Understanding Well Water Cleaning: A Guide for Homeowners

Well Water Overview

Well Water Regulations

Superior Water Softeners finds that the primary concerns consumers have regarding the water they use from their wells relate to damaged appliances, fixtures, and clothes. While cities are required to meet the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), 42 U.S.C. §300F et seq. (1974), most family households using a privately drilled well water source for consumption in their homes today are not required to meet this standard. In fact, the EPA does not regulate or enforce SDWA standards on privately owned wells. This is the root of all consumers' well water concerns—they just don’t know it yet.

Who We Are

Hello, let me introduce myself. I am Richard Garcia, a TCEQ-licensed water treatment professional and owner of Superior Water Softeners, established in 2007. Our business focuses on helping consumers address water quality issues related to both city water and privately owned well water sources and approach the subject of altering the water chemistry of the water they are using. 

Have you acquired a full spectrum water analysis for your well water?!

What did he just say? Did you know water has a baseline?  Well water chemistry changes from time to time. However, many people invite companies into their homes to talk about their well water without even knowing the actual problem is far great than they thought. In fact, many consumers attempt to address their private well water concerns as if it were a simple solution. Treating well water without a full spectrum water analysis leaves a decision maker subject to trial and error. This creates a vulnerable position for anyone who is going to invest money in a water treatment solution. 

The fact is, most companies you invite into your home to discuss your well water have very limited testing capabilities when it comes to properly analyzing well water at the source. They often lead you away from conducting proper testing, leaving you unaware of what is actually in your well water. These companies tend to repeat back to you what you say to them. Remember, they are there to sell you what you believe you know or think you know.

Understanding Water Quality Reports

Here’s a little-known, underutilized and widely publicized resource that people can use when assessing the quality of their city water. This document is critical in the development of the treatment plan of your water. The Consumer Confidence Report, which details out what is in your water, was established in 1996 and is now part of the SDWA. It provides a great standard of review for city water consumers. It serves as a guide when helping consumers change the chemistry of their city water source. This report contains a list of contaminants found in a city’s drilled water wells, which supply water to businesses and homeowners. The city of San Antonio, Texas, has 29 community wells and provides 29 different Consumer Confidence Reports to water consumers using these drilled wells.

Do you have a Full Spectrum Water Analysis for your well? 

Well Water 101: A Four-Part Series

This series of four articles will primarily focus on issues concerning well water. In fact, I will dedicate the next three articles to helping property owners who use their own privately drilled well water for consumption — whether for drinking, cooking, or cleaning for their family or pets. I will suggest that before investing money in a water softener, carbon filter, or any other system, you must first understand what is really in your water. Otherwise, you may end up dealing with years of trial, error, and costly expenses simply due to a lack of knowledge.

What’s Next?
Here are some of the questions we will dive into in our next session:

• Do you really know your water well?

• Have you ever had it properly tested? What does that mean?

• Do you know what contaminants are in the well water you drink?

• Did you know a well water report will list 10 – 20 items in your water that you don’t know are there.

• What concerns do you have about your water?

• Why do I need to test my well water?

• What is the difference between a well driller and a licensed water treatment professional?

• What is a basic well water treatment solution when you think hard water is your problem?

• Is implementing only a water softener really the solution? Or, will you require a more comprehensive water treatment solution such as a whole-house reverse osmosis system? 

Key Takeaways . . . 

• Private well water is not regulated by the EPA, unlike city water. 

• Many companies lack proper well water testing capabilities and may mislead consumers. 

• The Consumer Confidence Report is a valuable resource for city water users but does not apply to private wells. 

• Proper well water testing is essential before purchasing a water treatment system. 

• In this four-part series, we will guide homeowners through understanding and improving their well water quality.