Drink Local: All About Your Well Water
New to having a well? Or curious about changes in odor and taste? Rest assured: With its small population and zoning that maintains ample lot size, Clinton does not have significant problems with its water supply or quality, according to Kurt Reiner, the owner of Aqua King, who has provided service to wells in the town for 25 years. Yet since all of Clinton’s homes do rely on private wells, there are a few things you should know.
TEST YOUR WATER. You are not legally required to test your water, but it’s smart to test it before you buy a property and regularly once you own it. The New York State Department of Health recommends testing yearly for Ecoli bacteria and every 3-5 years for other water components. You can look at the drinking water section of health.ny.gov for information about testing and finding a certified lab where you can take or send your water. Currently, there are none close to Clinton. Reiner recommends Environmental Lab Works in Marlboro, north of Newburgh. Whether you take your water there or send it elsewhere, you can request a homeowner’s panel, which will test for a wide range of bacteria, minerals and other components. Over-the-counter home test kits are not very accurate and don’t test for Ecoli.
ABOUT THE BAD STUFF: There is a lot of harmless bacteria in water. Ecoli, coliform bacteria that comes from animal waste, is the only bacteria that is of real concern because it could cause illness, although it is rare that people get sick from drinking their well water. If your well was dug before around 1980, it may be shallower than one dug later and therefore more prone to taking in surface water and the bacteria in it. Bacteria also tends to build up when a house is vacant for period of time and the water is not running. If coliform bacteria is found in your water, you can install a filter with a UV light that will kill it.
HARD OR SOFT? The water in Clinton tends to be hard—high in magnesium and calcium—because of the calcium carbonate in the underlying limestone. These minerals can be good for your health, but hard water is not as good for cleaning and may cause staining of clothes and dishes. A water softener using a small amount of sodium can be installed if hard water is a concern. Softening also removes iron and manganese, two other minerals that can cause discoloration.
TASTE AND ODOR: A sulfur odor is quite common in Clinton’s water. It is caused by bacteria acting on the sulfur in the water. There is filter for this, too. Sometimes, there are subtle tastes and odors, maybe earthy or metallic. These are usually caused by changing elements in the water or harmless bacteria. If the taste or odor bothers you, you can have a professional flush your system with chlorine bleach or advise you on how to do it.
BETTER THAN BOTTLED: It’s easy to think bottled water is somehow safer for you than the water from your own backyard, but this is not the case. The quality of bottled water varies widely depending on the source and how frequently it has been tested. Sometimes, it is just tap water from somewhere else. Also of concern are the discarded plastic bottles in our environment and the micro plastics from them that are increasingly being discovered in our bodies. Better to drink local and know for sure what you are getting.
