jim wrote:
On 18 Mar, 23:11, "Clot" wrote:
jim wrote:
possibly OT but I intend to DIY the follow-on system so:-

Anyone know what I should expect to pay for a laboratory drinking
water anaylsis on our spring water? Seems we have acidity and Iron
at the least........
NB We're in West Yorks.

Spring water is different from well water. Springs can be shallow and
subject to variable quality as a result. This is particularly
relevant for bugs, coliforms and E Coli are the standard indicator
organisms. A one-off test on a spring is just that - the water
quality was what it was at the time of the test.

if the spring is shallow beneath grazing land then bugs from cattle
and sheep could be an issue.

Also, looking at the chemical aspects, nitrates could be an issue.pH
is usually undertaken as a standard test. Really more details of the
situation are required before one can recommend a suite of analysis.
Only then can the cost be estimated.

I can't recall now whether it was W Yorks or S Yorks EHOs that used
to be quite well informed about the quality of private supplies in
their areas. Has your supply ever been tested by the local Authority
EHO. They are responsible for this.

sorry for delay - been away!

Well, (no pun intended) the land above the spring is farmland with a
couple of horses, further up are some cows on rotation with other
fields, no chemical fertilising that I am aware of, and that's about
it. Of course the water may equally well come from anywhere in the
hillside..and the story would be the same as reagrds livestock and
land use - so your comments on bugs are apt.

We already have a UV system and sediment filters so hopefully (as long
as I keep changing the tube) that aspect is covered.


Keep changing the tube - that is important!


Locally, iron is very common in springs and streams, some very bright
orange out-flows can be seen around the valley usually from old mine
workings here and there - (clay, coal). In the primary tanks up the
hill above us, there is always a layer of orangey/brown sediment
coating the tanks and pipes, it is easily disturbed and from my
researches I would expect that to be soluble iron salts that have
reacted with aeration of the water and the resulting insoluble salts
have dropped out of solution. Our sediment filters trap a lot of this
and at rainy times of the year our water can taste a bit metallic and
in flood can be a little hazy too. We generally switch to (previously)
bottled until after a day or so all is clearer and taste improves once
again.

Aah, just as I suspected. I used to work for a water utility. Years ago, it
had quite a few springwater sources serving rural communities. Due to the
variation in water quality with the seasons and weather, we closed these
sources down to protect consumers from the risk of being served with
bacterially unsatisfactory water. Despite the use of the uv tube, under the
adverse weather conditions you describe I think that you could be at risk
and your precaution in using bottled water at those times is wellfounded.

Also, due to the cessation of pumping out many of the former mines,
groundwater levels are rising and quality of water could be compromised. In
some areas, the Coal Authority is now putting in treatment systems to remove
the iron prior to water being discharged to surafce water, (you could look
this up on their website). I'm sure I saw something there about this - could
have been in an annual report.

You would most likely find out if iron is an issue in the house by
discoloration of clothing in the washing machine!

As regards testing by EHO, not in the 7 years we have been here altho
the spring does have a number as mentioned in the deeds. When we
bought it we had a respected water treatment firm round who did a
"briefcase" test, he was surprised at the quality and sold us only the
UV and sediment filters! House is 200+yrs old and has always been
supplied by the same spring, until we came there was one 'candle'
filter !!

I think it could be advisable to have a word with the EHO - again try their
website - probably under Environmental Health. They are charged with the
responsibility of monitoring private supplies like this. Are there others
nearby using springwater - the EHOs should know and again should know if
there are issues due to any monitoring they carry out or queries that have
been raised.

The apparent pH issue (blue rings in baths and SWMBO's highlights
turning green in bath) is the one I am hoping to address in due course
now.

Scaling in the bath could actually be copper - being dissolved in the hot
water cylinder tank.



Hope this helps,

Clot