Water pollution can impact your overall health in multiple ways.. There are various steps involved in improving well water quality, from monitoring the water quality to well water treatment. Read this blog for more information.
Evidence reveals that about 44.5 million Americans who get their water supply from privately dug wells are at a higher risk of exposure to contaminants than those who get their water from a controlled community water supply.
There is also evidence to suggest that while many private wells provide high-quality water, a significant portion of them may contain contaminants. According to a study of waterborne illness outbreak data from 1971 to 2006, the proportion of outbreaks linked to public water supply declined while the incidence of outbreaks linked to private well pollution surged.
A variety of natural and manufactured contaminants can taint wells. Some contaminants, like coliform bacteria, will make you sick right away, while others, like radon or heavy metals, may not make you sick for years. Some have visible, taste, or odor indications, but that may be the limit of their impact. Others are unnoticed, yet they are potentially considerably more deadly.
The first step towards improving the quality of your well water is to identify the source of the problem. That said, the following are some of the tell-tale signs to indicate that your well water may be contaminated:
It's critical to test the safety and cleanliness of your well water. Because the EPA or state regulators do not control private wells, all water quality monitoring is your responsibility as a homeowner.Comprehensive monitoring followed by testing should be performed on a regular basis, and it should include tests for:
Bacteria, mercury, nitrates, arsenic, chromium 6, radon, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), as well as other chemicals and pollutants.
There are various indicators to look for when determining well water quality. The tester searches for a specific set of pollutants. The Water Quality Indicators (WQI) test will detect and quantify germs and other contaminants in water.
The occurrence of these water quality indicators does not necessarily imply that your well water is dangerous. On the other hand, authorities test for them since it is easy to check for them. It's also because it can reveal the existence of other pathogenic bacteria and sewage. They could be derived from either animal or human feces.
A water sample from your home's tap will be collected for well water testing. The water sample is then sent to a recognized testing facility that will give a report detailing the test's findings and the acceptable limits for each element. For suggestions on the type and frequency of appropriate testing for your location, it’s best to contact your local environmental health department.
As a well owner, you should make it a point to test your water at least once a year for bacteria, nitrates, and any other pollutants considered a problem in your area. If any of the following apply to your water, you should test it more frequently:
Contaminants aren't the sole reason that water needs to be treated. Some individuals want to treat their well water in order to improve its taste. Some folks prefer to take extra care to protect the well's users' health.
If you discover that your well water has become tainted, don't be too concerned. There are numerous treatment methods available.
A water filter is a device that removes a variety of pollutants and impurities from the water supply. To filter your water supply, a water filtration system could use a biological process, chemical, or physical barrier to filter your water supply. This is to ensure that it is suitable for consumption. These can include:
Chlorination renders germs inactive by dissolving their cell membranes. It can cause respiratory and DNA activities to be disrupted. It is possible to chlorinate at any time.
Aside from convenience, using a water softener has a number of advantages. It positively impacts the family budget and improves family health care outcomes. Here are a few more benefits of water softeners:
Well water can get contaminated and unfit for safe consumption for various reasons. We have considered most of these reasons in this article, and we hope that the discussion on identifying them and then finally taking measures to deal with them will help you improve the quality of your well water.