New York doesn't regulate or require testing of residential well water

These days with all the contaminants in all drinking water, all wells should be tested for contaminents. Good well water is a treasure thats hard to find. There is so much more than arsenic to worry about. I dont know if you all remember, or care, about my parents well contaminated from E-coli. They were sick for almost a year, until they had their water tested. They had to drill a new, deeper well, to get rid of the stuff.

Sad even bottled water, no matter the brand, has carsinigens from the plastic bottles, and other contaminents.
I think it is very important that we as humans monitor what we are ingesting.
With that, most certainly all wells should be tested.
in my opinion

We don't need a government regulation for this.

It's simple if you aren't smart enough to test your water you don't live to have children of your own and ruin the gene pool.

OMG Peter, The things you come up with..........

If this became some sort of NYS regulation. Who would be testing it? How would we pay for the labor or the tests? How often would they be tested? Would people on city water (or some other type of public water) be forced to pay for the testing of the water in wells?

I think it's ridiculous that the state doesn't know how many people are on wells and whatnot, but to say that there needs to be regulated testing brings up a lot of questions.

oh please, its a play on an old George Carlin line.

Genesee County Health Department will test well water for bacterial contamination for $60. They also do nitrate testing. If the testing relates to existing health issues, accompanied by a Doctor's script, the testing is free. Currently the agency is involved in a countywide survey of wells for pesticide contamination- a cooperative program with Cornell University.

Since well drilling is not regulated, there would be no record of wells. Some wells were drilled/dug decades ago. Not all wells are for residential purposes.

In the event of an industrial accident, chemical spill or hazardous dump, testing is part of the clean up procedures. Several such incidents are on record: the Lehigh Valley train wreck in the LeRoy/Lime Rock area that ruptured tank cars: one ton of cyanide crystals and around 30,000 gallons of Trichloroethene. Public water has been piped in to mitigate that situation. The Byron Barrel and Drum site was discovered in 1982, requiring removal of over 400 drums and approximately 64 tons of soil contaminated with volatile organic chemicals. The former Batavia Landfill near Galloway Road is an ongoing concern because industrial contaminants have migrated toward Oakfield's aquifer. All three are listed New York State EPA hazardous sites.

As Karen mentioned, anyone who draws water in a agricultural setting should be concerned as to bacterial, pesticide, herbicide, arsenic and nitrate content in drinking water. Other persistent water quality issues such as extreme hardness, sulphur compounds and iron make private wells a gamble.

Some water softener companies will test your water preliminary to recommending a treatment system. Most offer diagnostic kits for under $200.

I could understand the state requiring more extensive testing of a well when there is a property transfer, but that is about it. Then again, caveat emptor applies as well.

Don't expect the folks hooked up to public water to subsidize the cost of testing for a private water supply.

Actually, it would be in everyone's interest if the wells were tested. Mapping groundwater contamination would show where toxicity exists, project sources/migration and flag hazards that otherwise are invisible. This problem is more pervasive than anyone imagines. We shouldn't have to wait for Love Canal situations to alert us. Batavia's landfill is just one of thousands in the state. Your water may not come from a private well, but it is vulnerable, none-the-less. ...Just as your basement walls are not impervious to chemical leaching.

Put that in your gene pool!

And look out for that fluoride!

Seriously folks its not the nightmare scenario its made out to be. If you are on a well you should know the consequences of not testing and if that's not enough then screw 'em.

Ahhh Yah Floride too Peter. That is why the dentist just instructed my 10 yr old daughter NOT to swallow the floride in her treatment?? I just think you like to make silly comments, just to TRY-and I say TRY to upset people. Doesn't work for me. TRY being logical and nice for once. Your comments are juvenile, and at times ignorant. If you don't give a SH** then fine dude life will go on. Whats your deal??? You will make someone a good X Husband some day at this rate. I just dont get it??

C.M., tell me more about the Byron barrel and drum site. Where can I find more info. Thats where I grew up! Wow I never knew about this. We grew up on Chapell Rd.

Actually, he'll make a great husband in just over a year.

Both sides have a point, testing wells would be good for those on wells. However, for those of us NOT on wells, I don't like to pay fees for services I'm not using. Testing the wells would be good to trace contaminants and toxins, but at the same time people on public water pay for testing through their water bills...

How do other states handle this?

Found the site with list of potential parties, responsible for dumping all kinds of toxic barrels, and drums @ the site on Townline Rd. in the Byron, Elba area.

Peter's comments are hilarious and perfectly said.

Just a tidbit for thought- when disposal of toxic waste began to be monitored and licensed, those who wanted to dispose of waste without conscience would hire tank trucks. The trucks would haul the waste chemicals to remote places (like the Adirondack Mountains) and under cover of night, open up the drain cocks and let the liquid run out on the road as they drove along.

The old truism: What you don't know can't hurt you," is is like a mantra to some. I'm surprised it hasn't replaced "In God We Trust" on our currency. Then, again, philosophically speaking; there isn't much difference between the two.

Little did I know how close this site was to my parents home. Two blocks away. Right now I am reading about the open, multi-million dollar law suit going for people affected by this site in Byron, for those within 2 miles. This toxic site is off Townline Rd.{Transit Rd.}and is on the Elba Muck. Tonight we took a ride down Transit, only to find trailers full of people living right on top of this dump site. These poor people, I wonder if they even know...

One in the same, Karen.

I really dont understand what anyones marital status has to do with all this unless its an underlying issue for the person using that as a retort for their own personal conflicts. I would love to post on this but I am not married nor have I ever been so anything negative i may have to say might be construed as an abusive no good child neglectore and women beater. I dont have a dog to kick so i am going to log off and abuse my cat !

Cool, good to see your still around. I am happy to have found you on here.
Peace and Love

I would love to have public water,but there are no districts coming by my house in the next few years at least-it will be stopping about a 1/2 mile up the road for now,and an extension will come down Sweetland for future hookup.The 2 houses on that part of Sweetland are fighting it tooth and nail-they don't want to pay for having the line go by their house when they don't want it.So in the meantime I have to deal w/good ol'sulfur,iron,and whatever else is in there now.

yes Bob, where are you from?? I have been on the EPA website and others for a few hours now, and it is suprising the number of toxic dump sites there are right under our noses. Especially region 8. I cant believe all the companies that trucked their toxic crap to our area, dumped it and got away with destroying our environment, and water. Still reading....

Thanks Chris.