What happens if your well water is contaminated?
What happens if your well water is contaminated?
Organic chemicals can enter ground water and contaminate private wells through waste disposal, spills, and surface water run-off. People that consume high levels of organic chemicals may suffer from damage to their kidneys, liver, circulatory system, nervous system, and reproductive system.
How do you fix a contaminated water well?
On-site treatment processes like disinfection, distillation, and filtration may remove the contaminants found in your well water. However, depending on the contaminant, its concentration, and the condition of the well, you may need a new source of water or to drill a new well.
What is the most common contaminant in well water?
Lead. Lead is a primary contaminant and can cause physical and mental development delays, kidney problems, or high blood pressure. In older systems where lead pipes are used, lead can enter the drinking water if the pipes corrode. Copper.
How long does it take to get sick after drinking contaminated water?
Symptoms of gastrointestinal illness from contaminated water can include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea and vomiting. Those symptoms can take 24 to 48 hours to develop, says Forni, so you might not get sick for a day or two after drinking bad water.
How do you tell if your well water is contaminated?
Visible Signs to Look Out For
- Scale or Scum. Scale buildup or a scummy feeling from water is often associated with calcium or magnesium.
- Unclear or Turbid Water.
- Green Stains on Sinks or Faucets.
- Brown or Red Stains on Sinks, Clothes, or Dishwasher.
- Salty Taste.
- Soapy Taste.
- Chemical Taste.
- Metallic Taste.
How do you know if your water is contaminated?
Top 8 Signs That You’re Drinking Contaminated Water
- Cloudy. Don’t drink your water if it appears cloudy.
- Sediment.
- Brown or Orange Hue.
- Oily Film atop Standing Water.
- Chlorine Scent.
- Sulfur Scent.
- Metallic Taste.
- Rusted Silverware.
What diseases can you get from well water?
While most coliform bacteria do not cause disease, their presence suggests there may be disease-causing microorganisms in your water. These microorganisms can cause diarrheas, dysenteries, salmonellosis, hepatitis, and giardiasis.
How common is well water contamination?
Californians are largely left in the dark about the safety of their drinking water: Less than 9% of roughly 14,350 public drinking water wells in the state have been tested for PFOA and PFOS. State requirements have focused on areas considered vulnerable to contamination, such as near airports and landfills.
Can contaminated well water make you sick?
Can bacteria in well water make you sick? yes, household well water that is contaminated likely holds coliform bacteria and E-coli. These microorganisms can be the cause of enteric diseases.
How long does it take to get sick from contaminated water?
