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Waterborne infectious diseases which are spread through contaminated
drinking water, are caused by a number of different bacteria, viruses, and/or
protozoa (one-celled animals) which have found their way into the water
supply. Some of the most common diseases include diarrheas, dysenteries,
salmonellosis, hepatitis, and giardiasis. Symptoms vary, the most common
being nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, with or without fever. It is not unusual
for a case of waterborne disease to be mistaken for food poisoning or a
"24-hour flu bug." All major waterborne diseases are spread in the same way
- by drinking water that has become contaminated by infection or waste. The
same diseases are also directly transmitted "hand to mouth" when good
sanitary practices, like hand washing, are not followed. It often takes only a
small number of disease organisms to make someone sick. Contaminated
drinking water can look, smell, and taste fine.
Generally, groundwater aquifers are free of disease-causing organisms
because water is filtered by upper layers of soil and rock as it soaks into the
ground. Maintaining and protecting the purity of well water is essential and
must include proper well construction, proper well maintenance, prompt
sealing of unused wells, and regular water testing.
Proper well construction is regulated in the state of Texas, requiring well
drillers to strictly adhere to rigid standards of construction and location.
Wells must be separated from sources of contamination such as sewers and
septic systems. When wells are drilled disinfectant chlorine must be added to
the drilling fluid, and the well casing must be made of approved materials and
assembled watertight. In addition, the space between the drill hole and the
well casing must be grouted watertight with a slurry of special clay or cement.
The top of the well must extend at least 12 inches above the ground surface
and be covered with an approved watertight well cap or seal. Many old wells
do not meet sanitary standards for well construction and location, or they
have deteriorated to the point where they can no longer keep surface
contaminants out of the water. Such unsafe wells, which includes old dug
wells with leaking walls and rotten boards for covers, wells that are located in
lower areas and are susceptible to flooding, wells with holes corroded through
the casing, and wells located too close to contamination sources such as
sewers or septic systems, can present a very real health threat to anyone
drinking the water and need to be properly sealed by a licensed well
contractor and replaced with a new, properly constructed well.
Proper well maintenance on modern drilled wells requires remarkably little
regular maintenance. It is important, however, to protect the top of the
casing from physical damage, especially from bumping by cars or tractors,
riding mowers, etc. It is also extremely important to leave the well cap
securely fastened and the entry point for the pump wiring to be properly
sealed. Disinfect the well with chlorine any time it is opened up for service.
To further protect your well from chemical contamination, store all household
chemicals, such as paint, gasoline, lawn and agriculture and other household
chemicals, as far as possible from the well.
Sealing of unused wells by a state licensed well contractor, is required by
state law if the wells are not/cannot be restored to service, or are being
maintained under a state issued annual maintenance permit. Unused,
unsealed, wells provide an open channel for disease organisms and other
contaminants to travel deep into the ground, by-passing the natural filtration
which occurs when water moves through soil and rock.
Regular water testing of private water wells should be done at least once
every year. New wells can operate form many years without showing signs
of bacterial contamination, but there are no guarantees. It is also wise to test
well water any time the water changes in taste, odor or appearance.
drinking water, are caused by a number of different bacteria, viruses, and/or
protozoa (one-celled animals) which have found their way into the water
supply. Some of the most common diseases include diarrheas, dysenteries,
salmonellosis, hepatitis, and giardiasis. Symptoms vary, the most common
being nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, with or without fever. It is not unusual
for a case of waterborne disease to be mistaken for food poisoning or a
"24-hour flu bug." All major waterborne diseases are spread in the same way
- by drinking water that has become contaminated by infection or waste. The
same diseases are also directly transmitted "hand to mouth" when good
sanitary practices, like hand washing, are not followed. It often takes only a
small number of disease organisms to make someone sick. Contaminated
drinking water can look, smell, and taste fine.
Generally, groundwater aquifers are free of disease-causing organisms
because water is filtered by upper layers of soil and rock as it soaks into the
ground. Maintaining and protecting the purity of well water is essential and
must include proper well construction, proper well maintenance, prompt
sealing of unused wells, and regular water testing.
Proper well construction is regulated in the state of Texas, requiring well
drillers to strictly adhere to rigid standards of construction and location.
Wells must be separated from sources of contamination such as sewers and
septic systems. When wells are drilled disinfectant chlorine must be added to
the drilling fluid, and the well casing must be made of approved materials and
assembled watertight. In addition, the space between the drill hole and the
well casing must be grouted watertight with a slurry of special clay or cement.
The top of the well must extend at least 12 inches above the ground surface
and be covered with an approved watertight well cap or seal. Many old wells
do not meet sanitary standards for well construction and location, or they
have deteriorated to the point where they can no longer keep surface
contaminants out of the water. Such unsafe wells, which includes old dug
wells with leaking walls and rotten boards for covers, wells that are located in
lower areas and are susceptible to flooding, wells with holes corroded through
the casing, and wells located too close to contamination sources such as
sewers or septic systems, can present a very real health threat to anyone
drinking the water and need to be properly sealed by a licensed well
contractor and replaced with a new, properly constructed well.
Proper well maintenance on modern drilled wells requires remarkably little
regular maintenance. It is important, however, to protect the top of the
casing from physical damage, especially from bumping by cars or tractors,
riding mowers, etc. It is also extremely important to leave the well cap
securely fastened and the entry point for the pump wiring to be properly
sealed. Disinfect the well with chlorine any time it is opened up for service.
To further protect your well from chemical contamination, store all household
chemicals, such as paint, gasoline, lawn and agriculture and other household
chemicals, as far as possible from the well.
Sealing of unused wells by a state licensed well contractor, is required by
state law if the wells are not/cannot be restored to service, or are being
maintained under a state issued annual maintenance permit. Unused,
unsealed, wells provide an open channel for disease organisms and other
contaminants to travel deep into the ground, by-passing the natural filtration
which occurs when water moves through soil and rock.
Regular water testing of private water wells should be done at least once
every year. New wells can operate form many years without showing signs
of bacterial contamination, but there are no guarantees. It is also wise to test
well water any time the water changes in taste, odor or appearance.
GROUND WATER CONTAMINANTS
Lone Star
Water Wells
LONE STAR WATER WELLS