Well water monitoring

RalphVa · Joined: 07 Mar 2008 Posts: 742 Location: Central Va

We recently got a call here at the hort helpdesk about house plants dying after a water softener was installed.

Another problem with well water happened at our house. Seems our water pH has been going down. Went from 8.0 about 2000ish to 7.2 about 2005ish to 6.2 this year. We have copper pipes; so, we've scheduled to have a plumber install a water neutralizer tank system next Monday. This system will just add some calcium carbonate to raise the pH and put a little bit more hardness (now down to 2) in the water.

Well water treatment can change both the pH and chemical content of your house water. You need to either use water straight from the well or after the treatment (depending on what testing shows) or use distilled water (or condensed from a dehumidifier) on your plants.

I went to a well water treatment seminar where they showed us how to chlorine treat your well water, necessary if the well pump has been pulled or even if you just changed out a water filter and didn't use good practices. They recommended using a water testing company to test your water for coloform(sp?), etc. every so often.

So, watch your water. It gives life but can also kill.
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Ralph
The natural gardener
God's original intent

EvaN · Joined: 12 Feb 2008 Posts: 317

Ralph, that is great info. Thanks for sharing!
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I intend to live forever. So far, so good.

RalphVa · Joined: 07 Mar 2008 Posts: 742 Location: Central Va

Another thing to monitor is the pH of your well water, PARTICULARLY IF YOU HAVE COPPER PIPES. Our well water went from 8.0 in about 2001 to 7.2 in about 2005 to 6.2 recently. So, we promptly installed a calcium carbonate bed. It's in the same type of device that is used for water softening, just a column filled with the appropriate chemical or zeolite with a timer and backflush capability. Ours just has calcium carbonate in it. Backflushing is done periodically to fluff the bed to make sure it doesn't channel.

My theory is that all the rain we got in 2009 caused more of the nearer surface water (no symptoms of any problem with the way the well was drilled and sealed), which is acidic around here, has gone into the well, overcoming the previously basic water.
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Ralph
The natural gardener
God's original intent

greatbackyard · Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 5:47 pm Post subject:

Thanks for all the details. I know this will come in handy!