How Location Affects Your Well Water Quality

About 15% of the US population relies on private wells for drinking water. However, that doesn’t mean groundwater across the country is the same. Groundwater’s taste, appearance, and odor can all differ significantly depending on your geographic location. The geology beneath a home’s surface, along with weather events and human activities, all contribute to groundwater, and therefore well water, quality.   

Why Location Matters for Well Water Quality

Understanding how location and geography affect well water is a good starting point for adequately safeguarding your water supply. By being aware of common contributing factors and potential hazards, you’ll be more prepared to find the right well water filtration system that helps keep your water safe to use and consume.  Learn More About Kind Water’s Well Water Filtration Systems   

How Geology and Geography Impact Water Quality

Groundwater collects under the earth in aquifers, geologic layers of soil, sand, and rocks. Because groundwater isn’t as openly exposed to impurities like surface water is, it often contains fewer contaminants. Different types of sediments and rock form aquifers, including gravel, sandstone, conglomerates, and fractured limestone. Aquifers act as a natural filter, forcingas they force water particles through small pores and between sediments, removing some substances from the water.  Coastal regions may experience saltwater intrusion into groundwater supplies. In contrast, mountainous areas might have naturally high-quality water with low contamination but high mineral content, leading to hard water. Excessive groundwater withdrawal for agriculture, industry, or growing populations can lower water tables, leading to increased contamination risk from shallow water sources. In some regions, overuse has led to land subsidence, further complicating groundwater quality and availability.  

Water Hardness

As mentioned above, some areas see groundwater with higher mineral content, making it “hard.” This happens because water seeps slowly through the earth, dissolving minerals like calcium and magnesium from rocks and soil. More minerals are picked up as water moves through mineral-rich aquifers. Over time, hard water can cause scale buildup in pipes, fixtures, and appliances, reduce detergent effectiveness, leave behind stains on surfaces or fabrics, and cause skin and hair to feel dry and brittle.  Take a look at our water hardness map to assess water hardness in your region:  Image:

   

How Land Use Affects Well Water

Land use plays a significant role in groundwater quality. Agricultural activities, urbanization, industrial processes, and waste disposal all contribute to potential contaminants in well water. Refer to the EPA’s groundwater quality map, Drinking Water Mapping Application to Protect Source Waters (DWMAPS), to see critical information about known potential sources of contamination.   

Well Construction and Maintenance

Well age, design, and maintenance affect water quality to some degree. Proper sealing and casing, as well as regular testing, help limit contamination. Older wells with deteriorated casing, missing or ill-fitted caps, or poor location are more vulnerable to surface pollutants.   

Land Use and Urbanization

Roads, homes, and buildings developed during urban expansion projects lead to more pavement and impermeable surfaces, reducing opportunities for groundwater recharge. Instead of soaking into the ground, rainwater and ice or snow melt flows into storm drains, carrying pollutants like road salt, motor oil, fertilizers, and other chemicals with it. This runoff can pollute groundwater supplies, increasing contamination risks. Infrastructure such as wastewater treatment facilities, landfills, and industrial zones also present contamination concerns, making well placement and filtration critical in urbanizing areas. Even rural areas with minimal infrastructure can still face groundwater contamination. For example, regions with snowy winters that rely on road salt for de-icing face water concerns. Road salt is often made with sodium chloride, calcium chloride, and magnesium chloride. Elevated salinity from road salt can accelerate pipe corrosion, potentially leading to the release of heavy metals like lead into the water.   

Agricultural and Industrial Runoff

Agricultural and industrial runoff pose concerns for rural areas. Fertilizers, pesticides, and animal waste eventually seep below the surface into groundwater reserves. Industrial sites like factories or mining operations can introduce heavy metals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into underground water through runoff. Wells located near these operations are at higher risk of contamination.   

Pollution and Waste Disposal

Similar to industrial or agricultural runoff, illegal dumping, landfill leachate, and hazardous waste disposal can lead to harmful chemicals ending up in groundwater. Additionally, septic systems, if improperly maintained or installed too close to private wells, pose a significant risk of contaminating well water with bacteria, nitrates, and other pollutants.  

How Weather and Natural Disasters Impact Well Water

Environmental conditions, including severe weather events, can contaminate well water. Droughts reduce groundwater recharge, meaning pumps have to work harder to draw water from greater depths. Aquifer depletion from droughts can also lead to land subsidence or ground sinking, permanently disrupting groundwater storage. Flooding, on the other hand, can replenish groundwater supplies. However, flooding often sees bacteria, sewage, and other surface pollutants enter groundwater supplies, necessitating testing and disinfection.  Natural disasters such as hurricanes can lead to saltwater intrusion in coastal wells, rendering them undrinkable without desalination. Earthquakes and land shifts may alter underground water pathways, potentially introducing new contaminants into groundwater supplies. Even seasonal rainfall and snowmelt can pick up pollutants from roads and fields and carry them into groundwater sources.  

Water Test and Survey

Protect Well Water with Filtration

Private well owners are responsible for their own water quality. This makes regular testing essential, along with investing in a whole house water filter system tailored to the specific contaminants present in your water. Well water system costs vary widely depending on how many filters your home requires. Different filters target different contaminants, so a layered approach is the most effective way to safeguard your water supply. For a more complete filtration, consider the following filters: 

• Sediment filters: Capture particles like sand, dirt, rust, and other large particulates that can affect water clarity and clog plumbing.
• Catalytic carbon filters: Reduce chemicals such as chlorine, chloramines, pesticides, herbicides, and over 100 volatile organic compounds (VOCs), improving taste, odor, and safety.
• AIO (air injection oxidation) filters: Work alongside catalytic carbon filters to decrease iron, sulfur, and manganese levels, preventing staining and unpleasant odors.
• UV filters: Utilize ultraviolet light to neutralize bacteria, viruses, and parasites, offering an additional layer of protection against microbial contaminants.
• Water softeners: Available in both salt-based and salt-free options, these systems address hard water minerals like calcium and magnesium. Salt-based softeners remove these minerals to prevent limescale buildup, while salt-free alternatives alter the minerals’ composition to reduce scaling effects.

Kind Water’s filtration experts are here to help you find the right solution for your home depending on where you live and where you well is located. Reach out today to discuss your well water filtration options.