How Do You Choose the Best Well Water Filtration System?

Why does well water so often need treatment? Well water users face distinct concerns. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does not regulate private wells, so well owners are responsible for the safety of their home’s water. As such, household filtration systems are often required to make well water safer and more pleasant to use for drinking, washing, bathing and more.

Common issues with well water may affect your water’s taste, quality and appearance while also impacting the well-being of household members or leaving stains in tubs and sinks. Some dangerous contaminants, like arsenic, are not detectable by taste, smell or sight, making testing imperative.

To ensure access to cleaner, safer water, it’s important for well water users to test their wells annually and to use reliable well water filtration systems. Well water users should also be prepared to select filtration options that meet their unique needs.

Do you have issues with your well water or concerns about potential contaminants? Diagnose your water problems and get recommended solutions with our Water Solutions Finder.*

Common Well Water Issues

Without a well water filtration system, you may experience problem water throughout your home, including issues related to taste, appearance and smell. Well water users may be particularly susceptible to these issues, which makes it critical to carefully consider various water treatment options.

What Problems Are Commonly Found in Well Water?

Well water users may experience a wide variety of issues based on their region as well as the presence of nearby pollution sources or other structures. Recent land disturbances due to flooding or other natural disasters may also affect the quality of groundwater in private wells. Even without additional issues like these, water from private wells is still susceptible to contamination.

Problem water may also result from an excess of naturally occurring components in well water. The most common issues are a result of having too much iron, hydrogen sulfide, copper and sediment. Turbidity, or a lack of clarity, can also present issues.

Potential contaminants to monitor in well water include nitrates, volatile organic compounds and, based on the location of your well, lead, arsenic, mercury and others, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The EPA also notes that microorganisms, organic chemicals and other contaminants may sometimes be present in well water.

Testing Well Water

Testing is the best way to ensure the safety of well water and to decide on the proper filtration solution.

Testing Options

Water tests conducted by an expert should take place at least annually for well water users. On-site testing can help you quickly monitor for quality indicators like pH level as well as check for chlorine, nitrates, iron, total dissolved solids (TDS) and more. Further laboratory analysis can help you learn about potential heavy metals or other contaminants that can be connected with potential health risks. Culligan’s IL EPA-Certified lab is capable of detecting lead, hydrogen sulfide, arsenic, copper, bacteria and more.

Finding the Best Well Water Filtration System for Your Needs

Based on what the analysis of your well water concludes, you may want to consider a few possible solutions. 

For starters, a whole-house filtration system may be necessary. These systems filter water at the point of entry, providing cleaner well water to all taps in your house. By removing components such as iron, chlorine, sulfur and more, these systems can help limit issues such as unpleasant tastes and odors as well as staining in tubs and sinks. Many of these well water filtration systems will employ a pre-filtering stage that removes sediment, an activated carbon stage and a post-filtering phase. The carbon stage minimizes the presence of chlorine and chloramines, while the post-filtering phase removes leftover sediment.

Reverse osmosis drinking water systems installed at the point of use, such as under the kitchen sink, provide additional support for cleaner, better-tasting water for drinking and cooking. These systems often use a process known as reverse osmosis, which can remove up to 99% of contaminants commonly found in tap water and reduce lead, arsenic and pesticide runoff. 

A local water expert can help you decide what system or combination of solutions will work best for the specific issues you may have with your well water.

Other Factors to Consider in Choosing Well Water Filtration Systems

After deciding on the type of water treatment system you need for great-tasting filtered water, you should consider additional factors to help you make the best choice.

   Download Now: Your FREE Guide to Cleaner, Safer Well Water

Regional Customization

Ideally, your system for well water treatment will be customized to the concerns that are unique to your region. While testing can reveal the state of your water currently, your region may be predisposed to specific quality concerns, and your choice of filtration system should reflect that fact.

Filtration System Quality and Customer Support

Filtration system installation and maintenance goes beyond simply replacing a filter cartridge every so often. Top-quality products that are installed carefully and backed by professional service and expertise should be high on the priority list for you. Look for solutions that simplify maintenance and are backed by a strong warranty and robust customer service.

Ready to learn more? Explore a variety of different systems available for whole-home filtration and for drinking water treatment.