Discussions with owners of wells indicated a general willingness to share wells for drinking water as long as people did not come to wash or water animals. The two common misconceptions regarding safe water are that the clearer water contains less bacteria than less clear water and that wells deeper than 150 feet provide safe water. There was great surprise that some of the 40 foot wells produced safer water than some of the 190 foot wells. Also there was surprise that some of the cloudy water was safer than some of the clear water. Only testing will identify safe water.
Testing also can provide a powerful educational and motivation tool.
The use of a filter membrane method, which allows visual inspection of colony forming units, is a powerful education device. Numerous families became very concerned about their water when they saw the colonies of bacteria on the petri dish and became very interested in what they might do to disinfect their water. In many cases it is likely that improvement in water quality can be obtained by improving well sanitation. Making certain that wells are properly grouted and sealed, that they have proper pads for drainage of waste water, and that only clean water is used for priming, are all simple and inexpensive methods of decreasing bacterial contamination. Well chlorination, which is not currently done, can be of benefit.