Water Well Journal Q&A

STEVE STONE
VIQUA’s training and program manager previews his microbial contamination workshop at Groundwater Week 2026.

By Mike Price

Steve Stone of VIQUA has been in the residential water treatment industry for more than 20 years focused mainly on residential point-of-entry ultraviolet treatment.

Steve Stone

Having spent the bulk of his career in senior commercial roles, he carries not only a deep understanding of the technology and application but equal depth in the customer throughout the value chain.

Stone will be presenting the Groundwater Week 2026 workshop “Invisible Invaders: Microbes That Challenge Water Well Professionals” in the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Water Well Journal caught up with Stone to learn more about his workshop, which will take place from 2:30-3:30 p.m. on December 9.

Water Well Journal: What are the primary “invisible” microbial culprits that routinely fool drillers and pump installers?
Steve Stone: Iron-related bacteria, sulfate-reducing bacteria, and slime- or biofilm-producing organisms can certainly create problems in wells, including odors, staining, slime, plugging, and corrosion.

But some of the microbes we should be most concerned about may give us no obvious warning at all. Water can look crystal clear, smell fine, and taste perfectly normal and still contain potentially harmful microorganisms.

That’s one of the major messages behind “Invisible Invaders”: You can’t determine the microbial safety of well water by looking at it. You have to test it. Every well should be an opportunity to talk about water testing and, when appropriate, an ongoing barrier of protection such as UV [ultraviolet] disinfection.

WWJ: How can a water well professional spot early, hidden signs of microbial activity before a total system failure or severe water quality complaint occurs?
Stone: Odors, staining, slime, changes in water quality, plugging, and declining system performance can all tell us that something is happening. But what about the well that isn’t giving us any warning? That’s where we can get into trouble. The absence of symptoms doesn’t necessarily mean the absence of a microbial problem.

Instead of waiting for the homeowner to complain, we should be encouraging routine water testing. In “Invisible Invaders” we’ll talk about why testing should become part of the normal conversation anytime we’re working on a private well.

WWJ: What are the limitations of standard, quick field test kits versus certified laboratory DNA or culturing tests when diagnosing a stubborn well?
Stone: Field tests can be useful tools, but we also need to understand what a particular test can—and cannot—tell us.

When microbial contamination is a concern, proper sampling and appropriate laboratory testing can provide information that we simply can’t get by looking at the water or performing a basic field assessment.

One of the things I want attendees to leave the workshop thinking about is: When was the last time someone tested this well? If we don’t know what’s in the water, it’s difficult to make an informed decision about how to protect the people drinking it.

WWJ: Why do biofilms act as such a resilient shield for microbes inside casings, screens, and aquifers, and why do traditional shock chlorination methods often fail to clear them?
Stone: Biofilms are particularly challenging because microorganisms can attach to surfaces and become protected within that environment. That can make them much more difficult to address than microorganisms simply suspended in the water.

Shock chlorination absolutely has a place in well service and remediation, but we also need to recognize an important distinction: Disinfecting a well today doesn’t necessarily provide protection from contamination tomorrow.

That is why testing after remediation is so important—and why an ongoing treatment strategy may need to be part of the conversation.

One of the things I want attendees to leave the workshop thinking about is: When was the last time someone tested this well? If we don’t know what’s in the water, it’s difficult to make an informed decision about how to protect the people drinking it.

WWJ: How do these microscopic colonies accelerate well aging, corrosion, and encrustation compared to standard mineral scaling?
Stone: Microbial activity can contribute to slime, deposits, plugging, corrosion, and declining system performance. What appears to be purely a mineral or mechanical problem may have a biological component as well.

That is another reason water professionals need to think beyond what they can physically see when pulling a pump or inspecting equipment.

During “Invisible Invaders” we’ll discuss how recognizing the possibility of microbial activity can change the questions we ask, the tests we recommend, and ultimately how we approach the well.

WWJ: What specific physical or mechanical pretreatments are necessary to break down
microbial slime before chemical treatment can work effectively?
Stone: This is where understanding the problem before choosing the solution becomes critical. Heavy slime, deposits, and biofilm may require physical or mechanical cleaning as part of a larger rehabilitation process before chemical treatment can be fully effective.

But rehabilitation is only one part of the story. Once you’ve addressed the existing problem, how do you know the water is safe? And what protects that homeowner going forward?

Those are exactly the kinds of questions I want well professionals asking. Testing verifies what we’re dealing with, and ongoing treatment technologies—including UV disinfection when appropriate—can provide another barrier of protection.

WWJ: What is your go-to protocol for rehabilitating a heavily biofouled well without damaging the surrounding aquifer or the physical well infrastructure?
Stone: There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer, and that’s actually an important point. The condition of the well, construction, water chemistry, type and severity of fouling, and test results all need to be considered before developing a rehabilitation strategy.

But regardless of the rehabilitation method, I believe verification should be part of the process. Don’t simply assume that because we’ve cleaned or disinfected the well, the job is finished. Test the water.

If that well has demonstrated vulnerability to microbial contamination, we should be talking with the homeowner about whether an ongoing disinfection barrier makes sense.

WWJ: How has chemical and non-chemical remediation technology evolved over the past few years to handle resistant microbial threats?
Stone: We have more tools available today to identify, remediate, and manage microbial problems than ever before. But technology alone doesn’t solve the problem if we aren’t looking for it.

For me, one of the biggest opportunities isn’t simply a new chemical or piece of equipment: it’s changing our mindset.

Every time we drill a well, replace a pump, service a pressure system, or work on an existing well, we have an opportunity to ask: Has this water been tested? If we’re concerned about microbial contamination, what are we doing to provide protection after we leave?

WWJ: What proactive maintenance advice should well contractors give to system owners to keep these subterranean invaders from returning post-rehabilitation?
Stone: First and foremost: test the water routinely.

A private well owner shouldn’t wait until the water smells bad, changes color, or makes someone concerned before thinking about water quality. Conditions surrounding a well can change, and contamination isn’t always accompanied by a warning sign.

Contractors are in a unique position because homeowners trust us to help them understand their water systems. We should use that opportunity to talk about routine testing, proper well maintenance, protecting the wellhead from potential contamination sources, and appropriate treatment.

When microbial risk is present, UV disinfection can also be considered as part of a multi-barrier approach to protecting the water entering the home.

WWJ: Lastly, what do you want attendees to take away from your Groundwater Week 2026 workshop?
Stone: If attendees leave “Invisible Invaders” remembering one thing, I want it to be this: You can’t see bacteria. You can’t smell every microbial problem. And clear water doesn’t necessarily mean safe water.

As water well professionals, we have an incredible opportunity to do more than drill a well, install a pump, or fix a mechanical problem. We can start conversations that help protect the families who depend on that well every day.

My challenge is simple: Make water testing part of every well conversation.

Know what’s in the water. Understand the potential risks. When microbial contamination is a concern, think beyond a one-time fix and consider whether an ongoing barrier such as UV disinfection belongs in the treatment strategy.

That’s what “Invisible Invaders” is really about: Learning to recognize the threats we can’t see and making sure we don’t overlook them simply because the water looks good.

Mike Price is the senior editor of Water Well Journal. In addition to his WWJ responsibilities, Price contributes to the Association’s scientific publications. He can be reached at mprice@ngwa.org, or at (800) 551-7379, ext. 1541.