(NAPSA)—Thenext time you turn on the faucet and fill a glass from a household well, chances are you'll see crystal-clear, sparkling water. ‘There’s a good reason for that: The ground is an excellent filter for water, and groundwater—the source water for household wells—is usually of better quality than surface water. This is espe- cially true when it comesto “turbidity,” an opaqueness or cloudiness in water caused by suspended matter. When There’s A Problem Whenthe water from a wellis cloudy, it maybe cause for concern. That murkiness could indicate a breach in your well system. Such breaches could affect the water's clarity, taste and odor—and even present a health risk. @ If your water looks like this, get it tested by a drinking water testing lab. ‘The suspended matter in turbid water can be both inorganic (matter other than plant or animal) or organic. The size of suspended matter can range from microscopic to coarse grainslike sand. disease-causing microorganisms, and Ofgreatest concern are disease-caus- cause of a water quality concern—par- The Danger ing microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses and protozoa. Groundwater may contain E. coli, giardia and cryptosporidium, and cause physical symptoms that range from moderate to severe gastrointestinal problems. The Causes Sometimes a breach in the well system can be at or near the surface, such as: A hole or breakin the well casing e A broken well cap Deteriorated grouting that has allowed surface runoff to infiltrate the well. ‘Turbidity could also be due toa failing septic system that has overloaded the groundwater with untreated or inadequately treated sewage. Shallower wells tend to be more vulnerable to a failing septic system. Atother times, turbidity is related to well construction. After a well is drilled andinstalled,it still needs what's known as “well development.” This process removes loose materialresulting from the drilling process. It leaves the borehole moreclean, stable and permeable so the that could provideclues to their source. Also, before considering water treat- mentfor turbidity, a water well system professional should inspect your well system. It’s always better to treat the ticularly if it presents a health risk— than to simply treat theresult. Aninspection can determine wheth- er the well has a breach, is dirty and needs to be cleaned, needs to be devel- oped, or is being affected by a failing septic system. If water treatment is necessary, a common approachisfiltration. Differenttypes offilters include: A cartridge sedimentfilter installed in the service line before the tap A back-washing sedimentfilter Reverse osmosis, in which water pass- es through a semipermeable mem- brane to remove suspended or dis- solvedsolids. If turbid water contains microor- ganisms, filtration is important because turbidity can impede waterdisinfection. Filtration and disinfection are often used in tandem withfiltration first, then disinfection. When considering a filter, compare its specifications to your water test re- sults to makesureit’s designed to treat what needs to be treated. Also, consider times make a poor well a good one in terms of both water quality and water whether you wantto treatall the water cominginto the houseorjust that coming out ofcertain taps. This can make a big difference in the system you choose. HowTo Fix It ‘The first step toward a solution to Use a water well system or water treatment system professionalto install water flows more freely into the well. Proper well development can some- production. turbidity is to have the water tested by a drinking water testing laboratory. ‘The lab can determine whetherthere are any Learn More a water treatment system. To learn more, visit the National Ground Water Association website, www.WellOwner.org.
