forwater.com blog

Test your well water during National Public Health Week

  

 delicious  

  

If you could look in your plumbing, you might be shocked to find built up iron and minerals. What's running through your pipes and your body? Test your water and find out.

This week, the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services is urging homeowners to test their well water to make sure it is clean and safe. Contoocook Well will analyze your well water for free. Visit our website at http://www.forwater.com/watertesting.html

This press release is from the New Hampshire DES.

DES Home > Media Center >

MediaCenter

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
DATE: April 4, 2012
CONTACT: Paul Susca, NHDES, (603) 271-7061

Protect Your Family: Test Your Private Well Water
National Public Health Week is April 2 to 8

Concord, NH– The N.H. Department of Environmental Services (DES) is urging homeowners inNew Hampshire to test their private well water to ensure their drinking water is clean and safe for everyday use. Nearly 40 percent ofNew Hampshire residents get their drinking water from private wells, which are not subject to the same testing regulations as public water systems.

How do you know if your well is polluted? Don’t rely on your neighbors! Even if your neighbors’ wells are clean, that does not mean that yours will be, too. Have your well water tested every three to five years for most tests, but test every year for bacteria and nitrates.

Both human-caused and naturally-occurring pollutants are often found in private wells. Bacteria and nitrates, which can lead to immediate and serious health conditions, may be found in well water as a result of a poorly performing septic system or a nearby agricultural source. Across the northeasternU.S., two naturally-occurring elements, arsenic and radon, are also commonly found in well water. Scientific studies associate long-term exposure to arsenic and radon with cancer and other health effects.

Testing the quality of well water is simple and relatively inexpensive. A good time to remember to test is during National Public Health Week, which is April 2-8, 2012. DES has a website dedicated to private well testing. Go to www.des.nh.gov; in the A to Z List, find “Private Well Testing.” Homeowners can find information about when to test your well, potential risks for private wells and laboratories that offer private well testing.

Learn more about water filtration at http://www.forwater.com/watertesting.html We are at your service.

Free Coupon for $50 Off Well and Pump Service Call

  

 delicious  

  

When you need emergency water service, we are the first and only number to call. Don’t call the plumber if there’s no water coming from the faucet and your house is served by a water well. In all likelihood, the issue is the submersible pump which brings water from the well into the home. Diagnosing pump problems and getting your water running again is our specialty. Here's a $50 coupon to help offset the cost of resolving a stressful water problem.

We’re the first and only number to call for Service 7 Days a Week
603-428-6060 or 1-800-FOR-WATER

Emergency Service
Call our number and a service technician will be paged immediately. He will return your call right away, discuss your concerns with you, and schedule a visit to fix the problem.

Office hours, 6am to 5pm, Monday through Friday
Our dispatcher is ready to answer your questions, troubleshoot problems, and arrange for a service crew to visit your location if necessary.

Its stressful when you are having problems with your home's water. We all depend on water, and we want to get it flowing as quickly as possible. To offset the cost of service, just print the coupon out and let our Dispatcher or your pump technician know about it at the time of service. We appreciate it when you chose us when your well or pump needs service. You can trust that we will do a quality job at a fair price. For more comments from satisfied customers, visit

 http://www.forwater.com/company.html

Sodium from water filtration is actually good for your septic sytem

  

 delicious  

  

According to the Water Quality Association, "the addition of sodium to a septic system by use of soft water actually has beneficial effects on the digestion of wastes by bacteria. The volume of wastes from water softeners (about 50 gallons per regeneration) are added to the septic tank slowly and are not of sufficient volume to cause any deleterious hydraulic load problems. In fact, they are lower in volume and rate of addition than wastes from automatic washers. And the calcium and magnesium in softener regeneration wastes contribute to good air and water movement (improved soil percolation) through the septic system drainage field.

