Here’s the truth: home kits can’t detect bacteria like E. coli or coliform. They also don’t check for arsenic, radon, or pesticides—things that might be seeping into your well from a neighbor’s farm or a nearby fracking site. At least once a year, send a sample to a certified lab. It costs between $50 and $150, but it’s cheaper than a hospital visit.
How do you collect the sample? Buy a sterile bottle from the lab—don’t use an old Gatorade bottle, unless you want to drink regret again. Fill it to the line, screw the cap on tight, and mail it the same day. Don’t refrigerate it; bacteria need to stay alive for the test to work.
I know, paperwork is boring. But do you know what’s more boring? Explaining to your in-laws why everyone got diarrhea after Thanksgiving. Do the test.
