Water from a deep well. Potential problems and the issue of water testing

This article will address inquiries we receive from individuals interested in water quality in the context of its treatment. In our country, awareness in this area is definitely growing, and we have many people who use water from deep wells rather than from the water supply system. If you are one of them, we encourage you to read the following post.

Is a Deep Well a Good Idea?

First of all, in some areas, this is the most practical idea due to the lack of readily available water supply networks. It is not a worse solution, but let's remember that the legislator imposes an obligation on water supply companies to ensure water quality, i.e., it requires that its parameters do not exceed the standard. This applies, for example, to the iron content in water, water turbidity, water hardness, etc. All these standards are set based on certain scientific information, and the specified standards are supposed to protect our health in the basic range. Of course, we will not discuss here another problem, that these quality standards are not always met or not always sufficient, and that in a large part of the country, we still do not have good quality water in the water supply systems. However, we assume that in the basic range, tap water is treated and suitable for consumption.
When deciding on water from a deep well, we must know that this water has not been treated or tested. We must take care of it ourselves. Many people do not even remember about it.

However, if we analyze the idea itself - a deep well can be a good solution. Provided that we test the water and react to any quality problems (which are not predetermined) - it can be economically justified, cheaper than connecting to and using the water supply system.

When Should You Test the Quality of Water from Your Own Well?

As we live in a fairly developed country and definitely wealthy enough to realize the value of our health - we suggest regular testing of water from our own well. If we have experiences, or even if a neighbor has experiences, suggesting that in the area, water may have exceeded key parameters - it is worth repeating such tests more often, even once a year. If the tests come out correctly - and there are no suspicions that something may be wrong with the water - we can conduct them less frequently, e.g., once every one and a half years or once every 2 seasons.

It is certainly necessary to conduct tests when we notice specific indications or the water condition begins to raise suspicions. These include situations when:

• someone in the household starts to react badly to the water, the water irritates the skin after bathing, rashes, redness, or itching of the skin appear (which were not noticed before)
• the water changes taste or acquires an unpleasant odor
• we notice orange sediment, which the water leaves behind, e.g., in the bathtub or on other bathroom fixtures
• someone in the household reports nausea and stomach problems, provided that other origins are excluded. Especially when poisoning occurs for the second time

We should be particularly interested when more than 1 of the above symptoms occur at the same time.

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How to Test Well Water Quality? Where to Go?

The easiest and fastest way is to go to the local district Sanitary-Epidemiological Station, where such a service is provided for a fee. It is worth doing a full test - concerning both the water composition (in terms of chemical composition) and the presence of any microorganisms, such as the famous E-Coli. It is best to discuss our concerns with an employee of the epidemiological-sanitary station (Sanepid), although this institution is not always known for competent specialists. If we meet the right person, they will advise us on which tests to focus on. If we have doubts - it is worth conducting a full test, especially if we have children at home, who are more sensitive to poor-quality water and biological contamination.

The microbiological analysis of water includes checking the water for the presence of three most common bacteria, i.e., bacteria from the coli group, Escherichia coli, and fecal streptococci. These are probably the most dangerous living substances that can be found in our water. Such tests cost around 30-40 € depending on the region. If we want to conduct full tests - including physicochemical water composition, including whether the level of elements harmful to health is within the norm - we should prepare for an expenditure between 70 and even 100 €.

It is worth contacting the Sanepid before collecting water to obtain guidelines. In most cases, the station will require us to collect a sterilized container for the water sample from our well from its headquarters. Water delivered in our bottle, e.g., from mineral water, may be unreliable; it must be a fully sterile and non-reactive vessel - to obtain reliable results. We will certainly have to wait at least a few days, and sometimes even up to 2 weeks for this - a result.

What Should Potentially Concern Us in the Results of Sanitary-Epidemiological Tests?

The first advisory body here should be an employee of the Sanitary-Epidemiological Station. However, it is worth noting that we should pay attention to several parameters such as the level of iron, manganese, and nitrates, and we should inquire at the Sanepid what values should raise our concern.

