Is My Water Pure? Every so often another story appears about contaminated water. It might be PFAS chemicals, micro-plastics, lead or other hazards. Such stories usually produce headlines and it’s no wonder that bottled water sales are in the billions. Cities go to great lengths to purify their water but people are still skeptical and wonder if that water is really pure. Nearly all of the people reading this article rely on private wells or water metropolitan districts for their water. For us that water comes from deep in the ground, far away from pollutants. Our water has beneficial minerals but it tastes good and is better than the best water treatment system could ever produce. We are extremely fortunate in this regard.
A recent letter to the Gazette editor stated some researched facts that caught my attention. Right here in El Paso County, South Cheyenne Reservoir (a source for CSU water) had multiple e coli readings well above the EPA limit. That lake was recently closed for hikers and their dogs who liked to swim in the lake. Prospect Lake had blue-green algae toxins triple the safe level. Turkey Creek had high e coli readings after storms. Monument Creek tested for caffeine and acetaminophen which come from cold medicines. There are just so many chemicals all around us that it is impossible to keep them out of the surface water sources.
The El Paso County Health Department tests around 3000 wells per year in the county and recommends testing our private wells every year. I don’t think that frequency is necessary. Our aquifer water is so pure that only if you have concerns of color, odor, staining of sinks or taste should you spend money on a test. One of our neighbors tests his water annually and has never had a problem. However, if you wish to test your well go to the Citizen’s Service Center on Garden of the Gods Road up to the second floor at the Public Health Department and you will find a window to the water testing office. You can purchase a variety of testing packages but I recommend either the Real Estate package ($80 to test for nitrates, coliform and e coli) or the Quantitative Package ($25 that tests for and reports amounts of coliform and e coli) You can add more tests if you desire. The public health department will give you a sample bottle to collect your water and bring it back to them.
The most common tests are for coliform, e coli and nitrates. Nitrates are most common around agricultural land where they use fertilizers so that is not a problem for us. E coli is found in less than 1% of the wells. It is a bacterium that is harmful and requires treatment. Coliform is found in 3% of the wells and comes in about 20 different forms, most of them harmless and many that are part of our digestive system. The health department tests don’t tell you if the coliform they find is harmful or not. Coliform is usually found on the faucet and is everywhere in the air as well. I tested my well and cleaned the faucet outlet carefully with bleach before getting a sample and still had coliform. I tested a neighbor’s well and didn’t do anything to the faucet and there was no coliform. We have enjoyed great water for 30 years from our well so we just decided to accept the coliform. The solution for e coli or coliform is to pour chlorine down the well and then pump water for a few hours to disinfect it. This was required for our well when the pump was replaced and we had chlorine taste in the water for weeks. I don’t recommend it unless absolutely necessary or required and then only by a licensed well pump company. Pure water is a wonderful gift often taken for granted and we forget that many in the world do not enjoy this simple pleasure. Around the world, thousands die each year from contaminated water but have no other options. When a well is drilled that brings clean water to a village, the whole village is transformed both in spirit, productivity and longevity.We can be thankful that we don’t have serious problems like this in our country.
Quantity
In 1972, it was mandated that developers provide proof of adequate water supply that was available and the “quality, quantity and dependability was sufficient” (Guide to Colorado Well Permits, 2012). The State Engineers office then reviews this and decides whether there is adequate water supply. The El Paso County Regulation Board states that a developer must be able to prove enough water for 300 years. Developers do not need to prove that the water is actually capable of being extracted from an aquifer. Only a little over half of the water in the Denver Basin System is capable of being removed.
Quality
Residents in El Paso County can get their water tested for bacteria and other levels by collecting a sample. You can obtain and drop off a test kit at : The El Paso County Public Health 1675 West Garden of the Gods Road, Suite 2044 Colorado Springs, CO 80907 (719) 578-3120 MAP or you may pick up the kit at: Falcon Fire Station #3 (Bacteriological and Inorganic Anions) 7030 Old Meridian Road Falcon, CO 80831 719-495-4050 MAP (Samples must be returned to El Paso County Public Health Laboratory - see above)
Calculating The Flow Rate For A Well Generally speaking, the flow rate of a well is defined by the rate, measured in gallons per minute, that water can be extracted from the well. Measuring this calculation is a fairly simple task as long as you don't have a combination well pump and pressure tank. If you simply need to calculate the flow rate for a standard well, then follow these three steps:
Measure the flow of the well into a bucket.
Be sure to time the flow using an accurate stopwatch.
Divide the gallon size of the bucket by the number of seconds it took for the bucket to be filled, then multiply by 60. This will give you the flow rate measured in gallons per minute (gpm).
Let's say that you used a five-gallon bucket and that the bucket was filled in 45 seconds. Using the formula outlined above, your well flow rate would be: 5 gallons divided by 45 seconds x 60 = 6.6 gallons per minute.
If you have a well with a well pump and pressure tank, then you will need to use a different tactic.
Open a faucet until the pump turns on.
As soon as the pump turns on, close the faucet so that the pump can fill up the pressure tank. Once the pump has turned back off, begin step three.
Open the faucet into a five-gallon bucket (you may need more than one bucket). Measure the entirety of the water discharge before the pump turns back on.
As soon as the pump turns on, shut the faucet and use a stopwatch to time the pump cycle.
Make a note of the pump cycle time (round to the nearest second) once the pump has turned back off.
Divide the total number of gallons collected in step three by the number of seconds calculated in step five.
Multiply your answer from step six by 60 to calculate the average pumping capacity, or flow rate, of the pump in gallons per minute.
