Beatrice Lang
If you own a home with a well, you are responsible for testing your water to ensure it is safe to drink. Well water should be tested at least once a year for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids, and pH level. If you are pregnant or have an infant at home, it is especially important to test for nitrates, as high levels can be harmful to babies. Testing for the presence of a well pump without electricity can be done by putting a multimeter on the wires leading down to the pump to see if there is a complete circuit.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How to test for a well pump without electricity | Put a multimeter on the wires leading to the pump to see if there is a complete circuit |
| How to test well water for harmful chemicals | Test for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids, and pH level |
| How to test well water for harmful germs | Test for fecal coliforms or E. coli |
| How to test for water level in a well | The water level in a well depends on the depth of the well, the type of aquifer, and the amount of pumping that occurs |
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What You'll Learn
Check for wiring issues
If you're experiencing issues with your well pump system, there are a few things you can do to check for wiring issues before calling in a professional.
Firstly, check your home's breaker box to see if the well pump's own circuit has tripped. If a large amount of water has been drawn from the pressure tank, it can flip the switch and shut down the system as a fail-safe.
Next, you can check the wiring under your well cap to determine if the electrical problem is within the well or between your home and the well. Go to your home's wellhead and remove the cap. You will see three wires spliced with twist-on connectors. These can be removed, and the bare wires can serve as test points. If voltage is present, it means electricity is flowing from your home to that point, indicating a problem within the well. If there is no voltage present, there is an electrical problem between your home and the well.
If you have recently installed a new pump, it should be problem-free. However, there are rare cases where a component can have faulty wiring straight from the box. If the new pump made a humming or buzzing noise when it was first powered up, it could mean that the wiring was installed improperly. If you have an ohmmeter, check the colour coding or the wiring against the owner's manual.
If you are experiencing issues with a pressure switch, you can test it by removing the cover and banging a screwdriver handle sharply against the tube below. If you see a spark and the pump starts, the pressure switch is faulty. You can replace the switch by removing the wires to the old switch, unscrewing it, and reconnecting the wires to the new switch.
If you are experiencing issues with the pump controller, you may need to call in a professional as there is no way to test the controller. However, if you have replaced the pressure switch and the pump still won't start, it may be worth replacing the controller as a last resort before calling a professional.
It is important to note that if you are not confident with electrical systems, it is best to call a professional for assistance.
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Test for germs and chemicals
Testing your well water for germs and chemicals is important to protect your health and that of your family and pets. Unlike public water systems, private wells are not federally regulated, so the responsibility falls on the well owner to ensure the water is safe.
The Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend testing well water at least once a year, typically in the spring. However, more frequent testing is advised if you live near farmlands, industrial sites, or landfills, or if someone in your household is pregnant, a child, elderly, or immunocompromised.
To test for germs and bacteria, you can test for total coliform bacteria, which indicates the presence of faecal contamination and the potential for harmful viruses, bacteria, and parasites. E. coli is another specific bacteria you can test for. If either total coliform or E. coli are detected, you should disinfect your well.
For chemical testing, you can test for nitrates, which can come from animal waste, septic systems, wastewater, flooded sewers, polluted stormwater runoff, fertilizers, runoff from farms, and decaying plants. High levels of nitrates can indicate the presence of other harmful chemicals or germs, and they are especially dangerous for babies.
You can also test for volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are industrial and fuel-related chemicals. Some VOCs to look out for include benzene, carbon tetrachloride, toluene, trichloroethylene, and methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE).
Additionally, you can test for inorganic chemicals, heavy metals, PFAS, and radiological contaminants like radium and uranium.
If you suspect your well is contaminated, stop using the water and switch to bottled water for drinking, cooking, and making ice. Contact your local health department and refer to their guidelines for testing and recommended actions.
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Inspect the pump controller
Inspecting the pump controller can be a challenging task, especially if your pump is a submersible one installed deep within the ground. Here's a comprehensive guide on how to inspect the pump controller:
Locating the Pump Controller
Firstly, you need to locate the pump controller. Most pump controls are mounted near the pressure tank in the house. However, in some cases, the pump controller is mounted inside the well pump itself, which makes it difficult to access.
Understanding the Pump Controller's Function
The pump controller houses a capacitor that helps start the pump. It contains electrical terminals that play specific roles. The wires from the pressure switch connect to the electrical input terminals, typically labelled "L1" and "L2." The wires leading to the pump motor have distinct functions, usually marked as "S" for start, "R" for run, and "N" for neutral. The wires connected to the green screw serve as the grounding for the well system.
Inspecting the Wiring and Components
Visually inspect the control panel's wires, wire connections, relay, and capacitor. Check for any burnt or broken wires or components. If you notice any damage, replace the affected parts. Ensure that all wire connections are tight and secure, using the appropriate screwdriver, often a flat-head screwdriver.
