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7 Things To Know About How Well Water Works
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Updated: August 15, 2022 April 11, 2022
Water is a big deal. We drink it, cook with it, clean with it, even bathe in it — it’s part of almost everything we do. That’s why it’s smart to spend some time learning about where your water comes from, what problems it might face and how you can take care of it.
This is an especially important task for homeowners with private wells. When you have your own water supply, you become a water warden — which means you have a few special responsibilities.
Ready to learn more? Sit back, relax and brush up on these seven things you should know about well water!
When you turn on a faucet in your home, the water comes from one of two places: your municipal/city supply or a private water well. These water types have a few big differences:
So, if well water doesn’t come from the city, where does it come from? Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how wells really work:
This process creates water that can be safe for drinking, cooking, bathing and more — with a few precautions, that is.
You may have heard of hard water and how it can be bad news for your skin, hair, shower walls, dishes and even water-using appliances. As the Government of Canada reports in a survey of the national water supply, water hardness can vary according to location — but the unfortunate truth is that no matter where you live, you’re particularly susceptible to hard water if you use a well.
Signs of water hardness include:
The good news is that hard water isn’t dangerous — just irritating.
If you and your water-using appliances are tired of hard water, there’s a solution right at your fingertips: a water softener. Because water softeners are often placed in basements or garages, these devices can be installed no matter what your water source is — so city water-users and private well-users alike can benefit.
Hard water is caused by a buildup of calcium and magnesium, which are both positively charged molecules. Water softeners use negatively charged resin beads to attract those molecules like a magnet — then a saltwater solution rinses the beads and sends those excess minerals right down the drain.
Because well water resources are primarily groundwater, there is potential for contamination.* As the Government of Canada explains, “contamination problems are increasing in Canada primarily because of the large and growing number of toxic compounds used in industry and agriculture.”
According to the EPA, possible contaminants can include:
Luckily, you don’t have to guess whether these contaminants are present — you can perform regular water testing to stay informed.
It is generally recommended that you test your water once a year, no matter what type of water system you have. Culligan offers a free, in-home water test that makes it easy to keep up with annual water quality checks — just reach out to us and let your local Culligan Water® expert do the rest! If you need to test for more complex water quality issues, additional testing can be done through our IL EPA-certified lab.
Download Now: Your FREE Guide to Cleaner, Safer Well WaterIt’s also important to remember that the yearly test is just a rule of thumb. You should also perform well water testing if certain events occur, such as:
Since water wells do most of their work underground, it can be tricky to feel like you’re in charge of your water supply. Luckily, there are different filtration systems available to help put you in control of drinking water, water quality and more. Here’s what you have to choose from:
Last but certainly not least, it’s important to know exactly what it means to have a well.
Put simply, being a well water user means you’re responsible for a few big things:
Do you have more questions about private wells, well water quality and well water testing? You’ve come to the right place. At Culligan®, we know how important well water is to you, your household and your community — so we’re here to help everyone become a water warden.
Get started today by scheduling your free in-home water test.
*Contaminants may not be present in your water.
Get better water in your home by scheduling an appointment with your local Culligan Water Expert.
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