It’s winter but you can still chlorinate your Spring Grove well

Yes, you can chlorinate your
Spring Grove well in winter.

Officially, another Spring Grove winter is only a couple weeks away. Unofficially, you may have concluded it’s already here. While it’s frigid outdoors, you’ve noticed that your home’s well water is smelling a little funny. Or, maybe you’ve notice that the color of the water is tinted slightly brown. Or, maybe you’ve just realized you haven’t had your well water chlorinated in a while. Now the question is whether you can chlorinate your well in winter?

You could buy some chlorine, bundle up, run a hose outside and chlorinate your well yourself. Expect to be uncomfortable. But, if you dress with layers, you won’t get too cold, well, unless your clothes get wet, which is a distinct possibility. About now, you may be reconsidering the idea. But, there’s another reason you might not want to chlorinate your own well.

When someone who is not a well technician chlorinates their well, they often do so improperly, which can have costly, long-term side effects. What happens is that, if the chlorination isn’t done properly, the chlorine can damage parts of your well system. You might not realize that the damage was done, at least, not until a well technician has to replace your well pump. The well technician will notice the problem and you’ll notice on the bill you receive when the work is done.

But, why not chlorinate your Spring Grove well in winter?

You can chlorinate your well in the winter. That’s not the issue. The question is whether you want to. You may not want to because, in the winter when the temperature is low, as you know, water freezes. Once the well is chlorinated, your well technician will flush the well. Along with waiting 24 hours to drink, bathe or do laundry with your well water, there’s a good chance the flushing will leave you with an ice-skating rink out in your yard. In general, it’s more of a mess working with water that freezes.

You can still chlorinate your well in winter, and qualified well technicians are used to working under these conditions. But, you may find more peace of mind knowing the well chlorination won’t cause all that frozen mess.

And, yes, you could put some skates on and use the frozen water in the yard for a skating rink. But, if you want to ice skate this winter, you’ll find better ice at an indoor ice-skating rink in the area, such as the Crystal Lake Ice House, which isn’t too far from Spring Grove.

Lightning is Mother Nature’s secret weapon against Barrington wells

This is what lightning can do to your car in Barrington.
In this case, the lightning also took out the well pump.

Lightning is a potential game changer when it comes to your Barrington well pump. Let’s suppose you’re one of those people who is fastidious about maintaining your well pump and well system; in other words, you have a well technician check the pump, adjust the pressure in the well tank, look over the wiring and components and then chlorinate the well annually.

You know the importance of maintenance and how, in the long run, it will extend the life of your well pump and well system and save you far more than you’ll spend on maintenance. That includes avoiding the emergency rate of having a well technician come out in the middle of the night because your well system isn’t proving water to your home. But, that doesn’t absolutely guarantee you won’t have trouble with your Barrington well.

The unfortunate reality is that Mother Nature is the potential wild card in terms of maintaining your well system.

The damage to this Barrington well pump isn't as visibly
apparent. But, the lightning did destroy this well pump, too.

A well system if fairly impervious from most of the weapons at Mother Nature’s disposal. A well pump head can withstand winds from the most powerful hurricane. Fortunately, hurricanes are not common in Barrington. But, we do have tornadoes in the area and well pumps will do well with those winds, too, though items caught up in the wind could damage a wellhead.

Floods won’t necessarily damage the wellhead. However, floodwater could get past the well cap and contaminate the well water. This will require testing, chlorinating and treating the water. But there is one arrow in Mother Nature’s quiver that can do substantial damage to a well pump if it hits the wellhead – lightning.

Lightning can fry the electronics in the wellhead and running down to the pump. It can burn out the pump or damage the well liner.

Here's another view of the car that was burned up after
it was hit by lightning.

Lightning is powerful. It can reach 100 million volts of electricity with about 30,000 amps. It can reach temperatures of 54,000 degrees. THAT’S SIX TIMES HOTTER THAN THE SUN!!!

Obviously, designing a well pump that is impervious to lightning is quite a trick. And, when lightning strikes, there’s no guarantee that the damage inflicted will be confined to the well pump. Other items in the area can also suffer. The lightning can damage trees, start cars or homes on fire.

