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Maryland Realtor Magazine – Taking Care of you Well

Please click on the link and take a minute to read the attached article.  

What is groundwater and why is it important to me?

More than two million Marylanders obtain their water from groundwater. Groundwater is created from rain that soaks into the ground, which absorbs it like a sponge. It is a natural resource that is used for drinking, household purposes, irrigation, business and industry needs.

Water that soaks into the ground is filtered as it passes through various layers of sand, clay or rock, before discharging to streams, rivers or the Chesapeake Bay. Too often groundwater is taken for granted because it cannot be seen.

Groundwater is vulnerable to pollution by livestock areas, abandoned mines, salted roads, farming and industrial areas.  Homeowners also contribute to groundwater contamination by dumping household chemicals down the drain if they have a septic system or by pouring them on the ground.

Groundwater contaminated with bacteria, chemicals, pesticides, gasoline, or oil can result in serious human health problems.  Those who consume contaminated groundwater may suffer bacterial diseases, nervous system disorders, liver or kidney failure, cancer or other ailments depending on the contamination.

To protect groundwater be proactive in the upkeep of your home and yard:

• Limit the amount of fertilizer used on plants.
• If you own a septic system, service it according to local health department or manufacturer recommendations.
• If you own a water well, get a yearly maintenance check to ensure sanitary seals are intact.
• Consider having your water tested every couple of years or if you notice a change in color, odor or taste.
• Check for leaky faucets and have them fixed.

To protect groundwater make simple changes to your everyday activities:

• Take shorter showers.
• Shut off water when brushing your teeth.
• Run full loads of dishes and laundry.
• Properly store hazardous household substances like paints, paint thinners, petroleum products, fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, and cleaning products in secure containers and do not empty hazardous household waste down the drain or the toilet.
• Mix hazardous household substances over concrete or asphalt where they can be cleaned up or absorbed.
  

Addtional Information and Related Links:

• The Groundwater Foundation
• National Groundwater Awareness Week
• The Story of Groundwater

Contact Information:

John Boris, Geologist, 410-537-3678 or John.Boris@maryland.gov

Nitrate in water is undetectable without testing because it is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. A water test for nitrate is highly recommended for households with infants, pregnant women, nursing mothers, or elderly people. These groups are the most susceptible to nitrate or nitrite contamination.   Nitrate-nitrogen occurs naturally in groundwater, usually at concentrations far below a level of concern for drinking water safety. An initial test of a new water supply is needed to determine the baseline nitrate concentration.  Therefore, if the water supply has never been tested for nitrate, it should be tested.

In addition to testing for Nitrates you may also want to test for Bacteria.  Bacteriological contamination in water may contribute to an individual’s susceptibility to the presence of nitrate. All drinking water sources also should be tested for bacteriological contamination, particularly if the nitrate-nitrogen level exceeds the 10 mg/L standard. The presence of both nitrate and bacteriological contamination may indicate a poor well location or construction, and possible contamination from surface drainage, feedlots, sewage systems, or some other source.

If you have any questions, or concern about Bacti or Nitrates in your well water, please feel free to give us a call at 301-293-3340. 

Cloudy, murky or grayish water is usually caused by dissolved or suspended solids. This is also known as “turbidity.” Water can become turbid naturally or from land disturbances such as construction, storms and urban runoff.

The turbidity of your water can range from low to high. But even if your water looks clear, it could still contain a high level of dissolved solids. That’s why, whether your water is turbid or not, we recommend you have it tested.

Fredericktowne Labs can test your water and give you an answer. 

Protecting Your Ground Water Supply

When Building, Modifying Or Closing A Well
• Hire a certified well driller for any new well construction or modification
• Slope well area so surface runoff drains away
• When closing a well:
– Do not cut off the well casing below the land surface
– Hire a certified well contractor to fill or seal the well

Preventing Problems
• Install a locking well cap or sanitary seal to prevent unauthorized use of,
or entry into, the well
• Do not mix or use pesticides, fertilizers, herbicides, degreasers, fuels, and
other pollutants near the well
• Never dispose of wastes in dry wells or in abandoned wells
• Pump and inspect septic systems as often as recommended by your local
health department
• Never dispose of hazardous materials in a septic system
• Take care in working or mowing around your well

Maintaining Your Well
• Each month check visible parts of your system for problems such as:
– Cracking or corrosion,
– Broken or missing well cap,
– Settling and cracking of surface seals
• Have the well tested once a year for coliform bacteria, nitrates, and other
contaminants
• Keep accurate records in a safe place, including:
– Construction contract or report
– Maintenance records, such as disinfection or sediment removal
– Any use of chemicals in the well
– Water testing results

After A Flood — Concerns And Advisories
• Stay away from the well pump while flooded to avoid electric shock
• Do not drink or wash from the flooded well to avoid becoming sick
• Get assistance from a well or pump contractor to clean and turn on the
pump
• After the pump is turned back on, pump the well until the water runs clear
to rid the well of flood water
• If the water does not run clear, get advice from the county or state health
department or extension service
• For additional information go to http://www.epa.gov/safewater/consumer/
whatdo.htm

For More Info:  

http://www.epa.gov/privatewells/pdfs/household_wells.pdf

Check out the Blog on Frederick County Business Development and Retention website.

http://discoverfrederickmd.blogspot.com/

Meet Fredericktowne Labs Inc.

Reasons to Test Your Water

• The chart below will help you spot problems. The last five problems listed are not an immediate health concern, but they can make your water taste bad, may indicate problems, and could affect your well long term.

  Conditions or Nearby Activities: Test for: Recurring gastro-intestinal illness                   Coliform bacteria Household plumbing contains lead                  pH, lead, copper Radon in indoor air or region is radon rich                  Radon Corrosion of pipes, plumbing                 Corrosion, pH, lead Nearby areas of intensive agriculture                 Nitrate, pesticides,         coliform bacteria Coal or other mining operations nearby               Metals, pH, corrosion Gas drilling operations nearby               Chloride, sodium, barium, strontium Dump, junkyard, landfill, factory, gas station, or dry-cleaning operation nearby          Volatile organic compounds, total dissolved solids, pH, sulfate, chloride, metals Odor of gasoline or fuel oil, and near gas station or buried fuel tanks            Volatile organic compounds Objectionable taste or smell             Hydrogen sulfide, corrosion, metals Stained plumbing fixtures, laundry             Iron, copper, manganese   Salty taste and seawater, or a heavily salted roadway nearby              Chloride, total dissolved solids, sodium Scaly residues, soaps don’t lather              Hardness Rapid wear of water treatment equipment             pH, corrosion Water softener needed to treat hardness              Manganese, iron Water appears cloudy, frothy, or colored             Color, detergents

We will be closed Thursday, November 28 and Friday, November 29.  Please get your samples in early Wednesday, November 27.  Thank you.