Is My Well Water Contaminated? Signs to Look Out For
June 10, 2022
Clean water is essential not only at home but also on the farm. Contaminated water can cause dysentery, typhoid fever, cholera, or Hepatitis A. Therefore, if you have a well for either irrigation or home use, ensure that the water from the well is safe for use.
Potential well water contaminants such as microorganisms, heavy metals, pesticides, petroleum products, and pharmaceuticals can find their way into your well through surface water runoff, spills, or leakage of underground waste disposal.
So, how do you know that your well water is contaminated? Below are some signs to look out for.
Cloudy Appearance Cloudiness in well water has several explanations, but the most alarming possibilities are surface water seepage or excess manganese or iron content. While the sediments from surface water seepage and the excess natural minerals are no cause for alarm, the water may have an unpleasant taste and smell, making it unfit for consumption.
Also, since surface water seepages could bring pollutants such as pesticides, heavy metals, and pathogens into your well, test your cloudy well water before use.
Visible Sediments Since well water comes from the ground, sediment issues are obvious. However, excess sediments can render water unsafe for human consumption. Therefore, if the sediment issue persists, check your filtration system and do the required maintenance, like replacing filter cartridges and removing the collected sediment.
Also, unless the sediments are identifiable, like sand and dirt, testing is essential to verify the safety of your well water. A test will help you check if your well water has contaminants like bacteria, chemicals, heavy metals, or excess minerals.
Oily Film on Standing Water A thin oily film above your well water indicates that it contains petroleum contaminants like oil and grease. Potential sources of oil contamination in well water include a leaking underground storage tank, contaminated water runoff, and oil spills.
Sulfur Smell The two primary causes of sulfur smell in well water are sulfur bacteria and hydrogen sulfide. The possible lack of oxygen in a deep well provides the perfect environment for the sulfur bacteria that happens when rocks in the soil decay.
In addition to harming your well water's quality, sulfur bacteria release hydrogen sulfide, which can cause health problems like headaches, nausea, respiratory tract irritation, and tremors.
Metallic Taste A high concentration of iron is the main cause of a metallic taste in well water, but you should also not rule out other metals like zinc, lead, copper, and manganese. If the water has a high concentration of iron, it should also have a rusty appearance or leave reddish-brown stains on your faucets.
Though most minerals that cause the metallic taste are harmless, some can cause health issues. For example, if you ingest lead-contaminated water for a long time, you may develop health issues like convulsions, anemia, and hypertension. Likewise, consuming too much copper can cause kidney disease and liver damage.
Detergent Smell A detergent smell in well water indicates contamination by sewage. The sewage could be from a leaking septic tank nearby or surface drainage flowing into your well. Such water is not safe for use, as it could contain harmful bacteria and chemicals.
Therefore, if your well water smells like detergent, take a sample to a lab for testing to determine the real cause.
Whether from pathogens or chemicals and heavy metals, contaminated well water can cause serious health issues if ingested. Contaminants such as oil, grease, and chemicals will also harm your plants if you use your well water for agriculture. Therefore, if your well water shows any of the above signs of contamination, test the water to determine the real culprit.
At Brown & Cox, we are dedicated to providing quality workmanship in all our services. Contact us today to make your first steps toward a reliable supply of clean water.
Potential well water contaminants such as microorganisms, heavy metals, pesticides, petroleum products, and pharmaceuticals can find their way into your well through surface water runoff, spills, or leakage of underground waste disposal.
So, how do you know that your well water is contaminated? Below are some signs to look out for.
Cloudy Appearance Cloudiness in well water has several explanations, but the most alarming possibilities are surface water seepage or excess manganese or iron content. While the sediments from surface water seepage and the excess natural minerals are no cause for alarm, the water may have an unpleasant taste and smell, making it unfit for consumption.
Also, since surface water seepages could bring pollutants such as pesticides, heavy metals, and pathogens into your well, test your cloudy well water before use.
Visible Sediments Since well water comes from the ground, sediment issues are obvious. However, excess sediments can render water unsafe for human consumption. Therefore, if the sediment issue persists, check your filtration system and do the required maintenance, like replacing filter cartridges and removing the collected sediment.
Also, unless the sediments are identifiable, like sand and dirt, testing is essential to verify the safety of your well water. A test will help you check if your well water has contaminants like bacteria, chemicals, heavy metals, or excess minerals.
Oily Film on Standing Water A thin oily film above your well water indicates that it contains petroleum contaminants like oil and grease. Potential sources of oil contamination in well water include a leaking underground storage tank, contaminated water runoff, and oil spills.
Sulfur Smell The two primary causes of sulfur smell in well water are sulfur bacteria and hydrogen sulfide. The possible lack of oxygen in a deep well provides the perfect environment for the sulfur bacteria that happens when rocks in the soil decay.
In addition to harming your well water's quality, sulfur bacteria release hydrogen sulfide, which can cause health problems like headaches, nausea, respiratory tract irritation, and tremors.
Metallic Taste A high concentration of iron is the main cause of a metallic taste in well water, but you should also not rule out other metals like zinc, lead, copper, and manganese. If the water has a high concentration of iron, it should also have a rusty appearance or leave reddish-brown stains on your faucets.
Though most minerals that cause the metallic taste are harmless, some can cause health issues. For example, if you ingest lead-contaminated water for a long time, you may develop health issues like convulsions, anemia, and hypertension. Likewise, consuming too much copper can cause kidney disease and liver damage.
Detergent Smell A detergent smell in well water indicates contamination by sewage. The sewage could be from a leaking septic tank nearby or surface drainage flowing into your well. Such water is not safe for use, as it could contain harmful bacteria and chemicals.
Therefore, if your well water smells like detergent, take a sample to a lab for testing to determine the real cause.
Whether from pathogens or chemicals and heavy metals, contaminated well water can cause serious health issues if ingested. Contaminants such as oil, grease, and chemicals will also harm your plants if you use your well water for agriculture. Therefore, if your well water shows any of the above signs of contamination, test the water to determine the real culprit.
At Brown & Cox, we are dedicated to providing quality workmanship in all our services. Contact us today to make your first steps toward a reliable supply of clean water.
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