This is all rather disturbing to contemplate. Fortunately, these lightning strikes are rare. They happen but they don’t happen often.

How much water does your Barrington well provide?

How much water does your Barrington well provide?
You might be surprised.

A 55-gallon drum stands 33-and-a-half-inches tall and has an inside diameter of 22-and-a-half inches. In a day, the average family in America uses enough water to nearly fill six of these containers. That’s a lot of water. It means that the well out behind your Barrington home has a big job to do every day.

How much water is that really? The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency states that the average American family uses 300 gallons of water every day. Where your Barrington family compares to that average has a lot to do with how many people are in your family. The average family in the U.S. is 2.54 people. You may have three or four, or even more, in your family.

If your family does use 300 gallons of water each day that works out to …

• 2,100 gallons per week
• 109,500 gallons per year
• Nearly 1,991 55-gallon barrels of water per year.

Have you ever really thought of how much you expect from your well system? That’s a lot of work. And, how has your well done?

If you’re like most people, your well quietly and consistently delivers all the water you demand, and for all of your purposes. Here is a pie chart of how most of us use our water:

With that big of a job, it’s really incredible that well systems perform so incredibly and reliably. Of course, it also makes sense that you can’t expect your well to keep your Barrington home provided with water without the risk that your well system would break down. It also makes sense, therefore, that annual maintenance of your well system is a very, very good idea. Maintenance will help you keep the water flowing while also keeping the cost of operation at a minimum.

Are insects doing the backstroke in your North Barrington well water?

Do you want to think about insects swimming in
your North Barrington well water? Probably not.

Would you enjoy a glass of water knowing that, a short time before you drank it, an earwig was doing the backstroke in your glass? Of course not. This is why the well out behind your North Barrington home has a cap on top.

The cap on top of your well is designed to keep bugs out, as well as contaminated standing water on the surface of the ground. The well cap is sealed to ensure bugs and standing water don’t get in. The seal can even, potentially, keep water out if there is flooding.

Just as you wouldn’t want a bug swimming in the glass of water you drink, you wouldn’t go out back and scoop up a glass of water from your North Barrington yard for a drink. It’s filthy. Who knows what’s in it, starting with the potential for bacteria and insects.

Obviously, the well cap and its seal are important components of your well system. This is why, when you have your well inspected, the well technician doesn’t just check the electronics, the charge in the well tank, and the operation of the well pump. They also check the quality of the water in your well. And, they check the well cap and its seal.

Most wellheads extend up from the ground a sufficient distance so that standing water, and flood water, are unlikely to rise to that level. However, if you’ve allowed debris to pile up around the wellhead, insects may find it more tempting to test your well cap’s seal. It’s a good idea to keep the area around your well head, and well cap, clear.

If you do have an infestation of insects in your well, a well technician will have to flush the pressure tank and hot water tank. They’ll have to remove insect parts and eggs from filters, faucet aerators, showerheads and anywhere else where the bugs have had access. Then, they’ll have to disinfect the well and water system. With an infestation or bacteria, they may have to do this more than once. Until they’re done, however, you could be drinking water with insects and bacteria.

The best way to ensure that bugs and bacteria aren’t making a home in the well water you drink, bath in and use around the house is to have your North Barrington well system inspected and chlorinated annually. With the winter approaching, this is a good time now.

Wonder Lake well maintenance saves you money and spares you inconvenience

Wonder Lake well maintenance can save you money
and a pain in the neck later.

Is there a problem with the well at your Wonder Lake home or office? You turn or lift a handle or knob and nothing happens? In other words, no water comes out of the faucet as expected. Or, maybe you’ve noticed that the water pressure is weak.

These are indications of a problem with your well. You may also notice that the pump keeps cycling (turning off and on).

What could cause these problems with your well?

