March 13, 2024
El Paso County Public Health can help you find out if your well water is safe to drink
In 1999, Groundwater Awareness Week was established as a platform to encourage annual water well testing and well maintenance and to highlight the responsible development, management and use of groundwater.
One of the many services El Paso County Public Health (EPCPH) offers to county residents is EPA-certified water testing for both public water systems and private wells. The EPCPH lab performs 600 to 700 tests monthly to determine if there are contaminants that may affect the safety of drinking water.
Every public water system is required to meet EPA guidelines to provide water that is safe to drink and is usually tested anywhere from once per quarter, once a month or up to twice a month. Two to 20 samples are submitted depending on how big the system is.
Private water wells are those that are not regulated as a public water system under the Safe Drinking Water Act. While new private wells must be permitted by the Colorado Division of Water Resources, the quality of water used by private well owners is not regulated, so private well owners are responsible for making sure their well water is safe for drinking, cooking and bathing.
What should you test for in a private well system?
Although there are numerous tests for water, EPCPH provides testing to meet the minimum potability requirements for drinking water quality, and the most common are:
- Qualitative Bacteriological test for the absence of total coliform and E. coli
- Chemistry test for the concentration of the inorganic anion, Nitrate.
EPCPH does have the equipment for other inorganic anion including bromide, fluoride, chloride, sulphate, nitrite and phosphate if requested. The Laboratory also tests water for pH levels which is related to the ability of water to corrode pipes and release metals into the water.
What are total coliform and E. coli bacteria?
Coliform and E. coli bacteria in drinking water indicate contamination of the water system. The presence of these E. coli in a water supply indicates pollution from animal fecal waste, and the likelihood of disease-causing organisms is high. The presence of coliforms indicates the well system is defective. These situations are highly dependent on the environment. Is there a lot of farming around? Are fertilizers being used? Is there ranching in the area? All of these situations raise the presence of coliforms and E. coli because manure and cattle urine soaks down into the ground and creates and environment for these bacteria to thrive.
What are nitrates?
Nitrate amounts greater than 10 mg/L present in drinking water indicate pollution from manure, fertilizer, failing septic systems or other waste sources. Nitrates travel easily through the soil, carried by rain or irrigation water into the groundwater.
What is the process?
A property owner or a certified water operator can collect samples for the tests. They will first need to get a test kit that includes a special water bottle. Test kits are available at the Citizens Service Center, or the fire stations in Falcon and Monument, or Woodland Park Community Development Services, and in Divide at the Teller County Public Health office. Instructions on the bottle walk the sample collector through cleaning the test area (the faucet in a bathtub is recommended), how long to run the water prior to sampling and the amount to collect. Samples are then returned to EPCPH at either the Citizens Service Center or the Public Health South location for testing. EPCPH has an on-site lab that tests the samples and reports back if they are positive or negative. The turnaround time for results is generally 24-72 hours.
When or how often should I test?
EPCPH Lab Program Manager Lisa Lemmon suggests, “Get your well tested at least once a year, and inspect your well to make sure the cap is not cracked, the casing is not cracked, things you don’t want in there (surface water, pathogens, insects, chemicals or debris) are not getting in, and neighbor septic systems are being contained.” Also, be aware if taste, appearance or odor of the water change, if bathroom fixtures become stained, or if any household members become ill.