It’s recommended that you test your water if you notice any changes in water quality. As a well owner, you should look out for these changes and take corrective action as soon as you notice an issue.

It’s not only your water’s appearance, smell, color and taste that you should monitor. Changes in the area around the well, or within the well system itself, could affect your water quality without you knowing.

Make sure you’re familiar with how your well looks and operates when it’s working properly. Visually inspect your well and the surrounding area regularly.

There are several indicators for when your water well system should be looked at by a professional:

• The well has to be opened, and the cap removed
• Your water quality has changed
• Your well doesn’t produce as much water as it used to
• You test your water and results are positive for coliform bacteria
• There are defects in the wellhead or other components of the well, and you don’t have the tools or the knowledge to address these defects

If something doesn’t look right, call a professional for a second opinion.