Articles · Topic
Articles about Well Water
13 articles across 3 sections
Section
Self-Reliance
Drinking Water Quality
What is actually in your tap water, how to read your Consumer Confidence Report, when to test privately, and how to address what you find.
Rural Acreage and Self-Reliance: What Land Actually Makes Possible
Five acres to a working farm, food production, well water, wood heat, and energy options available on rural land, plus EMS response times, infrastructure costs, and self-maintenance requirements.
Water Rights and Permits
Three separate bodies of law govern a micro-hydro project: the state right to use the water, federal energy jurisdiction under the Federal Power Act, and Clean Water Act permitting. Federal jurisdiction turns on where a project sits rather than how large it is, and there is a formal process for finding out where you stand.
Water Testing for Homeowners: What to Test For and When
When to test your water, what to test for, and how to find a certified lab. Covers well owners, municipal CCR reading, lead, bacteria, nitrates, PFAS, and what to do with the results.
Well Water Preparedness: Solving the Power Dependence Problem
43 million American households lose water when the power goes out. Generator sizing, hand pump backup, solar options, annual testing, and shock chlorination for well owners.
Whole-House Water Filtration: Treating Water at the Source
How whole-house water filtration works: sediment, carbon, iron/manganese/sulfur removal, water softening, and UV disinfection. System sizing by flow rate, the correct treatment order for well water, and when point-of-entry treatment is the right choice.
Section
Gear and Buying Guides
Bacteria Water Test Kits
Field bacteria test kits for drinking water: what coliform tests detect, their sensitivity limits vs. certified labs, EPA annual testing requirements for private wells, and what to do after a positive result.
Well Water Test Kits
Private well water testing: EPA minimum annual parameters (bacteria, nitrates, TDS, pH), when to test immediately, field kits vs. certified labs, and how to find free state health department testing.
Arsenic Water Test Kits
Arsenic occurs naturally in some groundwater and cannot be detected without testing. The EPA limit is 10 ppb. Field kits, lab options, and what to do if levels are high.
Lab Mail-In Water Test Kits
Certified lab testing is the most accurate way to know what is in your water. How mail-in kits work, what they cost, and when field strips are not enough.
Nitrate/Nitrite Water Test Strips
Test for nitrate and nitrite in well water. The EPA maximum contaminant level is 10 mg/L. Especially important for households with infants under six months.
Pesticide Water Test Kits
Test for agricultural chemical runoff in well water and collected surface water. What field kits detect, their limits, and when to use a certified lab instead.