If you are one of the thousands of homeowners in the greater Spokane area who rely on a private well for drinking water, the quality of that water is entirely your responsibility. There is no city water department testing it for you, no annual report arriving in your mailbox. What comes out of your tap is between you and your well.
That is not meant to be alarming — most well water in the Spokane area is excellent. But knowing what to test for, how often, and what the results mean is essential for protecting your family's health.
What Is in Spokane-Area Well Water?
The geology of the Inland Northwest gives us some of the best groundwater in the country, but it also creates specific water quality considerations that well owners should be aware of.
The Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer is one of the most productive aquifers in the western United States. It supplies water to much of Spokane and the surrounding area. If your well taps into this aquifer, you are generally working with clean, high-quality water. However, the aquifer is a sole-source designation, meaning it is the only drinking water source for the region, and it is vulnerable to contamination from the surface.
Hardness is common in Spokane-area well water. Hard water contains elevated levels of calcium and magnesium, which are not a health risk but can cause scale buildup in pipes and water heaters, reduce soap efficiency, and leave spots on dishes and fixtures. Many Spokane-area wells produce water in the moderately hard to hard range (7 to 15 grains per gallon).
Iron and manganese are naturally present in the geology of some areas, particularly near creek drainages, in certain geological formations south and west of Spokane, and in deeper wells that penetrate different rock layers. Iron causes orange or reddish staining on fixtures and laundry. Manganese causes black staining. Neither is a significant health hazard at typical concentrations, but they are aesthetic nuisances that can be treated with filtration.
Arsenic is a naturally occurring element found in some areas of the Inland Northwest. It is odorless, colorless, and tasteless, so testing is the only way to know if it is present in your water. The EPA maximum contaminant level is 10 parts per billion. Long-term exposure above this level is associated with health risks, and treatment systems are available to reduce arsenic to safe levels.
Nitrate contamination can occur in areas near agricultural operations, feedlots, or where septic systems are concentrated. The EPA limit for nitrate is 10 milligrams per liter. Elevated nitrate is particularly dangerous for infants under six months of age.
Bacterial contamination is always a possibility with private wells, especially after flooding, heavy rains, or if the well cap or casing has been compromised. Coliform bacteria indicate that surface water may be entering the well, and E. coli specifically indicates contamination from human or animal waste.
How Often Should You Test?
The Washington Department of Health recommends testing private well water at least once a year for coliform bacteria and nitrate. Beyond that annual baseline, you should test more frequently or for additional parameters if you notice any change in taste, smell, or appearance of your water, if flooding or heavy rainfall has occurred near your well, if there has been construction, drilling, or blasting in your area, if someone in your household develops unexplained gastrointestinal illness, or if you have not tested in more than a year.
For comprehensive peace of mind, we recommend a full panel test every three to five years that includes bacteria, nitrate, arsenic, hardness, iron, manganese, pH, and any other parameters relevant to your area.
What to Do If Your Water Fails a Test
A failed test is not a reason to panic, but it is a reason to act.
If your water tests positive for coliform bacteria, the first step is usually a shock chlorination (disinfection) of the well, followed by a re-test. In many cases, a single disinfection clears the issue. If bacteria persist after disinfection, there may be a physical defect in the well — a cracked casing, damaged well cap, or surface water intrusion point — that needs to be identified and repaired.
If nitrate, arsenic, or other contaminants exceed safe levels, treatment options exist. Reverse osmosis systems are effective for a wide range of contaminants. Specialty media filters can target specific issues like arsenic, iron, or manganese. UV disinfection systems provide ongoing protection against bacterial contamination.
The key is to identify the specific contaminant and its concentration so the right treatment system can be selected. A water treatment system that is not matched to the actual problem is wasted money.
Protecting Your Well From Contamination
Prevention is always better than treatment. Here are practical steps every Spokane-area well owner should follow to protect their water supply.
Keep the area around your wellhead clear and clean. Do not store chemicals, fertilizers, gasoline, oil, paint, or pesticides anywhere near the well. Ensure surface water drains away from the wellhead, not toward it.
Inspect your well cap at least once a year. It should be securely in place, not cracked, and properly sealed against insects and small animals. A damaged well cap is one of the easiest contamination entry points and one of the cheapest to fix.
Know the location of your septic system relative to your well. Washington State requires a minimum separation distance between wells and septic systems. If your septic system is getting old or has not been pumped regularly, it could be a contamination source.
If you are doing any construction, landscaping, or excavation on your property, be mindful of your well's location. Heavy equipment driving over the well area can damage the casing below grade.
Get Your Water Tested
If you have not tested your well water recently, or if you have noticed any changes in your water quality, Pump Division can help. We provide professional water sampling and testing through certified Washington State laboratories, and if your results indicate a problem, we can recommend and install the right treatment solution.
Call us at (509) 214-9355 or visit SpokanePumpRepairs.com to schedule a water test. We serve homeowners throughout Spokane, Spokane Valley, and the greater Inland Northwest.
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