Looks and taste do not tell you
Groundwater can look clear and taste fine and still contain germs or harmful minerals. In some areas ground water can also be too salty, or contain substances like arsenic. A new bore, a bore near a drain, septic tank or fields, or a bore where people often get stomach illness are good reasons to test the water. Water from a new bore can also be muddy at first and clear up after running for some time.
How to get it tested
- Use a recognised water testing laboratory, for example one run by a university, a government department or a well-known private lab. Ask what the test covers.
- Take the sample as the lab tells you. Usually this means a clean bottle that they give you or tell you to use, filled after the pump has run for a few minutes, and taken to the lab soon.
- Ask the lab to explain the report in simple words and what is above the safe limit, if anything.
If the result is bad
- Don't keep drinking the water while you decide. Use another safe source meanwhile.
- Boiling kills germs but does not remove salts or arsenic. Different problems need different filters, so choose the filter based on the report, not on an advertisement.
- Ask a health professional if people at home have been sick. Your tank also needs regular cleaning, since dirty tanks can spoil good water.