THE SKILLINGS BLOG

In New England, it is not uncommon for a home to draw its water from a private well. Depending on the state and town you live in, well water may actually be the prevalent method for providing water to homes in your community. According to the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, 46 percent of state residents draw water from a private well. Compare this to the national average of 15 percent, and it’s clear that people in the business of selling homes must know their stuff when it comes to private water wells.

If you own a home with a residential water well or private residential water system, having a good relationship with a well service and water system company can ensure proper long-term care of the system and provide a little peace of mind if an emergency should arise.

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.

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.