| Advisor Home Inspection LLC PO Box 446 Hollis NH 03049 603 465-3990 800 994-3990 Serving Southern New Hampshire |
Private Wells in New Hampshire
fall Into one of the following categories
fall Into one of the following categories
Shallow Well Dug by backhoe (or by hand in an antique home) and
usually are around 25 feet deep.
Shallow wells are usually in neighborhoods that are over town aquifers.
The well pump has a single intake hose connected to it and is located in the
basement beside the pressure tank. In the yard, there is often a circular 4 foot
cement cover over the top of the dug well to keep debris out. Older style wells
had the problem of recurring bacteria because they were open at the top.
In recent years, acid rain has become an often heard term but it is poorly
understood. Acid rain can affect lakes, ponds and also underground water
(near the surface). Since this water is more acidic, it can, over time, thin out
the copper plumbing pipes in the house.
One solution to neutralize the acid in the water is by installing a system that
pumps a "neutralizer agent " (potash) into the water as it is pumped into the
house. Located near the well pump, It looks like a 20 gallon plastic barrel
containing a mixture of potash and water, attached to an "intravenous" type
pump. As water is pushed into the house by the well pump, the unit squirts in a
little of the mixture to neutralize it. Same as taking a TUMS for acid
indigestion. Checking the pH (acidity) of the well water is recommended.
Intermediate Depth Well Drilled through dirt and rock to a depth of
approximately 25 to 75 feet deep.
The jet pump has two hoses connected to it and is located in the basement
beside the pressure tank.
Deep, Drilled or Artesian Well Drilled through dirt and rock to a
depth of 100 to 700 feet deep.
The well pump is lowered down into the bottom of the well. Often there are
high concentrations of soluble minerals moving through the rock in deep wells.
One solution for removing iron or manganese from the water, since these
minerals can stain laundry, is to install a water softening unit. A softener
removes the excess minerals that eventually might build up to block pipes,
faucets or shower heads. Testing for Hardness, Manganese and Iron are
recommended.
Radon in water might also be a concern since the water is coming from deep
within the granite.
Shallow well
Pump and Pressure tank
Deep Well Equipment
Drilled Well
Drilled Well Head
Testing Your Drinking Water
STANDARD water test
Chloride, Hardness, Iron, Manganese, Nitrate, pH (acidity), Sodium
Any presence of Coliform and E.Coli bacteria
VA water test
Chloride, Copper, Hardness, Iron, Manganese, Nitrate, pH, Sodium
Any presence of Coliform and E.Coli bacteria
FHA water test
Chloride, Copper, Hardness, Iron, Lead, Manganese, Iron, Nitrate,
Nitrite, pH, Sodium
Any presence of Coliform and E.Coli bacteria.
COMPREHENSIVE Water Test
Arsenic, Chloride, Copper, Flouride, Hardness, Iron, Lead, Manganese,
Nitrate, Nitrite, pH, Radon in Water, Sodium
Any presence of Coliform and E.Coli bacteria.
VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds)
A spectral absorption scan examines for the presence of any volatile
compounds such as gasoline, solvents and chemicals.
Additional Tests I Get Asked About
Fluoride Some parents give their children fluoride tablets to prevent tooth
decay. Fluoride can occur naturally in well water and if present, would allow
you to possibly stop the supplements.
Arsenic The former acceptable maximum level for Arsenic had been 0.05
mg/l. The EPA has recently reduced the maximum level to 0.01 mg/l. (An
80% reduction) Wells that had met the earlier standard may no longer
meet the new standard. One solution for high Arsenic would be the
installation of a Point of Use Reverse Osmosis filter under the kitchen
sink.
Radon Deep well water that flows through rock can bring Radon into the
air at any faucet in the house. Currently there are no National Standards for
the maximum amount that can be in water. Exposure is not easily
determined because it is not directly due to just the concentration of radon
in the water, rather it depends on the concentration and how much water is
brought into the house each day.
Many home buyers test for Radon in Water. It is the interpretation of the test
results that is difficult.
Radon in Water Guidelines that nearby States
have adopted:
MAINE 20,000 pCi/l
MASSACHUSETTS 10,000 pCi/l
VERMONT 5,000 pCi/l
NEW HAMPSHIRE www.des.state.nh.us/factsheets/ws/ws-3-12.htm
Explanation of Radon in Water
Generally it is agreed that 10,000 pCi/l in water releases 1pCi/l into the air
The EPA guideline for Radon in Air is a maximum of 4 pCi/l.
(4pCi/l is 4 pico Curies per liter of air...... pico is a trillionth)
The 20,000 pCi/l guideline for water in Maine balances the 2 pCi/l of radon
in a home coming from the water with 2 pCi/l of radon entering into the
basement from the soil and rock beneath the house. Maine looks at the
combination of both routes that radon enters a home.
The State of New Hampshire has no enforced Standards for private well
drinking water. Many towns have minimum standards (no bacteria) for new
construction.
The NH DES (Dept of Environmental Services) does recommend that
private wells be tested with some regularity and they do have a list of
recommended tests at their web site
NH DES Water Information
EPA Safe Water Standards
NH DES Water Information Fact Sheets
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