Editorial policy

Where our information comes from

We use primary sources wherever they exist:

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) drinking water standards and private well guidance
• State health departments and environmental agencies
• University extension services (for example Penn State, UMass Amherst, NDSU)
• Manufacturer specifications and certification listings (such as NSF/ANSI standards) for equipment limits

Every guide lists its sources at the bottom, with the date we last checked them.

How we write

• Symptom → test → fix. We explain the likely cause, how to confirm it, and which treatment fits which test result.
• Numbers, not adjectives. Where a treatment only works within a range (for example an iron level in mg/L), we give the range.
• Safety first. If a symptom could mean a health risk (bacteria, nitrate, flooding), we tell you to test before treating.
• We use AI tools to help draft and organize. Every page is reviewed, fact-checked against its sources, and edited by a person before it goes live.

Product recommendations

• We only say "we tested" or "hands-on" when we personally used the product.
• Otherwise we recommend based on what the product is designed and certified to remove, its rated limits, its maintenance needs, and long-term owner reports, and we say so.
• Affiliate commissions never decide a recommendation. See our affiliate disclosure.

Corrections and updates

We review guides at least once a year, and sooner when a standard changes. If you spot an error, tell us. We fix confirmed errors and update the page date.

Not professional advice

The Well Owner gives general information. It doesn't replace a certified laboratory test, your local health department, or a licensed well contractor.