Heavy metals can contaminate private wells through groundwater movement and surface water seepage and run-off. People that consume high levels of heavy metals risk acute and chronic toxicity, liver, kidney, and intestinal damage, anemia, and cancer .
How do I know if my well water is contaminated?
One of the easiest ways to determine if your water is contaminated is by the smell of rotten eggs . A rotten egg smell points to sulfur bacteria or hydrogen sulfide gas in your water. Sulfur bacteria are naturally occurring. This bacteria forms through decay and chemical reactions with soil and rocks.
Can well water cause health issues?
Additional information about well maintenance and water testing is available at Healthy Water’s Well Testing page. The presence of contaminants in water can lead to health issues, including gastrointestinal illness, reproductive problems, and neurological disorders .
Is it safe to drink well water?
Well water can be safe for drinking and all other household needs , as long as you make sure to test your water supply regularly and select treatment solutions in line with your results. Learn more about the well water treatment options that are available for your specific needs.
What are the side effects of well water?
Health Risks
Symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, cramps, nausea, headaches, fever, fatigue , and even death sometimes. Infants, children, elderly people, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to get sick or die from disease-causing microorganisms in drinking water.
Does well water need to be filtered?
Well water may look, taste, and smell differently than water from a city home. ... When you own a home with a private well, the safety and quality of the water is your responsibility. Well water almost always requires some softening and filtration to make it ideal for drinking, cooking, and cleaning.
Is well water safer than city water?
As a natural source from the Earth, well water automatically tastes better than city water . Well water is also healthier because it’s full of minerals and isn’t treated with harsh chemicals. City water is treated with chlorine and fluoride because it comes from lakes and rivers with many pollutants.
Can I pour bleach down my well?
Mix 2 quarts bleach in 10 gallons of water; pour into well. Connect a garden hose to a nearby faucet and wash down the inside of the well. Open each faucet and let the water run until a strong chlorine odor is detected, then turn it off and go to the next one. ... Pour it into the well without pumping.
How often should you have your well water tested?
When should I have my well tested ? You should have your well tested once a year for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids, and pH levels. If you suspect other contaminants, you should test for those as well . However, spend time identifying potential problems first, as these tests can be expensive.
How fast does well water replenish?
The well’s size, the type of geology the well is in, and the condition of the well all factor into the recovery rate of a water well. Recovery rates can vary from a fraction of a gallon per minute to more than ten gallons per minute .
How can I naturally purify my well water?
- 1 – Boiling. Boiling water is the cheapest and safest method of water purification. ...
- 2 – Filtration. Filtration is one of the effective ways of purifying water and when using the right multimedia filters it’s effective in ridding water of the compounds. ...
- 3 – Distillation. ...
- 4 – Chlorination.
Can you drink untreated well water?
Your bare eyes cannot see the harmful bacteria, parasites, and infections. This is why water looks and tastes may not be safe to drink . Regardless of the possibility that you are not becoming ill, your well water may not be unsafe. A few contaminants found in well water can cause long-term health issues.
Can I boil well water to drink?
Boiling. If you don’t have safe bottled water, you should boil your water to make it safe to drink . Boiling is the surest method to kill disease-causing organisms, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites.
Can you get parasites from well water?
Swallowing contaminated water
The most common way to become infected with giardia is after swallowing unsafe (contaminated) water. Giardia parasites are found in lakes, ponds, rivers and streams worldwide, as well as in public water supplies, wells, cisterns, swimming pools, water parks and spas.
Why is my well water dirty?
The most common cause of dirty well water is simply a broken well pipe that is allowing dirt and surface run-off water to enter the well water . This can leave the water with an odor, bad taste and dirt in the bottom of your drinking glasses.
What are the benefits of drinking well water?
- Helps in weight loss. Drinking water is a great way to lose weight. ...
- Aids in maintaining a healthy heart. You can reduce your risk of having a heart attack by drinking water. ...
- Enhances brain function. ...
- Promotes healthy looking skin. ...
- Reduces muscle and joint inflammation.