• Your well pump may have failed. However, complete failure of the pump would mean no water at all.
• You could have a leak somewhere. This would most likely exhibit itself through lower water pressure and, possibly, cycling of the pump.
• Your well tank could have the wrong pressure or a torn bladder. This will, very likely, result in a cycling well pump. The water pressure may also suffer.
• Your well pressure switch may be failing. This could cause any of these symptoms. 

Whatever the problem with your well system, it’s frustrating when you lift a faucet and the well doesn’t respond in the appropriate manner. You expect that well outside your Wonder Lake home or office to deliver.

The reality is that a well that supplies water to a home or office is a mechanical system. As with anything mechanical, it can break down. Fortunately, well systems are remarkably durable. But, parts of a well system do break, and repairs can be costly.

With wear and tear, it’s even inevitable that parts of a well system will fail. For instance, a well pump will not last forever. But, well pumps have lasted 20 and even 30 years. Keep in mind that, if your Wonder Lake well system as a tank with a torn bladder, or a faulty pressure switch, and is cycling, if not repaired soon, the pump will burn out and long before it might have otherwise.

When the water stops or the pressure falls, it’s inconvenient. And, expensive. With well maintenance, however, your Wonder Lake well will last longer and save you money in the long run.

How important is water? How important is your Lake Barrington well?

How much water do you use in your Lake Barrington home? It's probably more than you think. Clearly, water is important.

If the lights in your home went out, you’d call an electrician, just as you’d call a well technician if your well ceased to flow. But, the lights are either on or off. You could have bacteria in your water but it would still flow. Clearly, your water is important, just as your Lake Barrington well is important.

Think of all the things you do with the water your well brings into your home

You use water to:

• Cook
• Do laundry
• Wash dishes
• Clean the house and floors
• Clean windows
• Water the lawn, plants, and flowers
• Give pets something to drink
• Give pet fish something to swim in
• Wash the car
• Take a bath or shower
• Brush your teeth
• And, of course, to drink

Drinking water is a very good idea. The U.S. Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) recommends that you should drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water every day. This is because it’s healthy to stay hydrated. Consider that 60 percent of the human body is water. Naturally, you’ll want to replenish the water in your body.

Drinking water helps to flush toxins out of your body. It helps you to beat the heat and helps with digestion. In fact, drinking water can help you lose weight. If you drink a glass of water before you eat, your stomach will feel fuller before you start to eat and you probably won’t eat as much.

Water can help protect your joints, ward off headaches and fatigue. It can help you to stay energized and alert while improving your mood.

Considering all the uses and benefits of water, not only is it important to ensure that the water continues to flow in your Lake Barrington home, it’s equally essential that the water is safe and pure. This means that you shouldn’t wait until the water stops before you call a well technician out to look at your well; you should call a well technician well in advance of a problem. They can check the well to make sure the water keeps flowing while making sure the water is healthy and good for your use.

How often should you chlorinate your Port Barrington well?

That’s a good question; how often should you chlorinate your Port Barrington well?

The easy answer to "how often should you chlorinate
your Port Barrington well?" is annually.

The best answer to that question is annually. You could do it yourself but it’s better to have your well chlorinated by a professional.

You should chlorinate your well annually to ensure that you’ve removed any bacterial contaminants from your well water. Chlorinating the well will also help to remove bacteria from the well casings, holding tanks and pipes. This is a pretty darn good reason to chlorinate your well at least once each year. There are more reasons why you should have a well technician perform the chlorination.

One reason to have a well technician perform the chlorination is that, while they’re chlorinating your well, they’ll also inspect your well system and perform some basic well maintenance. For instance, they’ll ensure that your well tank has the proper pressure. This is vital since, if it’s wrong, it could indicate a problem with the well bladder that could lead to the early failure of your well pump.

Another reason to have a well technician chlorinate your Port Barrington well is that they know how to chlorinate the well without getting chlorine on parts that will corrode when they come into contact with the chlorine. Parts contaminated with chlorine will raise problems, and expenses, when it’s time to replace your well pump.

