Back-siphonage is when water flows in the opposite direction to the direction it usually travels. Back-siphonage is one of the biggest private well issues as it can cause contaminated water to be drawn back into a supply of clean water.

An essential water well maintenance task is to check for back-siphonage and amend the problem if there is one. Back-siphonage is often caused by negative pressure in the waterline, which could indicate that an area of your well system is damaged or broken.

You should call a water well contractor and help them determine where the negative pressure is coming from. A simple solution is to install a backflow preventer valve. If there’s an issue with the well itself, your contractor will need to carry out repairs or replacements.