Special to The Leader

Private household water well owners can do much to protect their drinking water from contamination, and there’s no better time to begin than on nationalProtect Your Groundwater Day September 6, said the Texas Ground Water Association along with the National Ground Water Association (NGWA).

Four steps well owners can take to protect their drinking water are:

• Test the water annually for bacteria, nitrate, and anything of local concern
• Properly store, use, and dispose of hazardous household substances
• Get regular water well system maintenance check-ups
• Always use a qualified water well system professional to service a well.

Water testing by a drinking water testing lab can reveal whether there is anything that presents a health risk in the water. This is the first step toward taking appropriate action.

Proper handling of hazardous household substances can prevent certain contaminants from getting into groundwater in the first place through inadequate containment in storage, improper use, and ineffective disposal.

Regular well system maintenance can prevent system deterioration or failures that allow bacteria, for instance, to get into the water.

The use of qualified water well system professionals is a protection against well owners inadvertently introducing bacterial, chemical, or other types of contamination into the well. NGWA does not recommend well owners service their own wells because often this not only creates contamination issues but also can result in mechanical problems or physical danger to the well owner.

The Texas Ground Water Association urges private household well owners to recognize Protect Your Groundwater Day by taking these simple steps to protecting their drinking water supplies.