Many Americans dream of escaping the hustle and bustle of city life for a quieter, more rural existence. But when such dreams come true, there’s always the need for a reality check, especially where utilities are involved.
In the city, water arrives through household taps already filtered through a municipal water filtration system, so residents don’t usually need to be concerned about their water quality. However, people who move to rural areas without a city water supply must get accustomed to the idiosyncrasies of well water, including checking the quality of their well water yearly.
One study concluded that 23% of Americans consuming well water had at least one contaminant in their water at a level that could negatively affect their health. And some private well owners are at greater risk for water contamination than others. If you’re near a manufacturing plant, factory farm, or sewage treatment plant, your household is at high risk for well water contamination. Homes with old pipes are also more likely to have contaminated water.
Think this is a minor issue? Think again. 43 million Americans rely on well water. Yet, the EPA doesn’t regulate the quality of their water — only the well owners themselves are responsible for this. Unfortunately, this leaves plenty of room for human error, from skipping critical water testing or accidentally buying the wrong well water filtration system.
To ensure your rural paradise has clean, contaminant-free well water, be careful to avoid the following mistakes.
Misunderstanding What Kind of Well You Have
Not all wells operate the same way, so you shouldn’t buy a water filtration system based on reviews alone. First, you must understand how your specific water treatment system works. For example, if you choose the incorrect filter, it can negatively affect your household’s water flow rate and water pressure.
Luckily, licensed professionals can quickly assist you with determining what type of water filter your well needs.
Not Getting Your Well Water Tested
There’s another reason not to rush out and buy whichever water filtration system is most popular — you won’t know which kind of contaminants to target with your filter. Since well water is untreated groundwater, no two wells are the same. What works for one well may not work for another.
Take the time to get your well water tested. Water from private wells can carry everything from sediment to iron and minerals, and contamination can range from mild to toxic. Some water treatment systems filter out certain contaminants better than others, so the best course of action is to get your water tested by professionals. Then you can select the water filter that is best suited to weed out the contaminants specific to your well.
Not Taking Capacity and Flow Rate Into Account
Every well has its own unique capacity and water pressure, and this is a crucial factor in choosing the appropriate water filtration system.
Your well’s flow rate is determined by the amount of water that can run through your household per minute. Its capacity is how much water the well can hold at one time. Together, these factors determine how much water your household can use and for how long.
So, what does this have to do with filtration? To make sure that your filter works effectively and produces reliable results, you must choose a filtration system that’s large enough to handle the flow of water from your well. If you aren’t sure how to estimate your household’s water requirements, a water filtration professional can help you get an idea.
Purchasing the Wrong Filter
Many other well water mistakes on this list feed directly into this one, the ultimate mistake: purchasing the wrong filtration system.
Of course, you need the right water filtration system for your specific home. But there are so many different variables to measure — like pipe size, pipe type, and the overall flow rate of your well. It’s challenging to get everything right and find your perfect filtration match.
Purchasing the wrong water filtration system is especially likely if you order online. Even if you know which filter that you need, the part numbers on water filters change often. So if the retailer you’re purchasing from isn’t a specialist, they could accidentally send you the wrong parts. On top of this, many online retailers don’t accept returns.
Again, this is a case where it’s safest to work with professionals. They can ensure that you are purchasing the correct type of water filtration system for your one-of-a-kind home.
Choosing a Cheap Water Filter
Contaminants in your well water are no joke. They can cause chronic toxicity, liver and kidney failure, anemia, and even cancer, to name a few. Would you risk chronic health issues to save a little cash? Of course not. That’s why it’s worth it to invest in a quality water filtration system for your well. Inexpensive water filtration systems simply won’t perform as well as high-quality ones.
Purchasing an Uncertified Water Filter
You won’t always realize that you’re dealing with water contaminants based on taste, scent, or sight alone. Unfortunately, many common water contaminants are invisible to your senses. Purchasing a certified water filter is one way to confirm that you’re supplying your household with safe water.
People who are new to a rural area might not know to prioritize a certified water filter, but that certification can make all the difference. Certified filtration companies have jumped through extra safety hoops that other companies have not, taking pains to ensure that their water is safe for consumers.
The Science of Water
Choosing the right water filtration system for your well can be tricky if you try to go it alone. But it doesn’t need to be!
Whether you’ve just moved to a rural area or you’re a long-time well owner concerned about the quality of your water, our team at the Science of Water is here to help. The health of your household is important to us, which is why we offer a complimentary water test with every consultation. Once we have the details about your water, we can work together and determine the best solution for your household.
If you are interested in requesting a water test or learning more about our services, contact our team at (352) 745-7070 or (904) 580-0000.
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