Have you ever wondered what's under those well covers?  Besides snakes...

 

Well...yesterday we were walking the loop, and saw Jim and CB down by well #7.  It's the one down by the creek, near the chestnut trees.  This is what we saw!!!  

 

They were obviously working on the well, but I asked anyway:  Hey, what's up?  The answer was very interesting, and I thought you might like to know about it.

 

CB was installing an Ultraviolet sterilizer to the wellhead.  See that silver cylinder toward the back?  That is the housing for a UV light bulb.  Well #7 has often failed the bacteria test, so this is a reasonable solution for this well.  Not all our wells need this type of treatment system;  they've tested fine for years.

 

I learned that the UV sterilizer doesn't sterilize the water, but disrupts the DNA of bacteria and viruses, preventing them from performing certain cellular functions, essentially disabling them from contaminating the water.  There will also be a 20 micron filter in line before the UV sterilizer, to filter out most of the particles so they don't interfere with the UV system.  

 

This method for water treatment has been in use since the mid-20th century, and is called Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation, (UVGI).  Wikipedia has a good article if you want to explore it further.  Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation

 

A number of residents have installed UVGI systems in their homes, and they offer a sense of confidence when the natural eColi blooms.  But don't think that it comes cheap.  There are perpetual costs:  the UV tube needs to be replaced yearly, and the 20 micron filter even more often, costing hundreds of dollars.  And that's true with the system installed on well #7.  Perpetual costs are part of solving problems like this, but focusing on the safety of the community is the goal.

 

Oh, in case you're  wondering:  these UV tubes are generally using the spectrum called UV-C which kills lots of stuff, (including COVID).  

 

 

THAT'S WHAT I KNOW ABOUT IT.