Well Water Treatment Needed?

[AniScati]

Well driller, plumber and I each had water analysis done. Plumber & driller have provided different recommendations for treating the water. What would you do?

Test 1
Hardness: 5
PH: 6.8
Iron: 1(brown)
grit present

Test 2
Hardness: 5.15 gpg as CaCo3
PH: 8.05
TDS:280ppm as CaCO3
Iron: 0.00
Manganese: .08 ppm as Mn

Test 3
Hardness: 74mg/L
PH: 7.39
Alkalinity: 72.mg/L
TDS: 0.129 mg/L
Iron: 0.20mg/K
Manganese: 0.07 mg/L
Nitrate: 0.107 mg/L
Copper: 0.149 mg/L

 

[oldVermonter]

I'd like to know what the specific recommendations were. Meanwhile, a few thoughts:

1. Copper, manganese, and nitrate are well within safe drinking water guidelines, no problem there.
   
   
2. The pH values are quite a bit different between the three tests. 6.8 is slightly acidic, 7.39 is slightly alkaline, and 8.05 is rather alkaline. But all within recommended range, in any case.
   
   
3. Hardness is consistent among the three tests, somewhat elevated. Leaving hardness untreated represents no health risk, but drinking softened water can add a lot of sodium to your diet (if you use an ion-exchange softener).
   
   
4. TDS is quite different between tests 2 and 3. For this test, ppm is the same as mg/L, so test 2 shows over double the TDS of test 3. Does the water taste salty? If not, it's not a problem either way.
   
   
5. Has a test been run for coliform bacteria? If not, you need one. Your county (or state) health department may be able to provide you with a test kit.

Net: nothing so far suggests any health concerns (assuming zero coliform). At this point, I would say any treatment is for convenience only.

Don

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Bannerman]

Which test do you believe?

What would you do?

Get a real lab water test performed. National Labs offer a Standard Well package that is comprehensive.

http://watercheck.myshopify.com/?aff=5

 

[AniScati]

Thank you.

Test 1: Taken by the well driller, reported on their company letter head. Driller recommended an iron removal system and softener
Test 2: Taken by plumber, analyzed by CSI Water. Plumber is recommending nothing, or maybe a softener
Test 3: Taken by me, analyzed by local lab per recommendation of local coop extension. It included far more details, including coliform.

My take was the only thing of concern is the manganese, and from what I've read an iron filter is the recommended solution for that. However, I've read that, while not ideal, a softener can mitigate some manganese and obviously soften the marginally hard water. The iron filter seems like less trouble, and doesn't introduce sodium.

Seems like the plumber is probably right, but would you have any concerns or special considerations regarding the softener treating the manganese?