The University of Wisconsin and the National Sanitation Foundation reports clearly indicate that when the sodium content from the softener regeneration cycle is discharged into the soil via a septic system along with other salts such as calcium, magnesium, and iron the result is an improvement in the soil's percolation rather than a detriment. Dr. Fred P. Miller, Professor of Soil Science, Department of Agronomy, Universityof Maryland, evaluated this study and agrees with its conclusions. Dr. Miller points out that when the septic system is receiving soft water only, containing a very low mineral content, and not receiving the mineral salts from the backwash cycle, this condition "might result in swelling and dispersion of clays and lowered hydraulic conductivity in the absorption field.""

There are other advantages that are directly related to the use of ion exchange softened water when the hardness minerals calcium and magnesium are removed by softening. The homeowner uses less soap -- studies have indicated as much as 50% to 75% less. There is also less biodegradable products discharged into the system which relieves the loading on the system. It is a known fact that many homeowners do not maintain a septic system properly; not pumping the system at proper intervals allows detergent solids, as well as other solids, to be carried over into the drainage area causing clogging. Also, by having soft water or stain-free water available, the homeowner's fabrics are cleaner, and the amount of water used can be reduced. This reduces the loading on the septic system a great deal.

Many people may be under the impression that water conditioning equipment regenerates quite frequently and puts a high loading of sodium salts into the waste water. This, of course, is not true; the average family of four people would require a softener regeneration approximately two or three times a week.

The water quality improvement industry has earnestly sought to sort out the factual information on softener effluent. The septic tank study clearly indicates that there are no adverse effects when water conditioning effluent is discharged into properly installed private septic systems. There are a few additional reports that also explain further evidence of the hardness ions in a softeners regeneration wastes causing less clogging and maintaining higher permeability than the regular septic tank effluent.

 Copyright 2011 by the Water Quality Association – All rights reserved.
Water Quality Association
International Headquarters & Laboratory
4151 Naperville Road
Lisle, IL 60532-3696
USA
630 505 0160, Fax 630 505 9637
info@wqa.org, www.wqa.org

Wondering what's in your drinking water? Ask us for a free water test at http://www.forwater.com/watertesting.html

Does water softener discharge harm household septic tanks?

  

 delicious  

  

Why does my well water smell like rotten eggs?

  

 delicious  

  

The odor of rotten eggs quickly takes the pleasure from drinking a cool glass of water or enjoying a hot shower. This foul odor comes from hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a gas dissolved in water.  This gas is found in many water wells through out New England.

Hydrogen sulfide gas can result from a number of different sources.

• It can occur naturally in groundwater.
• It can be produced by "sulfur bacteria" in the groundwater, in the well, or in the water distribution system.
• It can be produced also by sulfur bacteria or chemical reactions inside water heaters.
• In rare instances, it can result from pollution.

The odor can be removed from your water by a Taste & Odor system from Contoocook Artesian Well Co. It removes the odor and taste immediately, and there are no filters or cartridges to change. The system removes sulfur gas as well as low levels of manganese and iron that can stain toilets and sinks. The system also takes care of minor sediment and pH imbalances.

Does it work? Ask N. Wilson: "We are so thrilled with our new water filtration system. We noticed the difference immediately. Our water always had a bit of a sulfur smell -- so much so that I always bought water to drink and to make coffee with -- and it left an orange residue in the toilets and shower. As soon as our filtration system was installed, the smell disappeared and our toilets and shower now look bright and clean."

Get a second opinion when it comes to water well work

  

 delicious  

  

We're sharing an experience one of our customers in Brookline, NH, had with another well company.  We share this story not to suggest dishonesty in the well business, but to encourage you to "do your homework" when you have a problem with your water well.

The water level in this customer's well was down. She consulted another well company, which recommended a hydrofrack. This hydrofrack is designed to open up water veins in the well to increase water volume. The competitor also recommended she purchase a new submersible pump system. The bill for the hydrofrack procedure and the new pump system would have totaled several thousand dollars.