Another reason is that there are safety factors to consider. If you’re chlorinating your well yourself, you should wear appropriate clothing, such as goggles, a protective apron, rubber gloves and boots. You should mix the chlorine in a well-ventilated area. Additionally, you’ll want to perform the chlorination while minimizing the risk of electrical shock while you work. The well technician is familiar with these necessary safety considerations.

You’ll also want to have an alternative water source for 12 to 24 hours after chlorinating the well.

A well technician will also know when you want to send out a sample of your water for testing. A test can determine if you have coliform or E. coli bacteria in the water.

Yes, you could chlorinate your Port Barrington well yourself. But, why would you when the cost is nominal and the convenience of having a professional do it while you spend your time doing something you’d rather do?

Is your Spring Grove well pump sick and what are the symptoms?

Do you know the symptoms when
your Spring Grove well pump
is sick?

A healthy well pump in your Spring Grove well is a happy well pump. It will silently pump water up into your home, out of your faucets and into intended appliances on demand and without complaint. But, from time to time, a well pump can come down with an illness that can make it operate sadly and unreliably.

If you’re feeling sick, you’ll consider the symptoms and decide whether you can take some aspirin, have some chicken soup and get some bed rest or whether you need to bring your symptoms to a doctor for an expert opinion. In the same sense, when your Spring Grove well pump is sick, you can do your own preliminary diagnosis as long as you realize that you may need to call in a well professional.

So, before you call a well technician for an expert opinion, what should you look for? Here are some of the symptoms of a sick well pump:

• You’re experiencing decreased water pressure in your home or office
• There are loud or funny noises coming from your pipes
• Water is spitting out of faucets rather than providing the regular flow you expect
• The water is dirty
• You may even notice an increase in your electric bill, though there are other things that can cause this

If you find one or more of these symptoms, you may have a sick well pump. But, don’t jump to conclusions. You could have other problems with your well. That qualified well technician can clarify matters for you.

For instance, there are other issues that could cause your well pressure to fall. You could have sediment clogging a filter. You could have a torn bladder inside your well tank. A well technician will sort that out for you. But, at least you’ll know what to look for in general; you’ll know when it’s time to call a well technician to come out and look at your Spring Grove well.

Is there sand in your Inverness well water and what should you do about it?

You expect a little sand in the water when you go to
the beach. But, you don't want sand in your Inverness
well water.

You’ve grown accustomed to the pure, clear water that is delivered by your Inverness well. You’ve even shown it off to friends who visit, who often have homes served by city water. You proudly point out that your private well delivers fresh and delicious water without the monthly invoice from the city. But, lately, you’ve started noticing that there is sand in your water.

The sand in your water will soon clog the aerators of your faucets. Already, the water pressure seems to have dropped at some of the faucets. What’s this all about? Why would sand suddenly find its way into your well water?

There are several reasons why you would find sand in your water, including:

• The well pump is set too close to the bottom of the well and is, therefore, sucking up sand as it pulls in water.
• The well pump isn’t sized correctly; it’s too strong and is pulling sand from the bottom of the well.
• The well screen is beyond its prime and is allowing sand to filter into the well water. The well screen is a casing installed at the time that your well was drilled. It has spaces to allow water into the well but, overtime, it can lose its integrity.
• The well tank is waterlogged, the bladder is ruptured, or the tank has the wrong charge causing the pump to surge the well.

With the first of these issues, the problem was probably apparent early on. In other words, you aren’t as likely to find sand suddenly appearing in your water. However, if the well screen begins to lose its mojo, begins clogging, it’s liable to do so gradually and over time. A problem with the well tank is also liable to come on and get worse over time (it’s vital that you fix this promptly as it’s likely to cause your well pump to burn out quickly).

To address the problem, you can add a screen filter. Depending on the grade of the sand, different filter mesh is available to address the sand prevalent in your well. These filters are generally installed after the well tank. They also have a valve to drain off the sand.

Sand in your Inverness well is a nuisance. But, more than that, the sand can cause problems with your well equipment and your fixtures. It’s a good idea to address the issue of sand in your well water before you have more reason to do so.

