The Virginia Household Water Quality Program has issued their 2024 Annual Report on the Wells of Virginia. The below article highlights some of their insights. 2024vahwqpannua
The quality and safety of private wells are not regulated
under Federal nor, in most cases, state law. In Virginia regulations control
only construction and the absence of bacteria at the time of a well’s
completion. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Safe Drinking Water Act
does not regulate individual households. As a result, individual homeowners are
responsible for maintaining their own water supply and ensuring the quality of
the water for their family.
The Virginia Household Water Quality Program was, originally created in
1989, was relaunched in 2007 with a USDA grant. In 2011 the program was
expanded under another USDA grant to subsidize testing, quantify bacteria, add
metals, and begin research out of Virginia Tech. Now the program is self-sustaining
with clinics held in 90 of the 96 counties in 2024. The analysis is done by the
Virginia Tech laboratory and research utilizing the data is being pursued by
graduate students and staff.
In all the Virginia Household Water Quality Program clinics
the water samples are analyzed for: iron, manganese, nitrate, lead, arsenic,
fluoride, sulfate, pH, total dissolved solids, hardness, sodium, copper, total
coliform bacteria and E. Coli bacteria, and last year cost $65 in Prince
William County. These are mostly naturally occurring contaminants and common
sources of contamination: a poorly sealed well or a nearby leaking septic
system, or indications of plumbing system corrosion. Though not an exhaustive
list of potential contaminants, these are the most common contaminants that affect
drinking water wells.
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from VHWQP |
Though about 600,000 of Virginia households with 1,600,000
residents or 19% of the Virginia population have private wells, only 3,760 households
chose to participate in the Virginia Household Water Quality Program
clinic in 2024 and may not be representative of all private drinking water
wells in the Commonwealth. Nonetheless, the data collected over the past 18
years is the one of the largest databases on private drinking water wells
available. Well water quality is driven by geology, well construction and
condition, nearby sources of contamination, and, within the home, water
treatment devices and composition of plumbing materials.
Overall, the statewide sampling last year found that just
under 39% of the wells have coliform bacteria present, and almost 5% have E.
coli bacteria. Though almost 24% of wells were found to have acidic water (low
pH) about 6% of homes have first flush lead levels above the EPA safe drinking
water standard maximum contaminant level for lead and 8% for copper. Lead and
copper leach into water primarily because of corrosion of plumbing and well
components but can also result from flaking of scale from brass fittings and
well components unrelated to corrosion. Copper and lead predominately come from
the pipes and lead containing components in wells. Over time older pipes and
fixtures corrode or simply wear away and the lead and other corrosion material
(like rust) is carried to the drinking water. Time and water do cause
corrosion, but this can be aggravated by the pH of the water or other changes
in water chemistry. The amount of lead corroded from metal plumbing including
faucets with brass interiors generally increases with increasing water
corrosiveness.
About 37% of households have elevated sodium exceeding the
EPA Safe Drinking Water Act limit. This could be a result saltwater
infiltration from natural or man-made sources (like road salt) or could
indicate that water softeners are adding too much sodium to the water. Of the 3,760
participants in 2023, 37% report that they NEVER tested their water before and
31% had tested only once (presumably at purchase). About 49% of participants
have participated in the VAHWQP clinic before. Virginia Tech recommends
annual testing of well water to make sure it is safe to drink, and you have the
appropriate treatment system(s).
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