If you have a drinking well, you must keep it maintained to prevent issues. With good care, a drinking well can provide lots of clean water for a long time. If you would like to know more about causes of well and well water problems, keep reading.

1. Direct Damage

Direct damage may come from natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes. If a tree is too close to the well, the roots may damage it as they try to reach the water. In some cases, the regular wear and tear or improper installation can lead to cracks or problems with seals.

Direct damage to the well can cause major problems including:

These may lead to strange odors and murky water. Some contaminants like bacteria and arsenic can make your family sick. Other contaminates like silt may not cause harm, but they can impact the quality of your drinking water.

2. Hard Water

Hard water contains high levels of dissolved minerals. Hard water is not usually considered dangerous, but it can affect the taste and quality of well water. Because hard water usually contains high levels of calcium and magnesium, hard water often leaves a residue on you or your dishes. On clear glasses, you can spot it by looking for a powdery coating.

Other signs of hard water include:

According to the World Health Organization, hard water may actually be beneficial because it ensures you get plenty of calcium and magnesium in your body. However, if you want to fix your hard water issues, you can with a water softener filtration system.

3. Low pH Levels

The pH level refers to how acidic or base a substance is, including water. Acidic substances like battery acid have the lowest pH at 0, and liquid drain cleaners have the highest pH at 14. A pH of 7 is usually considered neutral, but your drinking water's pH can sit a little above or below pH 7.

If the water is too acidic, however, it can lead to some issues. As acidic water runs through the pipes, it leeches metals and chemicals into the water, which can lead to contamination. Luckily, you can correct low pH levels with a neutralizer.

4. Low Water Level

Low water levels can lead to two main problems. First, low water levels may prevent any water from reaching your faucets. Second, if the well can pump water, it may pull up a lot of silt and soil. Other signs of low water level include sputtering faucets and low water pressure.

Water levels may drop during a drought or on the hottest days in summer. Typically, this problem will correct itself after the temperature drops or it rains. You may need to reduce your water usage during this time.

In some cases, the water level may drop because the filtration system that filters out contaminates becomes clogged. In this case, you'll need to have the system cleaned or repaired. In rare cases, the water drops because the groundwater runs out.

Drinking wells are a great way to reduce or eliminate your city water bill. They do require more maintenance on your part, but with good care, your well can provide clean, fresh, healthy water. If you've noticed something wrong with your well, or you want a good inspection,   contact us  at Brown and Cox today.