Lesson 2 - Test Your Drinking Water Information Sheet
Acknowledgement: Taken from "Living on the Land 2001"

Test your drinking water if any of the following has occurred:

• Water has an undesirable taste or smell

• Water leaves scaly residues and soap scum, or stains plumbing fixtures or laundry

• Water is cloudy or colored

• Pipes show signs of corrosion

• Water supply equipment wears out rapidly, including pumps or water heaters

• You are considering the purchase of water treatment equipment

• You want to check the performance of existing water treatment equipment

• Anyone in the household has recurrent gastrointestinal illnesses

• You are purchasing a new home, and want to know if the water supply is of good quality

• You have drilled a new well, and want to know if the water is safe to drink

• You are pregnant, are planning a pregnancy, or have an infant less than 6 months old

• Your well does not meet construction codes

• Your well is in or close to a livestock confinement area, such as a corral or feeding area

• You have mixed or used pesticides near the well, or have spilled pesticides or fuel near the well

• You have a heating oil tank near the well that you know has leaked

• Back-siphoning has occurred

• Your well is located near a gas station or fuel storage tank, retail chemical facility, gravel pit, mining operation, oil or gas drilling operation, dump, landfill, junkyard, factory, dry-cleaning business, road-salt storage area, or heavily salted road

• Your septic system absorption field or your neighbor’s is close to the well (within 100 feet)

• The area around the wellhead has been flooded or submerged

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