Water Well System Inspection Service
Importance of Well Inspection: Routine inspection of a water well system can help ensure it is operating properly, prolong its useful life, and protect your investment. Most importantly, inspections can protect your health by discovering issues that could result in water quality problems presenting a health risk.
Do’s and Don’t of Well Maintenance
- DO check and test wells annually for mechanical problems, cleanliness, and the presence of water contaminants.
- DO test well water more than once a year if there are recurrent GI related illnesses among household members and/or a change in taste, odor, or appearance of the water in the home.
- DO consult a professional contractor to verify that there is proper separation between your well, home, waste systems, and chemical storage facilities.
- DO check the well cover or well cap to ensure it is intact. The top of the well should be at least one foot above the ground.
- DO have a professional inspector check your well system when buying or selling a house.
- DON’T keep hazardous materials, such as paint, fertilizer, pesticides, and motor oil close to the well.
- DON’T put the hose inside the mixing container when mixing chemicals as to prevent them from getting into the water system.
- DON’T purchase a house without checking the well water system.
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When To Do a well Inspection
Wells should be evaluated annually by a licensed or certified water well systems professional. You should contact a professional sooner if you suspect a problem with your well system. Some indications of when you need an inspection are:
- Anytime the well has to be opened up (cap or well seal removed).
- If you experience taste or odor problems.
- If you experience turbidity—cloudiness of water.
- If there is a loss of capacity or pressure—the well is not producing as much water as before, the pressure drops and surges, or the pump cycles on and off frequently.
- If a test is positive for total coliforms, anaerobic bacteria, or any positive test results indicating a potential health concern.
- If you believe your well has been contaminated.
The only way to assure safe drinking water for you and your family is by testing it.
Importance of Water Quality Testing
Unlike public water supplies, your well is not tested regularly for contaminants. The responsibility for testing lies with the well owner. If you are buying or selling a home it is important to test the water. In addition, if there is a loan associated with the purchase the lender may have requirements to ensure the drinking water is acceptable.
If you have a private well the EPA recommends testing for total coliform bacteria and nitrates every year. It is also recommended to test for arsenic because it is high in southeastern Michigan.
We use a state certified microbiology and inorganic chemistry laboratory. We can test for the following: total coliform, arsenic, E. coli bacteria, nitrate and nitrite, lead, copper, iron, fluoride and chloride, water hardness and sodium, sulfide, sulfate, chlorine, manganese, tannins, pH, and anything else of local concern.
Well Inspection Process
We do a complete and thorough well system inspection. We inspect the physical properties of the well, including the well location, well head, pressure tank, pump, pressure switch, and wiring. We check equipment to assure that it is sanitary and meets local code requirements.
We perform a flow test to determine system output and check the water level before and after pumping when appropriate. In the case that the water flow appears weak, we can determine if the pumping rate is sufficient. A low pumping rate may indicate an issue with the well equipment or the availability of groundwater.
We take water samples and test them in a state certified laboratory. The water is tested for coliform, E. coli, arsenic, lead, nitrates, hardness, iron, and anything else that is of local concern.
A detailed written report is provided after the inspection is complete. The report will include all findings, as well as the water quality results. We will provide an explanation of our findings and recommendations whenever necessary.
For a free estimate call us to schedule your Well System Inspection today 248-499-3966 or send us an email at