Commonly Asked Questions

At Clear Water Pump and Well Service we want to keep you as informed as possible. Below are a bunch of documents and articles that explain basic well information around the dangers, how to protect your family and much more. Many of the articles are written by creditable sources such as the EPA, DEP and others. Please let us know if you have any questions or have some articles to add. The more informed our customers are, the safer we feel.

What should know about my private water well?

If you have a private well, then water quality testing should be important to you and your family.

Some contaminants in drinking water have been linked to cancer and toxicity, posing a risk to human health. Many contaminants often have no taste, odor, or color. Their presence can only be determined by laboratory testing.

While there is no state requirement to have your well water tested (although there may be from your mortgage lender or local Board of Health), the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) recommends that all homeowners with private wells do so, and use a state certified laboratory.

> Important private water well information from MassDEP

What kind of private water well do I own?

There are three types of private drinking water wells: dug, driven, and drilled. Proper well construction and continued maintenance are keys to the safety of your water supply. Your state water-well contractor licensing agency, local health department, or local water system professional can provide information on well construction. The well should be located so rainwater flows away from it. Rainwater can pick up harmful bacteria and chemicals on the lands surface. If this water pools near your well, it can seep into it, potentially causing health problems. Water-well drillers and pump-well installers are listed in your local phone directory. The contractor should be bonded and insured. Make certain your ground water contractor is registered or licensed in your state, if required. If your state does not have a licensing/registration program contact the National Ground Water Association.

> Types of private water wells

How often should I test my well water?

DEP recommends that prospective home buyers test the water in a home with a private well before purchase. Water quality in wells is generally stable, and if a change is going to occur, it occurs slowly. Thus the interval between water quality tests, once you’ve purchased the home, can generally be in terms of years (see chart) if a well is properly constructed and located in a safe area.

> Water well testing guide

Drinking water from household wells

If your family gets drinking water from your own well, do you know if your water is safe to drink? All of us need clean water to drink. We can go for weeks without food, but only days without water. Contaminated water can be a threat to anyone’s health, but especially to young children. About 15 percent of Americans have their own sources of drinking water, such as wells, cisterns, and springs. Unlike public drinking water systems serving many people, they do not have experts regularly checking the water’s source and its quality before it is sent through pipes to the community.

> Drinking from private water wells

What should I do if I have water and rust stains?

Clear Water Well & Pump will inspect and analyze your water stains to determine the chemical balance and root of your problem. We’ll be able to offer you affordable solutions to remove and prevent your well water from future staining.