arsnic in well water (Casco: for sale, selling a home, buyers)

[davey cricket]

run that water till no more comes out do that a couple times then have it tested

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by davey cricket

run that water till no more comes out do that a couple times then have it tested

Run the water till no more comes out?

How do you do that?

I have a one and one-half inch pipe coming from our well. I let it run for 3 days continously once. [an attempt to flush the silt out]

How do you run it till no more comes out?

[Zymer]

Originally Posted by forest beekeeper

Run the water till no more comes out?

How do you do that?

I have a one and one-half inch pipe coming from our well. I let it run for 3 days continously once. [an attempt to flush the silt out]

How do you run it till no more comes out?

That might work with a dug well that has a low flow, but a deep drilled well in an area with a high water table would be a different story. I can fill my pool from the well with no problem.

(And what's up with people reviving threads which have been dead for a year or more?)

[Maine Writer]

(And what's up with people reviving threads which have been dead for a year or more?)

If a topic is useful to someone does it need an expiration date?

[Zymer]

Originally Posted by Maine Writer

If a topic is useful to someone does it need an expiration date?

General netiquette, and many users, would say yes. Usually, if one has some good info it is better to start a new thread instead of reviving an old one where the OP may no longer be around and/or the passage of time has rendered any additions moot.

Part of it maybe new posters seeing the "similar posts/threads" links and going to them and posting without looking at the date. Some of the ones I've seen recently have been dead for two or three years and no answers are relevant anymore.

I had thought that I had seen something in the TOS or a Mod comment regarding this but I can't find it. I did see some comments where it was said that City-Data encourages 'necroposting', though the users making the comments were disparaging of the practice.

My comment was intended to provide a hint that one should check the date and consider the relevancy, without singling anyone out.

[Northern Maine Land Man]

People have used water from these wells for many generations with no ill effects. The environmental industry is always calling wolf. The old standard for arsenic in drinking water was 50 parts per billion. The new standard is 10 parts per billion and their "recommended" standard is 5 parts per billion. They don't like it when someone questions their "recommended" standards. With so many generations drinking normal well water, we must question their motives for declaring rural wells to be unsuitable. We need look no further than their own stated goals. If they can instill fear of rural wells in home buyers, those buyers may opt to live in government approved apartments in "core service communities". It's called rural cleansing.

If you do let them spook you and you still want to buy a rural home, just get a reverse osmosis filter at a home supply store for under $300. The water test will pass. You don't need an expensive whole house system. Use your normal well water for laundry, flushing etc and just use the filtered system for cooking and drinking.

Problem solved.

[broadbill]

Originally Posted by Northern Maine Land Man

If they can instill fear of rural wells in home buyers, those buyers may opt to live in government approved apartments in "core service communities". It's called rural cleansing.

Wow, that's a stretch.

A better (and more simple) argument would be that the water filter company has lobbyists for the EPA pushing for stricter water quality standards. Stricter standards means more water filter units being sold. Good for business. Capitalism at its best.

I think you are giving our government agencies too much credit with this rural cleansing via well water bit.

[Northern Maine Land Man]

Government is gullible. It's the environmental industry that promotes this stuff. It is not based on science. It is based on their agenda.

[OutDoorNut]

Originally Posted by flycessna

Hey, my folks were purchasing a home here in Maine and the well water test came back "unsuitable for drinking". The radon level was high but it was the arsnic level of 7 times the alowable amount that hurt the rating and have completley freaked my folks out who are now considering walking away from the contract.

Anyone have experience with arsnic filters or just high readings? Can the heavy rains mess with the well water tests. This house is located on once farm land and the well is over 300 feet drilled.

Related article in today's Bangor Daily News.

Maine, NH, focus of arsenic studies: Maine, NH, focus of arsenic studies - Bangor Daily News (http://www.bangordailynews.com/story/Portland/Maine-NH-focus-of-arsenic-studies,153657 - broken link)


. . . . .

[Northern Maine Land Man]

There is "allowable" and "recommended".

Just buy a reverse osmosis filter for $300 or less and the minerals will read zero. Don't walk away from a deal for $300. Don't fall for rumors. Most water tests are accurate, but if a well is tested after being unused for a long time it is more relevant to test it again after using normal amounts of water. Minerals can leach out of bedrock and give false high readings.

And, yes, heavy rains can affect what is in some wells. Wells near long term potato fields often test high in nitrites and nitrates. The reverse osmosis filter will end that also.