Maintain your well and test your water

El Paso County Public Health is reminding well owners that regular water testing and well maintenance are important for several reasons:

• Well testing can alert you to contaminants such as fecal bacteria and nitrates.
• Regular maintenance can prevent costly emergency maintenance and prolong the life of the well and related equipment.
• Maintaining your well helps to protect ground water.

Ground water is water that fills wells from aquifers – natural reservoirs below earth’s surface – and is a substantial source of water. There are about 14,500 private wells in El Paso County that about 39,150 residents rely on for their water source.Maintaining your well not only protects your property and health, it protects the ground water, which is a vital local and national resource.Additional precautions to take to protect water quality:

• Keep hazardous chemicals such as paint, fertilizer, pesticides and motor oil far away from your well and maintain a “clean” zone of at least 100 feet between your well and any kennels or livestock operations.
• Periodically check the well cover or well cap on top of the well casing to ensure it is in good repair and securely attached. Its seal should keep out dirt, insects and rodents.

To learn more about well maintenance and water testing visit www.elpasocountyhealth.org