By Becky Schuerman, Domestic Water/Wastewater Extension Associate
Spring is here and that means it is time to conduct a private well maintenance check. Winter can be especially hard on outdoor systems, surfaces and landscaping that are exposed to the elements. A good habit to get into is inspecting and maintaining your well system in the spring and the fall. It will help ensure everything operates efficiently and can potentially save you from shelling out money for costly repairs.
INSPECTION
Begin by inspecting your wellhead and the area around it. The ground around your wellhead needs to slope away from it to aid in shedding water and potential contaminants away from your well. Make sure that there are no areas that will retain stagnant water near the wellhead and there are no empty voids in the earth right up around the well casing. Remove close-by trees or plants with deep roots that can cause destruction to the well casing, water lines running from it or the electricity running to it. Your inspection should also include checking that the vent screen is in place and electrical conduit, above ground casing and well cap are intact and secure. Check all hydrants and faucets to make sure none are leaking; properly fix, if necessary. Contact a Nebraska licensed water well contractor to assist with any damage or issues you find.
RUNOFF
Assess and divert precipitation runoff from rooflines, hard surface areas and landscaping so that it does not run toward your well, as runoff can carry contaminants to your well, and potentially contaminate your water supply. Follow manufacturer’s directions of how you use, store and dispose of products like paint, solvents, oil, cleaners, wood preservatives, batteries and adhesives, as well as pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers which can put your drinking water at risk of contamination through runoff.
SYSTEM & EQUIPMENT
For water equipment, review recommended maintenance procedures and filter/media replacement. This includes: water softeners, filtration systems and water heaters. At a minimum, flush out your hot water heater annually to help eliminate bacterial growth.
Whenever shocking your well, turn each faucet in your house on until you smell chlorinated water coming through and then shut it off. Allow the chlorinated water to sit undisturbed to have sufficient contact time within your water lines for maximum effectiveness. A minimum of 2–3 hours, preferably overnight contact time is recommended before flushing your well system. For detailed information see Nebraska Extension NebGuide “Drinking Water Treatment: Shock Chlorination” (G1761) at https://go.unl.edu/shockchlorination.
TESTING
Annually test for nitrate and coliform bacteria, as well as any other contaminants of concern in your area. Contact your local Natural Resource District, Health Department and/or a nearby community water system to inquire about the known water quality in your area.
FOR MORE INFORMATION on private wells and drinking water publications, check out UNL Extension’s water publications at https://water.unl.edu/article/drinking-water/nebguides.