This customer wisely called us and spent time explaining what was happening with her well to Jeff Coppo. His assessment was that she might only need a new pump system, considering the flow rate and water level of her well. The customer said she believed the well had been hydrofracked in the past and questioned whether performing the service again would solve the problem. Her goal was to get more water to irrigate her landscape and serve her house.

In her consultations with Jeff, she wisely asked questions about the lifetime of the wire, pipe and pump that would be installed. She inquired about how long it would take to remove the chlorine from her well that would be required by law after a service to her well.

Contoocook Artesian Well Co. replaced the well pump with a 1 horse power pump and set to a depth of 480’ in her 500 foot well. It had previously been hung at a depth of 380 feet. Increasing the horse power of the pump allows pumping of the well to a deeper level and opened access to the 100 feet of water that her pump wasnt accessing. Because a well contains a gallon and a half per foot, she had immediate access to 150 additional gallons. 

Jeff Coppo was impressed with this customer. She took the time to understand her problem, question the recommendation of other well company, and understand the components and costs of the job. She was not intimidated into buying out of emotion. She smartly assessed your situation, which saved her a few thousand dollars on services she didn’t need.

There is a good lesson for others: to do your homework, get a second opinion, and choose a company you can trust to do your well work.  For more on services you can trust, visit www.forwater.com

Honest service for water wells is not a thing of the past

  

 delicious  

  

This letter is from a customer. It has not been edited in any way.

Dear Contoocook Well,

 "I would just like to take a minute to thank your company for a job well done. Your company drilled my well back in 1998 to a depth of 640 feet and we, unfortunately, only found 3 GPM. Due to my finances back in the day, I could not afford to go any further and we made things work with the 3 GPM. I was even able to run a 15 zone irrigation system for all these years, until this year, when my well started having recovery problems. I called your company and spoke to Jeff Coppo, who took almost an hour out of his day to go over some options with me. Jeff was very honest and informative, suggesting that we do the cheapest route first, which would be to hydrofrack. Later that week, Jeff came to my house and walked the site to make sure his trucks would have access. Again, he spent an hour there, answering my questions and listening to my concerns about whether to drill a new well or go through with the hydrofrack. Jeff remained confident with the hydrofrack and gave me a price to do the job. A few weeks later, Jeff and his crew showed up at my house. I had just put in a new lawn that needed to be driven over and they laid down turf mats that prevented damage to the new lawn. Jeff sent a camera down the well and checked the geological structure of the well bore to see if there were any fractures that looked promising. I stood right there with him and he showed me one that he had found at about 205 feet. Jeff and the crew set up for the hydrofrack and "hit" the well. When all was said and done, I had about 12 GPM!!

 I can't thank Jeff and his crew enough. They were a great bunch of guys, with a great sense of humor, who knew what they were doing. They were such a pleasure to deal with. I have been in the construction/service industry most of my life and find that this type of service and professionalism is becoming a thing of the past. It is refreshing to see that your company, and the people who work for you, still have it. I was treated the same way back in 1998, when my well was first drilled, and I would highly recommend your services to anyone that may need them."

 M. W., Pelham, NH

Take precautions with your water well after Hurricane Irene

  

 delicious  

  

Hurricane Irene began as a Category 1 tropical storm as she hit land fall.  She then grew to become a Category 3 hurrican as she moved her way up the East coast.

Irene left millions of homes without power, and the flood zone stretches from New Jersey to New Hampshire.

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Division of Public Health Services, reminds residents that while some people remain without power and because of flooding in the State, it is important to continue to be vigilant about prevention of illness and injury.

If you have a private well that was flooded because of Tropical Storm Irene, it needs to be tested and disinfected before it is safe to use the water again. Heavy precipitation tends to mobilize bacteria and thus highlight conditions of poor well construction. The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES) urges all private well owners whose well has been flooded to boil their water for drinking and to have their well water quality tested after the floodwaters have receded. Make sure your drinking water is safe by disinfecting and testing your well after this and other storms. 

