Does my Private Well have E. coli?
Concerned that your private well might be harboring bacteria like E. coli? Many homeowners share this worry, but the good news is that testing for Total Coliform Bacteria like E. coli is both simple and affordable.
What is E. coli?
E. coli, or Escherichia coli is a type of fecal coliform bacteria. It is a name used to describe many strains. Like how the “flu” is actually many different viruses under one name.
E. coli falls under the category of a “Total Coliform Bacteria” which is a group of microorganisms often found in water. One of these groups will be fecal coliform bacteria which comes from the feces of animals and people. If you are testing for Total Coliform, this will also let you know if you have E. coli.
How would E. coli get into my well?
Because E. coli is often found in the soil or surface water due to animal feces or animal remains, rainwater can wash it into your well. Modern wells are designed to prevent this, but if it isn’t designed properly or is damaged, these dangerous bacteria can still get into your water source.
Is E. coli in my well dangerous?
E. coli on its own may give you symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and fatigue. But it may also be harmless.
E. coli is typically a warning sign that you have feces or sewage wastes in your well water. These often will have bacteria and organisms that can make you and your family sick.
This is why a Total Coliform test can tell you if your home’s water well is compromised in some way. And if you need to take action to make your well safe to drink from again.
The symptoms you could get from these other bacteria can vary but a few of them include diarrhea and vomiting. Your water may have discoloration or a smell with bacteria, but there is no guarantee you’ll be able to notice a difference with taste, smell, or visually.
How do I test for Total Coliform?
If you are concerned about your private well having Total Coliform bacteria, we recommend the Safe Home Bacteria Test Kit. This kit will test for Total Coliform Bacteria, which includes E. coli. This test only requires a 24-hour incubation where you may get your first result, but the test will work for up to 72 hours. You can easily perform the test yourself at your home. And it is accurate enough to detect a single organism.
Because you may not be able to detect bacteria with your senses, the CDC recommends testing your well water at least once a year for Total Coliform Bacteria. Here are the CDC recommendations for testing your well water.
https://www.cdc.gov/drinking-water/safety/guidelines-for-testing-well-water.html
What if my Well does have Bacteria?
If your private well does have Total Coliform, there are a few methods you can use to remove it. The simplest is shock chlorination. This involves disinfecting the well by adding a large amount of chlorine to the entire system. Hopefully removing any harmful bacteria.
While shock chlorination is a great tool to remove E. coli, if there is a structural problem with the well then the bacteria may return. If you use shock chlorination, we recommend testing your well again after a month, especially if you have had heavy rainfall in that period, to make sure the bacteria haven’t returned. If it has, then you may need to fix the well’s structure.
A licensed well contractor can help you identify the root of the problem. It may involve fixing the well cap with one that is vermin-proof, fixing the well lining, clearing out the area around the well of debris, or making a repair on the septic system itself.
Summary:
Ensuring the safety of your private well is essential to protecting the health of your household. Regular testing for E. coli and other bacteria is an easy and cost-effective way to monitor the quality of your water.
