During the summer, my parents' well water smells like motor oil? They are elderly and this concerns me. What can be done to get rid of the smell? Is their water dangerous to use?

Hi AG

The best advice I can give you here will be to get the well water tested from a local water testing company. If you look online (google) you may be able to find a well company that tests samples for free in your area.

Beware, however, that you'll want to send samples out to 2 or 3 companies to get their recommendations. In most cases, they will almost all recommend filter systems for you. That doesn't mean you have to purchase these systems, but at the least you will know about the quality of the water coming out of the ground... ;)

Check back a little later, too as plenty of the guys oinline here have extensive experience with wells and may have other thoughts to share, OK?

Mark

You should have a drain valve on the well piping to the tank. Often this is just a hose bib on the well piping. I suggest that you turn the pump off, open a faucet to let some air in and drain the tank. Then turn the pump back on with the drain valve open. Hopefully the drain valve is a hose bib to which you can attach a garden hose. The water from the well should come out the hose rather than into the tank. Check the water directly from the well. If you send a sample out for testing you would want it to be directly from the well in case there is some problem in some other part of the system.

How long has this been going on?