Slither and rattle: Bull Valley well maintenance included snake removal

No, this is not one of the snakes John, with McHenry Water Well and Pump, found in a well pit one day. But, at first
glance, it could have been. Well maintenance is more exciting than you might think.

It was like a scene out of Raiders of the Lost Ark. John Matthesius, the owner of McHenry Water Well & Pump, was called out to a Bull Valley home to repair or replace a well pump that had ceased working. It was an older home with an older well. And it had a well pit. When John looked down into the pit, in the darkness, it seemed that the floor was moving. And then, he heard something rattling.

Going from home to home in Bull Valley you’re liable to see a lot of wellheads protruding from the ground like metallic mushrooms. But, some of these homes have well pits. The wellhead and well cap are found inside the well pit.

Well pits were common years ago as a means of protecting the water in wells from freezing. The well pit allowed the well to operate without extending up above the frost line (typically 32-48 inches). Here in Northern Illinois, such as in Bull Valley, the winter months are times when freezing temperatures could cause problems for the water pumping up from a well.

One problem with well pits was that they required proper drainage and the drains often clogged. Think about well pits as concrete boxes buried into the surface of the ground. If rain and/or groundwater gets into the pit and rises above the well cap, that water can make its way into the well and contaminate the well. Moisture in the well pit can also result in condensation that causes problems with the well’s electronics.

Well pits are also warm areas that can attract wildlife, such as squirrels, chipmunks, and even snakes. As a result, many municipal codes do not allow building well pits anymore. New wells are designed to operate without well pits and without freezing. But, back to the slithering, rattling well pit in Bull Valley.

When John pointed his light down into the well pit, he discovered that it did, in fact, have snakes. Put snakes together with rattles and the logical conclusion is that you’ve got a problem with rattlesnakes. According to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, four species of venomous snakes are found in Illinois: cottonmouth, copperhead, timber rattler and eastern massasauga.

The cottonmouth is also known as a water moccasin. The other three are rattlers. Fortunately, the snakes in the Bull Valley well pit were not rattlers. Rather, they were black rat snakes. Black rat snakes are clever snakes, clever enough to simulate a rattler’s rattle to scare off predators.

While John didn’t have to worry about a venomous bite, he still had to clear the snakes out of the well pit. He quickly fashioned a makeshift snake-catching pole by slide some cable through a piece of conduit with a noose on the end. He slipped the noose around each snake’s head and pulled the cable so the snake was caught. Who knew that well maintenance and repair can also fit the description for a zoologist?

Replacing your Lakewood well pump isn’t fun and how to avoid it as long as possible

Imagine running out of water on Memorial Day Weekend.
Anytime you run out of water is a pain. Maintain your
well pump as an alternative to replacing your well pump.

Here’s a great idea – why not replace your Lakewood well pump this weekend? You can shut the water off while the job is done. And, you’ll get to spend the money for that new well pump, as well as the cost of installation. What fun!

Of course, no one in Lakewood replaces their well pump for the fun of it; they replace their well pump because they need a new well pump. For fun, they go out to dinner and a show, they go to a concert, to see a stand-up comedian or visit an art show. There are all kinds of things they can do for fun but replacing their well pump isn’t even on the list.

People don’t replace well pumps for fun because they don’t like it when the water doesn’t flow in their Lakewood homes. They don’t like to replace their well pumps because it’s an inconvenience and an expense they’d rather avoid.

So, since you won’t replace your well pump for fun, replacing it at all is something you’d rather avoid. And, still, people do deal with the inconvenience and expense; they do replace their well pumps.

They replace their well pumps, not because they shut their water off but because the well pump shuts the water off. That’s the opposite of what a well pump is designed to do. A well pump is designed to make the water flow on demand. That’s it. That’s all a well pump does – turn the water flow on and off when you want it.

Considering how little enjoyment is found in the replacement of a well pump, other than the relief people feel when a bad well pump is replaced, it’s amazing people don’t put more effort into ensuring that they don’t have to replace their well pumps as often. Often, of course, is a relative term.

A well pump should last 20 years or more. Some well pumps have lasted three decades. But, the longer a well pump lasts, the more likely it is that someone made some effort to maintain that well pump.