Contact Contoocook Artesian Well 1-800-FORWATER or visit www.forwater.com to determine if your well water is safe.

Why do I smell chlorine in my well water?

  

 delicious  

  

If you have recently had a water well drilled or work done to your well, it is mandatory by New Hampshire law that the well be chlorinated after the work is completed. This is to eliminate bacterial contamination in your water well, pump and plumbing.

Chlorine is the standard chemical used to disinfect all components of a water system except treatment devices. Chlorine comes in a liquid or a solid form. The liquid form is ordinary household chlorine bleach, in its pure form of sodium hypochlorite.  The solid form can be purchased from a swimming pool supply dealer in either tablets or powder form.  Do not use bleaches made for synthetic fabrics or those with fragrances added for disinfecting a well. Use regular bleach.

To determine the amount of chlorine to use, it is necessary to first estimate the total volume of water to be disinfected. This would include the water in the well, in surrounding soils, and in the home's plumbing system. The volume of water in a cylindrical shape can be determined by using the formula below:

Volume (in Gallons) = n x R2 x H x 7.48
Where: n = 3.14
R = radius (in feet) of the well.
H = water depth (in feet) from water surface to bottom of the
well.

To chlorinate the well, we calculate the proper volume of chlorine needed. Pour chlorine into the well, being careful to avoid the pitless adapter about 4 to 6 feet down, visible when looking down the well from the top. We mix the powdered chlorine with the well water thouroughly by re-circulating water back into the top of the well from the hose fitting on the pressure tank, then run the chlorine water solution into home plumbing system. Make sure and softners or water conditioners are in bypass mode!!  We confirm the chlorinated water has reached all taps by the presence of its odor.  The chlorine water should be left in the pipes and well overnight. The homeowner should NOT drink water with high chlorine levels or do laundry with the water, as it will bleach out clothing. Chlorine is very toxic to certain animals, especially livestock.

After 24 hours, we ask homeowners to flush the system by opening taps and allowing the water to flow.  The Department of Environmental Services suggests flushing the water until the free chlorine level is less than 1.0mg/1 free chlorine. This will be evident when the odor of chlorine from the tap can't be detected. The remaining chlorine will dissipate with time and usage.

The heavy chlorine water can be flushed into the woods or on top of the soil.  It is NOT run into a stream or body of water as it will kill wildlife. The chlorinated water should NOT be run into leach fields or onto grass. 

No bacterial testing can begin until all the chlorine is gone.

When we chlorinate a well, we leave instructions on the process. For more information about well chlorination from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, Click here.

Please contact Contoocook Artesian Well at 1-800-FOR-WATER if we can help.

How to know when your water well is going dry

  

 delicious  

  

One third of New Hampshire's population is dependent on well water.  When New Hampshire experiences a drought during the summer months, this can pose a serious situation for homeowners.

It's hard to believe New Hampshire, known as a state with lots of water - streams, rivers, lakes, ponds, wetlands, estuaries and the ocean - faces drought conditions.

Be prepared when you water well is going dry. Here are a few signs to look for if you think your water well maybe going dry.

1. Low water pressure. Is there even lower pressure on the upper level faucets of your home than the first?

2. Sediment in the water. Is the water from your faucet looking muddy?

3. Taste. A sign of a dry well is water that tastes dirty or muddy.

4. Air in the water. Listen for air coming out of the faucet when you turn it on. When a well is dry, the pump sucks up air instead of water. As a result, you may hear excess air or spurting water from the faucet.

5. Pressure gauge on the water tank reads below 40 psi.

If you are experiencing some of the above issues with your water well, your well could be going dry.

You could also have other plumbing problems creating this absence of water. If you have multiple signs that your well is going dry, it is likely your water is dangerously low. If the absence of water is your only symptom, you could have a different issue.

If you think your well maybe be going dry or experiencing other problems, call Contoocook Artesian Well 603-428-6060. 1-800-FOR WATER

For Service, check out our website