How do I test my well water in Virginia?
Another source is the Virginia Household Water Quality Program administered through the Virginia Cooperative Extension, which offers low cost annual water well testing/drinking water clinics at various locations throughout Virginia. In most cases, you can collect a sample of your tap water yourself.
Is it safe to drink water in Virginia?
It is no longer safe to drink untreated water from any surface source in Virginia. The days when water could be piped directly from a river or a spring to houses, without concern about quality, are gone.
Can you drink tap water in Virginia?
Tap water in Northern Virginia might meet legal standards, but that doesn’t mean it’s safe. The legal limit of some of the contaminants in Northern Virginia’s drinking water is over a hundred times higher than the health standards recommended by scientists, and some chemicals aren’t regulated at all.
How can I test the quality of my water at home?
Often county health departments will help you test for bacteria or nitrates. If not, you can have your water tested by a state certified laboratory. You can find one in your area by calling the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791 or visiting www.epa.gov/safewater/labs.
How long do wells last in Virginia?
Virginia soils can keep water for up to two weeks, before evapotranspiration sucks all the moisture from near the surface. Suburban gardeners and farmers across the state are well aware of the days between rains.
What tests should I do on my well water?
At a minimum, check your well every spring to make sure there are no mechanical problems; test it once each year for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids, and pH levels. If you suspect other contaminants, you should test for those as well.
How deep is the water table in Virginia?
15-30 feet
In Virginia, a well driller might encounter the water table at 15-30 feet. Typically wells intended to supply single family residences are drilled much deeper, to ensure an adequate flow of water from the saturated zone into the well bore.
How deep are water wells in Virginia?
How Deep Are Water Wells In Virginia? A Virginia household’s drinking water well is usually drilled 70-400 feet deep. Industrial or municipal wells are deep-boring to ensure that the water flows more easily.
Can you drill your own well in Virginia?
Well Drillers Private citizens can legally dig or drill their own well in Virginia if they have obtained a building permit, but most wells are constructed by contractors.
How does DEQ monitor water quality in Virginia?
As waterways are cleaned up and restored, DEQ begins the monitoring cycle again. Through this iterative process, water quality continually improves, giving a better understanding of the overall health of Virginia’s waters. Water quality standards: How DEQ designates a waterbody as healthy or impaired.
Where can I get a well test in Virginia?
Another source is the Virginia Household Water Quality Program administered through the Virginia Cooperative Extension, which offers low cost annual water well testing/drinking water clinics at various locations throughout Virginia. Your next question might be what do these results mean?
What are the water quality standards in Virginia?
Water quality standards: How DEQ designates a waterbody as healthy or impaired. Standards include specific criteria set to protect the designated uses for Virginia’s surface waters — namely, aquatic life, fish consumption, shell fishing, recreation, public water supply and wildlife.
Should I be concerned about groundwater protection in Virginia?
All Virginians should be concerned about groundwater protection and private well owners need to be vigilant about threats to their water supply.