Maintenance involves having a professional take a look at the pump annually to make sure that the well tank has the proper pressure. That professional will also check out the well system, in general, to make sure everything is as it should be. Of course, while checking the well system, a professional will also test and chlorinate the well. That way, you know that the water that flows from your Lakewood well is also safe to drink.

Replacing your Barrington well pump isn’t fun and how to avoid it as long as possible

There are probably a lot of things you'd rather do than
replace your Barrington well pump. Replacing your
well pump just isn't fun.

Here’s a great idea – why not replace your Barrington well pump this weekend? You can shut the water off while the job is done. And, you’ll get to spend the money for that new well pump, as well as the cost of installation. What fun!

Of course, no one in Barrington replaces their well pump for the fun of it; they replace their well pump because they need a new well pump. For fun, they go out to dinner and a show, they go to a concert, to see a stand-up comedian or visit an art show. There are all kinds of things they can do for fun but replacing their well pump isn’t even on the list.

People don’t replace well pumps for fun because they don’t like it when the water doesn’t flow in their Barrington homes. They don’t like to replace their well pumps because it’s an inconvenience and an expense they’d rather avoid.

So, since you won’t replace your well pump for fun, replacing it at all is something you’d rather avoid. And, still, people do deal with the inconvenience and expense; they do replace their well pumps.

They replace their well pumps, not because they shut their water off but because the well pump shuts the water off. That’s the opposite of what a well pump is designed to do. A well pump is designed to make the water flow on demand. That’s it. That’s all a well pump does – turn the water flow on and off when you want it.

Considering how little enjoyment is found in the replacement of a well pump, other than the relief people feel when a bad well pump is replaced, it’s amazing people don’t put more effort into ensuring that they don’t have to replace their well pumps as often. Often, of course, is a relative term.

A well pump should last 15 years or more. Some well pumps have lasted two or three decades. But, the longer a well pump lasts, the more likely it is that someone made some effort to maintain that well pump.

Maintenance involves having a professional take a look at the pump annually to make sure that the well tank has the proper pressure. That professional will also check out the well system, in general, to make sure everything is as it should be. Of course, while checking the well system, a professional will also test and chlorinate the well. That way, you know that the water that flows from your Barrington well is also safe to drink.

Your Spring Grove well is capped and sealed – why worry about contaminants?

That well cap is vital to your Spring Grove
well and the safety of the water you and
your family drink.

There’s a sealed cap on your well out behind your Spring Grove home. The cap sits on top of a pipe that extends down into the ground to your well. Why would you need to worry about water quality?

The truth is that contaminants can find their way into your well in more ways than you might imagine.

Generally speaking, Spring Grove has groundwater that is as good as anyone’s – better than some. But contaminants are insidious in the efforts to invade and contaminate your well. Contaminants include various types of bacteria, radon, organic particles, hazardous waste and chemicals, such as pesticides, fertilizers, and petroleum products.

To keep contaminants out of your Spring Grove well, or detecting them if they get in, there are a few procedures you should follow:

• Make sure your well cap isn’t cracked, loose or has a bad seal
• Have well casing (the pipe extending down to your well water) inspected to ensure it isn’t cracked or otherwise ruptured
• Ensure that your well is a safe distance from septic systems, landfills or other systems using elements that would contaminate your well water (it’s a bit late to consider this if your well and other systems are already in operation in close proximity to each other)
• Don’t install a well in a floodplain as flood waters can seep into the well (also a bit late to consider if the well is already in operation)
• If your well was installed in a floodplain, the well needs to extend higher than the floodplain. If you have an older well, you’ll want to have it checked that it’s of sufficient height while ensuring that the water level didn’t rise higher than the well cap so that contaminants could get in.

The last point is really a key principle in general. Well maintenance is a great way to ensure that your well system is operating at peak performance with the greatest durability. Having the well water tested annually, along with having your well chlorinated each year, is the best way to ensure that your Spring Grove well water stays healthy and clean. It’s also a good idea to have the charge checked in your well tank.

