With much of the U.S. in the midst of a record-breaking drought, cities are requesting – and sometimes requiring – their customers to cut back on water usage. If you own a private well, you might be tempted to think that drought conditions won’t affect you, but unfortunately this is not the case. From keeping the water running to increased contaminant concentrations, you have more responsibility than your friends and neighbors on city water.

Signs that your well is affected by drought

Shallow wells are more susceptible to running dry, but even if you have a deep water well you aren’t immune to challenges. While it will take longer before they’re affected by drought conditions, deep water wells can take a long time to recover from a drought. If you hear your pump running more frequently than usual, if you notice air bubbles coming out of your faucet, or if you have already started to experience brief water outages, it’s time to initiate water saving measures.

Use well water responsibly

Across Texas and Georgia, demand for new water wells is so high that the waiting list is anywhere from 2-4 months to have a new well drilled or an existing well drilled deeper in search of water. Some families are going without running water while they wait. Remember that aquifers are connected and can span hundreds of miles, so your water habits will ultimately affect others. While your city might not be fining you for keeping your lawn green, your habits might be depriving others of the water they need to live.

Drought conditions and water contamination

As water levels in aquifers decline, naturally present water contaminants like arsenic and chromium 6, as well as residuals of pesticides, herbicides and other man-made contaminants, become more concentrated. This means that your well water can go from being considered safe to toxic in a very short period of time. Often, concentrations of non-harmful but more noticeable iron and sulfur odors will also increase. Iron Shield+ with Toxin Guard will protect against iron, sulfur odors and harmful toxins, so you can feel comfortable using your water again.

For more information about Iron Shield+ with Toxin Guard, or water contaminants in general, give us a call at 1 (877)708-3338. We’re happy to help provide you with the best solution to care for your well!