Water, water everywhere, but is it safe to drink?

Sampling for water health can be a beautiful process

We live in the middle of Roosevelt National Forest. Can't get much more natural than that. But, even the most natural thing, our well water, might not be the best for our health and wellness. Our well goes 500' down into the granite, pulling naturally filtered and naturally mineralized water up to our house. We test the water every few years. This year, we are doing a mega test--looking for the usual suspects like heavy metals, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and bacteria, but also radiation and forever chemicals (PFAS/GenX). 

Should you do this for your house? It depends. If you are on a well, absolutely. We found that wells in our neighboring mountain community had PFAS contamination because of firefighting training in the area. We live on old mining claims, so past industrial processes can show up years later. If you are on municipal water, you can always check their public information. Cities test at the source. But, if you have old pipes or infrastructure, it can be hazardous or just not optimal by the time it gets to your glass (think about Flint, Michigan). If you have a bad taste or bad smell that keeps you from drinking your own fresh water, go ahead and test for contaminants and minerals. 

I'll post about filtration options when we get our results!