You know you get your home’s water supply from your well, but where does your well water come from? It actually comes from what is known as groundwater, and can be much purer than the water found in lakes and rivers.
What is Groundwater?
Whenever water falls from the sky—in the form of rain, snow, or hail—a portion of it is collected in lakes and rivers (known as surface water), but the majority of it (90 percent) slowly seeps into the soil, where it becomes groundwater. As it continues through the layers of the earth, it is naturally filtered, and is eventually stored safely below ground where it is safe from contaminants. Your well accesses this groundwater and pulls it up to the surface for you and your family to enjoy.
The most amazing thing about groundwater is that is renewable and reliable. As time goes on, the groundwater re-emerges as surface water, where it evaporates, forms a cloud, and then comes back to the earth as precipitation, continuing the cycle over and over again.
How to Protect Your Well Water
Since your well water is the groundwater, it’s important that you take steps to keep your soil as clean as possible. This means limiting the use of fertilizers and pesticides, keeping chemicals away from your well, and performing proper well maintenance throughout the year to ensure the well itself is clean. And remember, even though groundwater will never disappear, it’s still necessary to conserve your well water when possible so the supply stays plentiful for the entire community.
For more information about groundwater in Connecticut, or to get your well water tested for purity, Contact Greco & Haines, Inc. today.