How safe is your Mississippi well water? Here’s how to find out.
If you use well water or have other private drinking sources, the only surefire way to know your water is safe is to regularly test it.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said most of Mississippi’s ground water is safe for human use, but there are no guarantees.
“Ground water contamination has been found in all 50 states, so well owners have reason to be vigilant in protecting their water supplies,” according to EPA guidelines.
Mississippi will test private wells for bacteriological contamination, but a private lab must be used to test for any minerals, chemicals or other contaminants. A list of certified laboratories is available through the Mississippi Department of Health.
For the state’s bacteria testing, an application is available online through MSDH. The $10 tests are only available to properties that do not have a public water service. Paper applications are available at healthyms.com/wastewater or by calling 1-855-220-0192. When the test is positive, a second test is performed for E. Coli.
The EPA offered the following quick reference list of noticeable problems.
Visible problems
• Scale or scum from calcium or magnesium salts in water.
• Unclear/turbid water from dirt, clay salts, silt or rust in water.
• Green stains on sinks or faucets caused by high acidity.
• Brown-red stains on sinks, dishwasher, or clothes in wash points to dissolved iron in water.
• Cloudy water that clears upon standing may have air bubbles from poorly working pumps or problems with filters.
Tasted problems
• Salty or brackish taste from high sodium content in water
• Alkali/soapy taste from dissolved alkaline minerals in water
• Metallic taste from acidity or high iron content in water
• Chemical taste from industrial chemicals or pesticides
Smelled problems
• A rotten egg odor can be from dissolved hydrogen sulfide gas or certain bacteria in your water. If the smell only comes with hot water it is likely from a part in your hot water heater.
• A detergent odor and water that foams when drawn could be seepage from septic tanks into your ground water well.
• A gasoline or oil smell indicates fuel oil or gasoline likely seeping from a tank into the water supply.
• Methane gas or musty/earthy smell from decaying organic matter in water.
• Chlorine smell from excessive chlorination.
Note: Many serious problems (bacteria, heavy metals, nitrates, radon, and many chemicals) can only be found by laboratory testing of water.
This story was originally published September 10, 2022 at 8:00 AM.
