How safe should I assume my murky well water is?

Question

Two days ago, we had a significant amount of rain in a short period of time.  Since then, we have had a cloudy red tinge to our water from Virginia's infamous red clay.  So, I am assuming this excessive rain water has gotten into the well.  This is the first time the well has turned cloudy red.  We rarely have any major issues with the well after heavy rains.  We sometimes get grey sediment from heavy rains, but I understand that is natural to the well.  The well itself is about 100' deep and only about 4 years old.  The septic is 100' away.  We are also on high ground so rain water drains away from our property. I have not had a chance to bleach shock the well yet since this happened, but my wife in talking to our local health department today has gotten the impression the water may be safe to use except for drinking.  She's run a load of dishes and filled our child's humidifier with the water from the well.  Because I am not yet certain what is going on with the well; excessive rain or a cracked casing, and I haven't sanitized it, I am not sure doing the dishes and filling the humidifier were good ideas.  Am I overreacting, or do I have just cause to be concerned that we are using potentially contaminated water?

RoyS · Accepted Answer

The coloration in red clay soil is caused primarily by iron oxide (rust). Not toxic, but not appetizing, either. While bleach shocking may help, your best solution would be a good filtering system. When I worked as a plumber, we would also dump a few five gallon buckets of crushed stone into problem wells, to help filter the water. This worked with sediment; I'm not sure if it would help with iron content.

Dale-E · Answer

Take a fresh sample to the lab. 100 feet is not that deep, in my opinion. It is way better than 50 though. To test it your self, fill a quart Mason jar .66 full with a fresh draw. Give it a table spoon of sugar. Shake it up real good, to dissolve the sugar. Put a clean dry cloth over it with a rubber band to hold it on. Leave it in the dark and sleep with it as often as you can. No, just keep it above 70f and below 95f  for a week. See what grows an what color grows. Then you'll have something to discuss with the neighbors. Clay in the water is good for people, but hard on humidifiers, and appliances. Just because it has bacteria, does not make it bad or good. Boil it, if having it testing is out of the question. Hold water from an animal for a day and a half. Then let them have a go at it. Keep in mind that many animals generate their own vitamin C. We don't. Another tried and sure, safe disinfectant is to put an ounce of silver into the water. Stir it, don't shake it. Let it sit for an hour or so. Then try the sugar feeder test above, maybe, at the same time. I wish I was you. sounds like fun.

hmeetis · Answer

Bleach is not safe to drink in even small quantities normally that bleach shock cleansing is done before a well is put into service. I would not do one unless a pro recommends it.
I would suggest having the water tested its not cheap, from what i remember i paid 200$ last year to have a potability test on my well water. This will give you very solid information about your water.

Anonymous · Answer

problematic situation. research in google. just that might help!

classicsat · Answer

Assume nothing. 

Have it tested if you want to use it to drink. 

At least get a sediment/particulate filter to use for washing.

Rinn-1999 · Answer

not safe

How safe should I assume my murky well water is?

6 Answers