THE SKILLINGS BLOG

Forty years ago, cities around the country began looking for ways to reduce air pollution and smog caused by vehicle traffic. One solution was MTBE, or methyl tertiary butyl ether, a colorless liquid added to gasoline across the country to make the fuel burn more efficiently. While this additive was effective in reducing air pollution, it quickly found its way into water across the region, prompting some states to ban MTBE altogether. MTBE has been found in the ground water of nearly every state and has contaminated about 20% of wells in New England.

If get your drinking water from a private well, it’s your responsibility to conduct an annual contamination test to ensure the quality of your water supply.  Contaminants are a reality when you own a private well. Sometimes, it’s easy to determine that you have a problem when your water looks, smells, or tastes “off”. But there are other water contaminants that offer no sign they’re there. Your water may taste, look and smell perfectly fine. Microbial and organic contaminants can’t always be detected by the five senses. Often, you have no indication until people in the community, sharing an aquifer begin to show signs of illness.

Running out of well water can be devastating for a homeowner. Drilling a new well to replace a well that’s run dry can be expensive, but isn’t always necessary. There are some ways you increase the flow of water from your well, even if you are experiencing low water levels.

While hydrofracking is a process that was originally developed by the oil and gas industry, it is much different than “hydraulic fracturing,” used in drilling today. Hydrofracking also known as hydrofracturing, is a safe and chemical-free method for increasing the flow of water within bedrock deep below the ground.

Real estate agents selling residential homes need to know that not all water wells are created equal. Depending on the age of the home’s well, the type of well and the geology surrounding the property, water quality can vary greatly from one home to another. There are no state regulations requiring water quality tests of private wells, but if the potential buyer – and the buyer’s agent – are savvy, they are going to ask about the quality of the well water.