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Cornell Program Reveals Well Water Contamination in Ontario County
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A well water safety program conducted in Ontario County revealed that over 60% of Ontario County private wells could be contaminated with unsafe levels of coliform bacteria. Conducted by Cornell Cooperative Extension and funded by a grant from the Water Resource Council, the 2004 program involved water safety tests of 138 private wells from throughout Ontario County. Private well owners who participated in the program were provided water tests at a discounted cost, an analysis of the findings, water safety information and consultation about how to mitigate potential risks.
Sixty-four percent of the wells tested had levels of coliform contamination above the accepted safety level. Coliform bacteria can cause nausea, diarrhea and other intestinal infections. Other serious contaminants were also discovered in some of the private wells. Eight percent of the wells had high levels of E. coli bacteria and 5% were contaminated with unsafe amounts of nitrates. E. coli can cause serious illness and may indicate that the well is contaminated with sewage. Nitrate contamination is especially threatening to infants less than six months old, as it is known to cause blue baby syndrome.
"These findings reveal a serious water safety problem with the private wells in our county," said Nancy Anderson, the program administrator at Cornell Cooperative Extension. "With this sample size it is fair to
say that 6 out of 10 private wells in the county probably have some level of contamination that should be
addressed. We estimate that there are as many as 10,000 private wells in the county so you can see how widespread the problem is."
Private wells are not regulated by any government authority, so it is the responsibility of the owner to assure the well water safety. But it appears that most private well owners are not doing a good job. Nearly half of the well owners in the 2004 program had never tested their wells or had not tested within the last 11 years.
Shallow or dug wells are most vulnerable to surface water contamination, especially when prolonged rain raises ground water levels. Drilled wells can be contaminated when casings are not properly sealed or when old casings rust and crack. Faulty well cap seals can also be a problem. Sometimes the problem can be the location of the well itself. For example, the active well could be too close to an unsealed abandoned well or too close to a septic system.
The first step in mitigating a problem is to inspect the well and correct all potential sources of contamination such as faulty seals and cracked casings. Shock chlorination will correct many problems, however a water treatment system may be required for persistent cases.
"Most contaminants are odorless and tasteless and we don't think about the safety of our water much when we turn on the faucet." says Nancy Anderson. "But this is about the health of our families and people need to be aware of the risks. Private wells should be tested and inspected every year."
The 2004 study is part of a multi-year program that has been funded by the Water Resource Council of Ontario County to raise awareness of well water safety and help residents mitigate the potential hazard. "Given the extent of this problem, we will be doubling the reach of the well water safety program in 2005," said Bob Pierce, Chairperson of the Water Resource Council. "But private well owners shouldn't wait until May for the 2005 program to start. They should be testing their wells now."
To get your well water tested contact Midstate Environmental Laboratories in Clifton Springs at 315-462-7760, www.midstatelabs.com or LSL Midlakes in Canandaigua at 585-396-0270, www.lsl-inc.com. For more information about well water safety and testing call Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ontario County at 585-394-3977 extension 38 or visit its website at www.cce.cornell.edu/ontario. Information is also available on websites for the Environmental Protection Agency, www.epa.gov/safewater, and the National Groundwater Association, www.ngwa.org.
"Cornell Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities."
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