Missing out isn’t always bad.
In fact, missing out is one of the major benefits of well water. You get to miss out on the utility costs, and you also get to skip the treatments we see in public water supplies.
It may not be completely noticeable, but a well can have a massive effect on what does (and doesn’t) come out of the tap.
The Benefits of Well Water
Well water enters your system in its natural state, unaffected by any chemicals or conditioning. It takes due diligence, but if you follow EPA guidelines, you can enjoy all of the health benefits of a custom water well installation.
Well water is not pure. Private wells are exposed to a variety of environmental contaminants, including the following:
- Bacteria, viruses, and parasites
- Sediment
- Runoff from fertilizers and sewage
- Heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, and copper
While all of that may sound bad, you can control contaminants like these with the right well water filter.
Well water filters come in many shapes and sizes, giving you complete control over choosing the right filtration power. Filtration needs will vary based on the depth of the well, the contaminants that are present, and how you plan to use the water.
Filter Types
Sediment filtration systems are standard with most wells, a critical initial treatment to remove sand, rust, metals, and other particles. This filter helps remove large materials that could clog finer filtration systems down the line.
Activated carbon filters remove pesticides, heavy metals, and many types of bacteria. If you have a high number of VOCs in your well water, absorption filters do a great job at cleaning them out.
Reverse osmosis filters do not remove VOCs, but they do an excellent job with toxic metals and fluoride. The system uses a semipermeable, charged membrane to separate water from dissolved contaminants.
Water softeners are ideal for individuals with hard water, and they can also help reduce metals in it. Softer water is better at rinsing off soap and reducing scale, helping your pipes and appliances last longer. Infrared versions are available to soften water while killing bacteria, but they don’t remove metal.
Distillation filters heat water into vapor, letting the steam continue through the system while leaving solids behind. The high heat also kills off micro-organisms.
Resin filters are long-lasting filters designed to remove iron and certain other harmful metals.
Ultraviolet filters are used exclusively for killing bacteria. It’s best to use these alongside carbon and other types of filters that remove sediments and dissolved solids. With any of these filter types, you can integrate additional filters into your line to give you even more control over what you filter.
The drilling process can add contaminants to otherwise clean well water. No matter who drills the well, how deep it goes, or what filter you use, you need to test your well water. Tests can reveal if your well water quality is safe from coliform bacteria, nitrates, chemicals, and other harmful substances.
You can test your water through an at-home test kit, your county health department, or a certified testing lab. Labs can be expensive, but they are the ideal route for pinpoint accuracy and custom testing. If they find harmful contaminants, they can also often help you find solutions to your problem.
Better Water = Better Taste
Despite its imperfection, well water can actually be better than pure water if you filter it correctly and test it annually. It’s not all contaminants. Well water also boasts a wealth of minerals that add an enjoyable taste.
Calcium, sodium, magnesium, and bicarbonate are all commonly found in natural sources like wells, adding flavor and essential nutrients. These same minerals are a major part of the reason that many people prefer spring water above all else.
It gets more expensive, but as you drill deeper wells, the aquifers feeding them will often supply more minerals. While your well water filter may strip away all of the bad stuff, you end up with mineral-rich, flavorful water flowing from your faucet, which could help your health even further.
How Does Well Water Help Me Stay Healthy?
It stands to reason that if something tastes better, you’ll likely drink it more often. With quality coming from the tap, you can expect to enjoy more glasses of water and the benefits that come with them.
Drinking water can help you manage your weight because it helps you feel fuller. Enjoying a glass before a meal can help you feel satisfied without the extra calories.
Water is essential for the peak performance of three major organs — your brain, heart, and skin.
Drinking plenty of water helps your heart in several ways. Staying hydrated helps maintain your blood pressure and heart rate, reducing the risk of heart attacks or strokes.
Proper hydration is crucial for your brain function. By drinking more water, you improve your focus and memory.
Water not only helps you feel good, but it helps you look good too! Hydration removes toxins from your body inside and out, giving your skin a healthy glow and fewer wrinkles. Just below the skin, your joint and muscles benefit from less inflammation and fewer aches and pains.
What’s Wrong With Public Water?
City water quality can vary, and it is actually extremely high quality in many areas. To a certain degree, city water can be more reliable than well water. Unlike well water, public water has to pass strict quality standards to ensure it doesn’t have dangerous contaminant levels.
A major benefit of well water over public water is control.
For one, there’s peace of mind in knowing that your well water is less susceptible to tampering than public water. More importantly, you get to avoid all of the additives that show up in public water as part of the standard treatment process.
To provide water on a massive scale, water authorities add chlorine and fluoride to their water. Chlorine in particular is essential for health reasons, but it does not do amazing things for flavor. Most complaints about water taste come from these additives, which are hard to overcome if you are connected to public water.
Is a Well Right for You?
Given the financial and health benefits of well water, it could be the right solution for anybody. If you’re ready to take control over your water, it’s time to talk with an installer.
Our techs at Blair Norris take pride in being the premier water well installers in Indiana. With over 100 years of combined experience, our team is prepared to offer the most effective and efficient service to meet your water goals. For information on how we can help transform your water quality, contact us today.
