pump and the plumbing in your house. When it stops doing its job, the symptoms are hard to miss: the pump starts every…
Shock chlorination is the standard first response to a confirmed positive coliform test. You introduce a concentrated bleach solution into the well, circulate it through the casing and household plumbing,…
The color of a well-water stain is a useful clue to what is dissolved in the water. Orange and rust-colored stains usually mean iron. Black or dark-brown stains usually point…
A proper well inspection typically costs $300 to $500 for the basic evaluation. If water quality testing is not included, expect another $100 to $300 for a standard laboratory panel.…
