Well water

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has issued Decree 401/2001 on the quality requirements and control studies of domestic water for small units. According to the regulation, domestic water must not contain micro-organisms, parasites or any substances in such quantities that could be harmful to human health. Domestic water must also be otherwise suitable for its intended use, and it must not cause harmful corrosion or the formation of harmful sediments in water pipes, in the property's own equipment or in water use equipment. The quality requirements for domestic water and the quality recommendations based on the usability of the water are in the annexes of the regulation. The regulation applies to individual wells and also to cabin wells from which domestic water is taken.

Good well water is an essential part of health protection. The condition of the well should be checked and, if necessary, serviced annually, and it is good to have the well water tested approximately every three years. As a place for a well it is worth choosing an area where the groundwater does not get dirty and the fluctuations in the groundwater level are small. A good well does not allow surface water, garbage or small animals to enter. The water in your own well should be tested approximately every 3 years!

In South Karelia, the laboratory that conducts official domestic water tests:

Saimaa Water and Environmental Research Oy
Hietakallionkatu 2
53850 Lappeenranta
Puh. 020 779 0470

The sample containers of Saimaa Vesi-ja umöristötutkimus Oy can be obtained from the municipal service points, where the samples can also be returned at certain times or taken directly to the laboratory. More detailed instructions and information can be found on the laboratory's website: sampling, collection and return points for sample bottles, household water research packages and price list, and referral form.

Other laboratories can be found in the Food Agency's economic water laboratories register.

Domestic water laboratories

Investigations of private commercial water wells are the responsibility of the owner of the well. Instructions for taking a water sample can be obtained from the laboratories that examine the samples and can also be asked from the environmental engineers of the health control.

In the control area of the environmental action of the Imatra region, the quality of well water varies considerably. The quality of well water can only be found out by examining a water sample. The Norwegian Health Authority recommends taking water samples from wells approximately every three years. The research should be comprehensive enough to find out if well water is safe to drink.

Well water can contain high iron and manganese concentrations from soil and bedrock. Boreholes can contain radon and radon can be a significant cause of radiation exposure. Radon can also sometimes be found in tire wells. Boreholes can also contain high concentrations of fluoride, arsenic, uranium and chloride. Salting of roads, old seabeds or waste water can cause high chloride concentrations.

In ring wells, problems are often caused by defects in the structure of the well and surface water or even sewage entering the well. Disease-causing microbes can enter the well along with surface water runoff. Small animals can also get into a poorly maintained well, which can spoil the water with microbes and cause the water to taste and smell bad.

Wells can have high nitrate concentrations. Nitrate enters groundwater from agricultural and livestock activities and wastewater. Groundwater in Finland is usually slightly acidic. A low pH can corrode pipes and e.g. copper can dissolve too much from the pipeline.

In Janika Kanto's thesis, which was published in 2022, the structural reasons for the concrete rings of domestic water wells were investigated. During the work, it turned out that the problem with the ring wells is that the well rings are installed the wrong way around, which causes surface water to enter the wells. In the old original well construction instructions, the rings were drawn inside out on the model drawings. Since 1996, handedness has been drawn correctly in the instruction drawings of the Finnish Environment Agency and Rakennustieto. According to the thesis survey, well rings are still installed the wrong way around according to the old instructions.

Thesis

More information and pictures of concrete rings for wells:
Virtanen, P. (January 25.1.2022, XNUMX). The effect of the handiness of concrete rings on covers and drinking water quality [webinar presentation]. Finnish Water Association.

The well's condition and structures must be checked regularly and broken or faulty structures must be repaired if necessary.

The quality of well water can be improved by renovating the well or acquiring a suitable water treatment device. If the groundwater in the area has been contaminated by e.g. sewage, it may be necessary to build a new well in a suitable location. Vesi.fi the data bank provides information on various water treatment methods.

Instructions on the correct way to install the tire well
In the past, there has been incorrect information in various sources about the installation of well rings, and in many wells the rings and the cover are facing the wrong way.
As a result, the impurities that came onto the deck get into the well with the rainwater.
With the right construction of the ring well, the long-term operation of the well is secured. The brochure illustrates the correct way of installing well rings.
Instructions for installing Kaivonrenka

Well water quality and treatment

Wells information can be found on the website