UV Water Filter: How UV Purifiers Work for Well Water
How UV water purifiers disinfect well water, what they need to work, how to size one and how to maintain it.
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Well Water Guides
Well Water: Test It, Treat It, Trust It
Private wells are not regulated by the EPA, so keeping the water safe is up to you. These guides show how to test your well, fix bacteria, sulfur smell, iron and sediment, and choose the right treatment system.
Essential Well Water Guides
New to owning a well? Read these first.
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Well Water Filtration System Guide
Test first, then build the right treatment train for your well.
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Well Water Testing
What to test, how often and how to collect a sample.
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Coliform Bacteria in Well Water
What a positive test means and how to fix it.
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How to Shock a Well
Shock chlorination step by step, with bleach amounts.
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Water Softener for Well Water
How iron and pump flow change softener sizing.
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Remove Iron From Well Water
Stop orange stains and metallic taste for good.
Common Well Water Problems
Find your symptom, then follow the guide.
| What you notice | Likely cause | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Rotten-egg smell | Hydrogen sulfide or sulfur bacteria | Sulfur smell fixes |
| Positive bacteria test | Coliform or E. coli | Coliform guide |
| Orange or brown stains | Iron | Iron removal |
| Sand or grit in the water | Sediment | Sediment filters |
| Milky or murky water | Air, sediment or minerals | Cloudy well water |
| White scale and spots | Hard water | Softeners for wells |
| Need ongoing disinfection | Recurring bacteria | UV water filters |
The Typical Well Water Treatment Order
Only add the stages your water test calls for.
Not sure where to start? Get a certified lab test, then enter your numbers in our free water test results checker to see which results are above EPA limits.
Latest Guides
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Cloudy Well Water: 6 Causes and How to Fix Each One
Why well water turns cloudy or milky, how to use the glass test to find the cause, and how to fix it.
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Coliform Bacteria in Well Water: What It Means and What to Do
What a positive coliform or E. coli test means for your well, what to do right away and how to make the water safe again.
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Well Water Smells Like Sulfur (Rotten Eggs)? Causes and Fixes
Why well water smells like rotten eggs, how to find the source, and which treatment removes the sulfur smell.
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Sediment Filter for Well Water: Micron Ratings, Types and Sizing
How to choose a sediment filter for well water: types, micron ratings, sizing, installation and replacement.
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How to Shock a Well: Step-by-Step Shock Chlorination Guide
When to shock chlorinate a well, how much bleach to use for your well size, and how to do it safely step by step.
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Well Water Filtration System: How to Choose the Right Setup
How to build the right well water filtration system: test first, match each problem to a treatment, and install the stages in the right order.
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Water Softener for Well Water: How to Choose and Size One
How to choose and size a water softener for well water, including iron-compensated hardness, pump flow and pre-filters.
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How to Remove Iron From Well Water (5 Proven Methods)
How to remove iron from well water: the types of iron, how to test, and the best and cheapest treatment options.
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Well Water Testing: What to Test, How Often and Cost
A complete guide to private well water testing: what to test for, how often, how to sample, what it costs and what to do with your results.
