Excessive amounts have been shown to cause a brown mottling discoloration of the teeth. Most well water in St. Charles County is very low in fluoride but some localized areas have levels exceeding 3.0 p.p.m. Many pediatricians request parents of their young patients to have private well water tested for fluoride. A variety of chemical tests are available to help determine the cause of specific problems associated with individual well water supplies. Sodium may be a concern for anyone on a medically restricted low-salt diet, especially if a water softener has been installed on the system.
Water softeners add sodium to the water in proportion to the amount of hardness they remove.
The Missouri Department of Health recommends that all private well water supplies be tested for coliform bacteria at least once a year. New wells should also be tested for a standard series of common chemicals in order to establish a baseline of drinking water quality. Routine testing for specific chemicals may be appropriate on an individual basis. Remember that a well is a man-made hole in the ground that interacts with Mother Nature. Conditions can change over time that affects the safety of the water you drink from any source.