A new report suggests private well water should be tested yearly, and in some cases more often, to minimize health risks to children.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the new guidance has been published by the American Academy of Pediatrics and calls for annual well testing, especially for nitrate and microorganisms such as coliform bacteria, which can indicate that sewage has contaminated the well.

It also specifies that additional testing should take place when there is a new infant in the house or if the well is subjected to structural damage.

“Children are especially vulnerable to waterborne illnesses that may come from contaminated wells,” says Dr. Walter J. Rogan, an epidemiologist and lead author of the policy statement and technical report that appears in the June issue of Pediatrics.

The researchers say nitrate, which comes from sewage or fertilizer, is the most common contaminant in wells and is problematic because infants under three months of age cannot metabolize nitrate.

According to NIH, approximately one-sixth of U.S. households get their drinking water from private wells.

To protect themselves and their families from poor water quality, some people have turned to alkaline water. It has a higher pH level, and there is evidence it may help to neutralize stored acids and toxins and facilitate their removal from the body.

Some also believe alkaline water can help resist disease and slow the aging process.