Hatteras Glass
New Member
About 3 months ago, I had a new 4" PVC well and submersible pump installed at my house (for potable water purposes) after the old one collapsed. I also bought an ionization water treatment system to handle the high iron and hydrogen sulfide levels found in the groundwater of my coastal area. I am told by the well driller that it is about an 80' well in total. No well driller I contacted would give me a written quote. I was out of town on business when the work was done. My wife paid them upon "completion."
The ionzation system works great and needs no salt to treat and soften the water. I'm quite happy with it.
My problems are:
1. I just failed my 6th chlorination test (the County Health Dept. has to test all new wells for fecal and total coliform bacteria). In all cases, it has passed the fecal coliform but has failed the total coliform for both the house and the well. To the well driller's credit, they have worked hard to re-treat the house and well and have kept trying - to no avail. In each case though, they never come when the inspector is scheduled to arrive to make sure that the test is taken correctly and that to maybe help it along by heating the point of sampling with a torch, etc.
They are now only interested in making sure that the well passes as the house is "my responsibility." The tests are $70 a pop and I paid for the first two. He has paid for the last 4. The first used bleach and have since moved on to hydrogen peroxide as the cleaninig agent.
We did apparently discover that my bladder tank was shot (it was about 5 years old) but I replaced it and failed the test yet again.
2. When the pump clicks on and off, I can hear it like it is right outside my bedroom window (which it isnt - its about 40' from the house and probably 70 feet underground). I can feel the vibrations in my deck furniture.
3. I am getting sand (not alot but noticeable) at alot of my fixtures. It goes away after I flush the house but I always find it a little bit in my dishwasher.
So, my questions are to the numbers above:
1. What could be causing this to happen? Who is responsible for making sure the well passes? What about the house? What can I do?
2. Why is this happening?
3. Is this normal? Is there a construction defect? It seems to me that a sand filter would be partially useless as the sand is still going through the pump before it hits the house. I have only had to clean the aerators once since the well was installed. Sand isnt good for much of anything and cant be good for the system as a whole.
Right now, I feel like I just bought a $5,000 irrigation well that I didnt need. I cannot sell the house until this is cleared up. The company is reputable and does alot of work with my wife's engineering company.
What obligation does a well driller have to provide potable water? I mean - could they show up, drill a well, be paid, and walk away even though they water is non-potable, it pulls alot of sand, it makes a heck of alot of noise, and because after all - "they drilled a well." At this point, I'm just glad they are taking my phone calls.
As you can probably tell, I'm starting to panic a little. Talk me away from the ledge.
The ionzation system works great and needs no salt to treat and soften the water. I'm quite happy with it.
My problems are:
1. I just failed my 6th chlorination test (the County Health Dept. has to test all new wells for fecal and total coliform bacteria). In all cases, it has passed the fecal coliform but has failed the total coliform for both the house and the well. To the well driller's credit, they have worked hard to re-treat the house and well and have kept trying - to no avail. In each case though, they never come when the inspector is scheduled to arrive to make sure that the test is taken correctly and that to maybe help it along by heating the point of sampling with a torch, etc.
They are now only interested in making sure that the well passes as the house is "my responsibility." The tests are $70 a pop and I paid for the first two. He has paid for the last 4. The first used bleach and have since moved on to hydrogen peroxide as the cleaninig agent.
We did apparently discover that my bladder tank was shot (it was about 5 years old) but I replaced it and failed the test yet again.
2. When the pump clicks on and off, I can hear it like it is right outside my bedroom window (which it isnt - its about 40' from the house and probably 70 feet underground). I can feel the vibrations in my deck furniture.
3. I am getting sand (not alot but noticeable) at alot of my fixtures. It goes away after I flush the house but I always find it a little bit in my dishwasher.
So, my questions are to the numbers above:
1. What could be causing this to happen? Who is responsible for making sure the well passes? What about the house? What can I do?
2. Why is this happening?
3. Is this normal? Is there a construction defect? It seems to me that a sand filter would be partially useless as the sand is still going through the pump before it hits the house. I have only had to clean the aerators once since the well was installed. Sand isnt good for much of anything and cant be good for the system as a whole.
Right now, I feel like I just bought a $5,000 irrigation well that I didnt need. I cannot sell the house until this is cleared up. The company is reputable and does alot of work with my wife's engineering company.
What obligation does a well driller have to provide potable water? I mean - could they show up, drill a well, be paid, and walk away even though they water is non-potable, it pulls alot of sand, it makes a heck of alot of noise, and because after all - "they drilled a well." At this point, I'm just glad they are taking my phone calls.
As you can probably tell, I'm starting to panic a little. Talk me away from the ledge.