Can a septic tank contaminate well water?
Does your home have a septic tank and a well? Many homes share both, but without proper consideration your septic tank contaminate well water by an adjacent septic tank. No matter how your well and septic tank are set up, it is best to regularly test your well water to ensure it is safe and uncontaminated.
If you already have an existing well and septic system, here are some factors that could lower your risk for contamination.
5 ways to keep your well water clean
- Distance
The risk of your well water becoming contaminated is lower if you have a larger distance between the septic tank and the well. For example, if your septic tank expels groundwater above where your well sits, it could lead to contamination more easily than if they sat further away.
Contact your state department of health to determine the distance requirements for your state.
- Depth and soil
If your well is very deep or sits in or below bedrock, clay, or silt, there is a lesser chance of contamination. If, however, it is in porous soil at a lesser depth, the chances of septic tank contaminate well increases.
- Maintenance
If you continuously maintain your tank by getting regular inspections and pumps, it is less likely your well water will be affected. Any kind of issues or cracks in the septic system or extended periods between pumps could increase the chance of contamination.
- Regular water testing
As stated above, one of the best ways to ensure there are no issues with your well water is to test it regularly. It is recommended to test it at least once per year, but if you have a shallow well or your septic tank and well are close together, you may want to rest more regularly.
- Professional installation
This is the easiest and best way to ensure your tank won’t affect your well water. Trust a professional to set up your septic tank and well to ensure there won’t be contamination in your drinking water. The best systems are set up once and then rarely worried about, aside from regular pumps and inspections.
- Don’t damage your system
While septic tanks can withstand a lot, they can be damaged. Make sure the only things being flushed are toilet paper, water, and organic waste. Anything else can be really harmful and clog your system.
How to spot possible septic tank and well water contamination
Call a professional to access your tank if
- You smell something strange in your yard
- Water from your toilets, sinks, and drains are backing up into your home, or they are draining very slowly
- There is very green grass or plants over the drain field
- Standing water in your yard, specifically over the drain field
If you suspect your septic system has a problem give us a call or complete our online form. While it’s rare to have problems with your septic system, your risks increase if you do not get your septic system regularly checked out. If you notice any smells in your yard or drinking water in your home, give us a call. While it’s unlikely your septic tanks explode, they can leak. We hope this answered the question, Can a septic tank contaminate well water?
For over 30 years we are the top rated and most trusted septic system company in all of Southwest Florida. We repair, replace and service all septic tank systems.
