We have a water well at our deer cabin in a very rural near Robert Lee in Coke County. No industrial activity or anything like that ever in that area. Should we be afraid to drink the water?? What harmful substances might this water possibly contain? Any health concerns with drinking this water?

Have it tested.

+1

I'd haul drinking water in....that's what we did with a place we had down in Coke County north of Bronte. Well water smelled funny though.

Yes, have it tested. And don't use one of those test kits from hardware stores. They only test water quality assuming the water has already passed government tests for bacterial and other content. They don't test for potability.

Where do I need to sent a sample to have it tested? Thanks

http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/lab/esTesting.shtm

http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/lab/mic-cm_home.shtm

you should have bacteriological test run. You can call local pubic water supply to see if they have any sample bottles and who does the testing or contact local TCEQ office and they can guide you. You can also have complete chemical analysis done. TCEQ office should have list of approved labs in your area and the labs should be able to provide sample container and instructions for sampling.

Just hook up a water filter with the charcoal .5 micron filter and drink up.

You city boys crack me up !

that or just bring in drinkin water, and u can use the water there to shower and what not.

I don't know why your worried Mykol, we used to drink water out of Bois d' arc creek on your dad's place. LOL

I'm not on a well. I'm on an old cistern. We have the water tested twice a year but we don't drink it unless it is boiled first. (Still smells like sulfer.) We wash dishes with it and bathe with it though. No effec$%^&*@#)!t's yet. The animals get it straight and doesn't bother them. As long as you boil it first it should be OK, unless you have a hog rendering plant, latrines, or a toxic waste dump above your creek. Course that won't do anything about the taste.

Can I tell the joke where Bois d' Arc creek got it's name?

if you drink it then get a funny feeling and have to run, dont drink it no more

I wouldn't call myself a "city boy" by a long shot, but I have had both dysentery and amoebiasis from well and creek waters. If a simple test can prevent disease it's kinda' dumb not to. Just because someone lives in a rural area is no excuse to live by 3rd world standards. The old "drink it and see what happens," is just plain stupid. Who knows what's in the watershed these days. The watershed that well draws from could expand for miles and miles, under and through God knows what. Animals are also not good indicators. Just because animals drink it is no indicator it's safe for us. Birds eat posion ivy berries, for example.

edited to add: This is where to send your water sample. The web-site tells you all about the process and how to do it. Or, contact your county cooperative extension agent. http://soiltesting.tamu.edu/

Don't listen to him dang it, drink it. LOL

Seriously, souunds like good advice Slow Drifter

Please tell, Nonsequitur, where did Bois d'arc creek get it's name....?

Bobby Joe took Sally May down a dirt road that had no name one night, with the intention of pitching a little woo.
As soon as Bobby Joe stopped the car and turned off the lights, Sally May said,
"Boy, it's dark!"

(Ducking from the thrown objects.)

Your county agent will furnish test bottles and you can mail them to A&M (they will give you Address) and have a complete check for $35.00. I checked mine when I drilled my well and before use.