A separate category is the presence of bacteriological contamination, most commonly E-Coli. The absence of their presence is the standard indicator. Sometimes we receive inquiries - what is the level of E-Coli, above which we should worry? Well, there is no such level; the mere presence of E-Coli is a problem. If we delve into the nature of microorganisms, we will learn that they reproduce quite quickly under appropriate conditions; moreover, foci of E-Coli can also appear in our domestic water system (especially when we have an extensive installation). We must be aware that relatively "low" concentrations of E-Coli reflect the examination of a specific water sample that we provided. In the case of repeated tests - the concentration may be much higher or ... even lower. These are living organisms; they do not have to be present in the same concentration in every water sample. If E-Coli is present in our water source, it means that these bacteria are freely multiplying, and the problem will only escalate. Any presence of E-Coli is a signal for action. "Low" E-Coli concentration does not mean that we have a problem that is currently small and needs to be monitored so that it does not increase. We should react in the presence of E-Coli; the concentration is a secondary matter. If we do not believe it, let's repeat the tests after a week or a month.

How to React in Case of Presence of Coliform or Streptococcus Bacteria in Water?

Due to the size of microorganisms, mechanical filters will not solve the problem. Bacteria will pass through any mechanical filter. The only effective method in this case is to install a UV sterilizer for water, i.e., a device through which water flows - which is simultaneously exposed to ultraviolet radiation. UV rays, as we know, are harmful to living tissues and have found application precisely in water disinfection. It is enough to install such a flow-through UV lamp at the entrance of water to the house (so that the main mechanical filters we have in the household are located before it). The effective operation of the UV water lamp depends on selecting a device that is adequately efficient for our needs.
The cost of such a lamp for a single-family house ranges from about 200 to 300 € depending on the water flow generated by the house. In addition, there is the cost of electricity consumption, usually within 10 € per month, and the annual cost of replacing the lamp (usually around 20-30 €).

If you are experiencing the above problem and would like to install a water sterilizer at your place, contact us, we will answer your questions and help you dispel doubts.

Is Potential E-Coli Contamination That Harmful? What if Poisoning Has Already Occurred?

Escherichia coli, also known as colonic rod, is a bacterium that has lived with us for thousands of years and is even found in the human large intestine, also playing a positive role (it participates, for example, in the decomposition of food residues). But only in this part of the human body can it relatively positively affect our health.

Biologically contaminated water with E-Coli is already very dangerous. Symptoms indicating poisoning include characteristic severe abdominal pain, combined with severe vomiting or diarrhea. Sometimes symptoms similar to those accompanying us with a cold also occur - including weakness, muscle aches, and fever. This condition is much more serious than ordinary food poisoning, especially children are at risk of an acute course. If E.Coli poisoning is suspected, it is imperative to consult a doctor.

What to Do If Tests Show the Presence of E-Coli, but I Am Not Yet Deciding to Install a UV Water Sterilizer?

Above all, only drink tap water if it has been boiled. Colonic rod bacteria will not survive boiling temperatures. If we want to drink cold fresh water, unfortunately, we must buy it bottled in a store.

If there are people in our house who have weak immunity and a tendency to poison - such people should completely limit contact with water, and contaminated water should not even be used to wash dishes for them unless we previously boil this water.

Opinions are divided on bathing; bathing in water contaminated with E-Coli can be harmful, but rather to sensitive individuals. People with good immunity usually do not get E-Coli poisoning if they do not consume contaminated water directly. In such cases, children should be especially protected.

Why Is E-Coli So Dangerous Even Though the Bacterium Has Lived "with Us" for Thousands of Years?

In reality, statements that E-Coli was not known in the past, the average person had heard of it, and that there was no ultraviolet water sterilization in the past, and yet people lived - are senseless and usually indicate ignorance. The fact is that until the end of the 20th century, infant mortality rates in various countries were significantly higher, and the cause was often unknown. For example, the infant mortality rate in pre-war Poland in 1927 (the year in which this statistic began to be recorded) was as high as 15 children per 100 live births. This is a frightening number, partially contributed to by colonic rod poisonings. Of course, if today's healthcare service were available at that time and hygiene measures were more accessible, this statistic would look different - but the approach suggesting that there was never an E-Coli problem and that it is a fabricated problem can be easily refuted by statistics. Of course, E-Coli should not be treated as the main civilization threat; let's keep the right proportions - but it is definitely still dangerous to health.