If the capacitor shows signs of leakage or swelling, it needs to be replaced. Carefully remove the wire connectors from the capacitor using needle-nose pliers. Test the capacitor with a multimeter by placing the probes on its terminals. The meter should reach infinite, fall back slightly, and then reach infinite again. If it does not display this pattern, the capacitor needs to be replaced.
Testing the Voltage
To test the voltage, use a multimeter set to the "VAC" setting. Lower the water pressure in the well's storage tank by opening a faucet. This action triggers the well's pressure switch to turn on. Place the multimeter probes on the control panel's "L1" and "L2" terminals. The voltage reading should be within 10% of the control panel's stated operating voltage.
If the voltage reading is not within the acceptable range, proceed to check the circuit breaker and the pressure switch. Place one multimeter probe on the control box's neutral terminal and the other probe on the start terminal, then take the reading. Compare this reading to the control box's operational-voltage ratings.
Troubleshooting the Well Pump Motor
If both readings are within tolerance, move on to troubleshooting the well pump's motor. During the start-up phase, the control box sends electricity to the pump motor through the start circuit. Once the pump motor reaches operational speed, the control box switches to the run circuit. If the control box fails to switch from start to run, it's likely that the relay needs to be replaced.
When to Call a Professional
It's important to recognize when a problem exceeds your expertise or comfort level. If you encounter issues with the pump controller that you cannot resolve, or if your pump is difficult to access, don't hesitate to call a professional for assistance.
Remember, safety should always come first when working with electrical systems. If you feel unsure or uncomfortable at any point, it's best to seek professional help to ensure the problem is addressed correctly and safely.
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Test for bacteria and chemical contaminants
As a private well owner, you are responsible for regularly testing the water you use for cooking and drinking to ensure it is safe. The CDC recommends that you test your well water at least once each year for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids, and pH levels. Coliform bacteria live in people's and animals' digestive systems, in soil, on plants, and in surface water. While they are typically harmless, they indicate that your water may be contaminated with harmful germs, viruses, bacteria, or parasites.
If you suspect your water is contaminated with other harmful germs or chemicals, test for those as well. However, testing can be expensive, so it's important to spend time identifying potential problems first. Start by asking your health department about germs and chemicals of concern locally. For example, you may want to test for agricultural chemicals or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as benzene, carbon tetrachloride, toluene, trichloroethylene, and methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE).
If you have never tested your well water before, your first test should be as comprehensive as possible. This will tell you what you need to remove from your well and will guide you in planning a filtering system. After the initial test, plan an annual test so you can detect any changes to your water quality.
To collect a water sample for testing, contact an accredited laboratory to get sample containers and instructions. They will provide you with a water sampling kit and directions to follow for accurate results. Once the laboratory analyzes your water sample, they will send you a report with the test results. If a contaminant is found to exceed health standards, contact your public health department for specific steps to follow and have your well re-tested to confirm the contaminant's presence and concentration.
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Check for water quality indicators
Testing your well water is the only way to detect most common contaminants. You cannot taste, see, or smell most contaminants. Water quality indicators, such as coliforms, pH, and total dissolved solids, can help you understand if your water may contain harmful germs or chemicals.
Test for total coliforms. If the total coliform count is high in your water, it is likely that harmful germs—including certain viruses, bacteria, and parasites—are also in your water. Fecal coliform bacteria are a specific kind of total coliform. People's and animals' faeces contain millions of these bacteria. The bacteria E. coli is part of the fecal coliform group, and you can test for it by itself. Fecal coliforms and E. coli are usually harmless. However, some specific types of E. coli can make you seriously sick. A water quality indicator test for E. coli will not show whether the water contains the dangerous types of E. coli. If you suspect your water is contaminated with a dangerous type of E. coli, you will need to use a more specific type of test to find it.
Test the pH. The pH level tells you how acidic or basic your water is. The pH level of the water can affect your water pipes and how your water looks and tastes. Testing for total dissolved solids tells you how much "stuff" (for example, calcium or sodium) is mixed in your water. This can affect how your water looks or tastes. Water with higher levels of dissolved solids is more likely to leave scales or buildup on your water pipes or devices.
All well owners should test for nitrates at least once every year. High levels of nitrates in your water can make you, and especially babies, sick. Nitrates in your well water can come from animal waste, septic systems, wastewater, flooded sewers, polluted stormwater runoff, fertilizers, runoff from farms, and decaying plants.
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Frequently asked questions
You can test well water for bacteria by contacting your local health department or a state-certified commercial laboratory. They will be able to test for total and fecal coliform bacteria, which indicate the presence of harmful germs.
If you want to test whether a well pump is present without electricity, you can use a multimeter on the wires leading to the pump to see if there is a complete circuit.
If you are experiencing issues with your well pump, you can troubleshoot the problem by checking the wiring under the well cap. If you remove the cap, you will see three wires spliced with twist-on connectors. If voltage is present, it indicates an issue within the well. If there is no voltage, the problem is between your home and the well.
To test for harmful chemicals, you must contact a state-certified laboratory to perform the test. You can also contact your health or environmental department to understand which specific chemicals to test for, based on your location.
