Keeping the family farm going

Water quality is an important aspect to consider in your domestic and agricultural supply system. This will determine the practical usability of the water in the applications of the specific environment. In simple terms, this is a measure of the properties of water in relation to the usage requirements, including farming, watering animals, cleaning and drinking. It is important to maintain the physical, chemical and biological aspects of your water supply, especially if you are using a well. This is because there are no centralised distribution systems for the management process. Here are some guidelines on ensuring that the water quality in your wells is ideal and consistent.

Sampling and Testing

You should monitor the condition of your well water regularly so that you will identify problems before escalation. Simply speaking, the quality of water is compromised when normal elements accumulate in the water and interfere with the usability. The process of testing will help in observing the trends in the properties of the water. In addition, you should commission testing if there are warning signs of contamination. For example, odours, strange taste, scum residue on dishes and accumulation of scale are all signs of poor water quality. You should commission testing of the water for bacteria, nitrates, volatile organic compounds, pesticides, heavy metals and even radium. The testing laboratory can collect the samples, or you can purchase a testing kit for collecting the water.

Protect the Water

You should protect your well water from contaminants around and within your property. This refers to any materials that will affect the safety and even the performance of your supply. Pollutants can be drawn into the well from diverse places, so your protection strategy will depend on the potential materials that can flow into your well. You should keep away dangerous substances such as pesticides, paint, weed killers and fertilisers from the area around the well. If you must dilute these chemicals before application, consider using an outlet far from the ground water. Ensure that there are no cracks or even general damage in the well casing and caps. Additionally, seal abandoned wells and boreholes because they can contribute to contaminated water.

Shock Chlorination

Finally, you should commission treatment of your well water periodically. This will eliminate harmful bacteria and other microorganisms that contribute to poor water quality and well degradation. Basically, shock chlorination involves introduction of chlorine in the water to disinfect the well and distribution system. Common signs of harmful microorganisms include slime in the plumbing and unfavourable odours.