A qualified well technician can chlorinate and maintain your well, while testing your well water in the winter, as well as the warmer months. Spring is also a good time to have your well maintained and your well water tested.

Where does groundwater come from? Can you say, ‘Hydrologic Cycle?’

This USGS diagram shows the Hydrologic Cycle. If you want to know where the groundwater in McHenry comes from,
look here.

Where does groundwater come from? The obvious answer is ‘from the ground.’ But, where does the ground get it? That well out behind your Bull Valley home extends down into the ground and pumps groundwater up so you and your family can use it. It would be nice to know where the groundwater comes from, wouldn’t it?

The first thing to know is that the groundwater is there as part of the hydrologic cycle. Assuming you haven’t remembered all the particulars from your 5th-grade lesson, that cycle works like this:

THE HYDROLOGIC CYCLE

1. Evaporation: the water in lakes, rivers, oceans and on the surface of the ground is evaporated into the air …
2. Where it condenses to form clouds.
3. While trapped in the clouds, it moves with the wind.
4. Then, the moisture returns to the earth in the form of precipitation: rain, sleet, snow
5. A portion of the water runs off back into lakes, rivers, and oceans – another portion seeps into the ground. Through gravity, much of this water goes lower and lower until it reaches an area that is resting on an impervious surface.
6. When that area is saturated, your well has the ability to gather portions of the water and pump them back to the surface and through the pipes into your home.

Keep in mind that water can also move in the ground through aquifers. Governments have come to recognize the importance of aquifers. You can even look up a map of aquifers in the area called the “McHenry County Sensitive Aquifer Recharge Areas.”

This map shows areas in two shades of green where aquifers are considered sensitive. On that map, you’ll find that much of Bull Valley is covered by dark green – the most sensitive areas of the map.

This means that groundwater is moving under your feet. Your well’s job is to catch portions of the groundwater and pump them up into your Bull Valley home.

What are you putting down your McHenry County drain?

Consultant raises the alarm about contaminants in our drinking water supply

What is in the well water you drink? The number of
potential contaminants are alarming.

Recently, John Matthesius attended an event for well-maintenance technicians in Nashville. What he heard at one of the break-out sessions was alarming. It has to do with the quality of the water we drink, including the water we drink here in McHenry County.

The presentation was given by Peter S. Cartwright of Cartwright Consulting from Minneapolis, MN, who points out that an almost limitless number of contaminants are going into our water supply – into the water we drink.

As Cartwright points out, “Every time water goes down the drain, whether to a sewer, a septic system, a storm drain, or wherever, it carries contaminants with it, which usually end up in someone’s drinking water.”

He said the list of contaminants in our drinking water include “unmetabolized pharmaceuticals” and other chemicals. When we wash our hands, the soap and dirt, or whatever was on our hands, goes down the drain. He said there are more than 85,000 chemicals that make their way into our water supply.

He described how “the average adult uses nine products per day containing 126 different chemicals.” In the farms, they add fertilizer to the soil that then makes its way into our water supply. Whatever we put down the drain tends to make its way to our water supply.

Manufacturing contributes to the toxic recipe in our drinking water. For instance, plastic, with 300-million tons of plastic manufactured each year, is a major contributor to toxins in our drinking water.

Cartwright sites a 2008 Canadian study that found that, in 20 industrialized nations, birthrates for boys has dropped, as a result, for each of the last 30 years, there has been a 200-percent increase in abnormalities to male sex organs, sperm count among North American college students has dropped by 50 percent over the course of the last 50 years, 85 percent of sperm in healthy males has damaged DNA and testicular cancer is up 300 percent in that same 50-year period.

The address the concerns, Cartwright recommends legislative activity and water treatment technologies. But, he also says that individuals can make a difference. He refers to personal stewardship where people are more conscious of what they are putting down the drain in their homes and workplace. In that regard, education is essential (Cartwright’s thesis is available in its entirety by following this link or visiting the McHenry Water Well & Pump blog page).

The Next Drinking Water Contamination Issue: By Peter S Cartwright, PE

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