I am a bit obsessed with our well water. I live in an area where most of the houses are on wells. We used to live in a town where the water came from a municipal water supply, so the water was already treated and the concept of treating water is new to me.

Specifically, I am looking to treat microbes and bacteria (like the brain-eating amoebas!) - we have a well filter that captures the sediment. We do not have a water softening system. Would a salt softening system take care of killing any contaminants like this? Is there such a thing as a well-water chlorinator (and if so, would that damage the SEPTIC)? How about peroxide? Would that kill the microbes?

Thanks. We are in Connecticut.

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Don't get paranoid!

I'm in the same situation (was muni, now well)
and am happy as a pig to be using it.

If you have any doubts, get a water quality test
from a local supplier, probably the same people that
checked it when the house was sold, and you probably have
a copy of the test for bacteria and chemical makeup.

Why inject chemicals into your 'pure' water.....??...!!

.

Similarly, I'm a suburbanite who, 10 years ago, moved to a rural area. I'm on a well and a septic system too.

Assuming the systems (both well and septic) were properly designed, there is little risk of contamination. Most would recommend periodic water testing to ensure that is the case.

Water softeners do NOTHING to remove microbes. Elaborate filtration systems can do so, but they then require maintenance and expense themselves. If there's no problem with the systems, there is no need to spend this money.

Quit worrying and simply have your water tested regularly by a good lab.

Our water is one of our favourite things at our home.... So much nicer than the mud the city pedals.

J

Agree with the above except:

"get a water quality test
from a local supplier"

I've never seen a supplier of water treatment say your water doesn't need treatment. It's like a chiropractor telling you your spine doesn't need an adjustment.

Use the local Board of Health for the water test. Find out if you have microbes before you start treating them.

Here, there are independant labs that provide the service.

J

Bristolbaby:
Here's a lab in CT, about 35 miles from Bristol. You may be able to find one closer. I've used these folks for years. They do a good job at a very low cost. Give them a call, ask some questions.

http://www.aquaenvlab.com/

simple solution, shock your well and have the water tested. do a search for well shocking and take your time and do it right.

most realestate offices know where the closest and best testers are as most wells are tested before the property is sold.

Why "shock" a well that may be perfectly pure and sterile? Get a test kit, follow the instructions, return it to the lab, wait a day or two for the results. If it's polluted, then follow appropriate directions to clean it up.

If you shock it first before testing, you won't know if there has been a problem. If there has been a problem, it may well occur again. You will want to check it frequently until you're sure the problem is not ongoing.

Agreed Fred. Any municipal Health Dept. will have test kits available. When we had our well put in, the HDpt wouldn't come out until the shock (chlorine) dissipated. In our case, it took a few weeks. So, don't shock unless the tests recommend.

Our well is 70' deep, and it taps a natural underground stream leading to a major river. A friends well on the dunes of lake Mich. is over 300' deep, stinks to high heaven, had to shocked twice when initially drilled. (Brita does a good job for drinkable water)

If you DO find a problem after testing, there are a number of options to keep make your water safe, including chlorinating systems, UV light purifiers, Reverse Osmosis, ultrafiltration, nano filtration, etc., but only if you need it.