Guides for private well owners.
Guides for private well owners: why the water smells like sulfur, how often to test, what to test for, and what the real health risks from arsenic, nitrate, and bacteria are. Every figure traces back to the EPA's drinking water limits or the USGS domestic-wells program, so you can check any claim yourself.
Well water that smells like rotten eggs: what the sulfur smell means and what to test
That smell is hydrogen sulfide gas. The clue that tells you where it comes from is which taps smell: hot water only points to your water heater, cold and hot at every tap points to the well. Here is how to test.
How often should you test your private well water?
The CDC and EPA both say test at least once a year for bacteria and nitrate, plus a wider panel every few years. Here is the full schedule and the events that mean you should test sooner.
What to test your well water for: the priority panel
A "test everything" lab panel can run hundreds of dollars, most of it irrelevant to your area. Here is the short list that matters for almost every well, and how to decide what to add.
Arsenic in well water: the health risk and how to test for it
Arsenic is odorless, tasteless, and naturally present in some bedrock. It is one of the few well contaminants linked to cancer at low levels. Why the EPA limit is 10 ppb, and how to check yours.
Nitrate in well water and the risk to infants
Nitrate above the EPA limit of 10 mg/L can cause a dangerous condition in babies under six months. Where it comes from, why infants are uniquely at risk, and how to test.
Bacteria and coliform in wells: what a positive test really means
A positive coliform test is common and rarely means your water is making you sick, but it is a warning worth acting on. What total coliform and E. coli each tell you, and what to do next.
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