Deephaven Private Well Water Guide

A Helpful Guide to Living with Private Well Water in Deephaven
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Deephaven: Scenic City, Nasty Water

Deephaven is a tranquil Lake Minnetonka community with a little over 3,700 residents. Several neighborhoods get water from the City of Minnetonka, but most residents and businesses draw water from private wells.

Well water conditions can vary tremendously - even between two neighboring homes. For that reason, this guide will offer a broad range of results that we have found through our service in the area.

If you would like the most accurate information possible, please contact us for a Free, No Obligation Water Test. Only once your water has been tested, you can then determine if any treatment is required.





Deephaven's Water Ranges from Hard to Extremely Hard

The national water hardness ranges from 4-5 grains. Wells in Deephaven range from 10 grains per gallon(gpg) up to 25gpg, which is about the same as the municipal wells used by The City of Minnetonka, and The City of Wayzata.

A good water softener will effectively treat hard water to protect glassware from etching. Soft water also benefits plumbing, appliances, and water heaters from damage caused by scale buildup. While a water softener is important, in Deephaven it is usually less important than a well designed iron filter system.



Iron - The Source of Deephaven's Red, Orange Water

Much like Arsenic, Iron levels can fluctuate greatly between wells. Rust stains and discoloration begin quickly at 0.3ppm of Iron. Test results range from 1ppm all the way up to 10ppm, with average levels in the 4-7ppm range.

Occasionally Iron Bacteria is also present, although it is mainly found in wells with higher iron levels. Orange slime, and an irridescent sheen in toilet tanks are good indicators of these troublesome microbes.

Additional water chemistry challenges in addition to high levels of iron have made Iron Filters very popular in Deephaven. Water softeners alone are only marginally effective at removing iron in Deephaven, and often result in stained laundry and fixtures.



Hydrogen Sulfide - Why Your Water Smells Like Rotten Eggs

Hydrogen sulfide gas can result from a number of different sources. It can occur naturally in groundwater, or it can be produced by certain “sulfur bacteria” in the groundwater. This bacteria can grow in the well, the water heater, or even inside plumbing.

Sulfur bacteria produce a slime and can promote the growth of other bacteria, such as iron bacteria. The slime can clog wells, plumbing, and irrigation systems. Hydrogen sulfide gas in water can cause black stains on silverware and plumbing fixtures. It can also corrode pipes and other metal components of the water distribution system.

Iron Filters that use aeration are effective at removing Hydrogen Sulfide gas, while a disinfectant like chlorine or hydrogen peroxide is required when bacteria is present.



Arsenic in Deephaven Well Water in the News

Arsenic has been a hot topic as Deephaven seems to have a higher than average occurance of Arsenic in the water.

Local state certified labs have tested Arsenic samples that we've collected throughout the city. Results have ranged from non-detectable(ND) up to 57ppb.

For more information, please visit our Guide to Arsenic.




Miscellaneous Water Contaminants

There are over 7,500 different contaminants found in groundwater in the United States. As a homeowner, business, or even municipality it's not cost effective or necessary to test for all of them.

Manganese, Tannins, Nitrates, and Coliform Bacteria are not widely found in Deephaven, but they could possibly occur. As the owner/operator of a private well, these contaminants would be cost effective to test each year.