Common Well Water Contaminants
Water contamination is one of the contributors to infectious diseases around the world. Despite our governments’ best efforts, contaminants may easily spread in our water sources. Since the municipal water suppliers in towns and cities religiously do their part in keeping the water clean, it is our job and responsibility as homeowners to inspect the quality of water that goes through our faucets.
Common water contaminants are found in unprotected water sources. Well-waters, rivers, streams, and cisterns are water sources without proper treatment and filtration. They are easy targets for contaminants. Today, most of the unprotected water sources are contaminated and unfit for human and animal drinking. In some cases, municipal water supplies have water contaminants that cause diseases.
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Most well-waters around the world contain contaminants that may be dangerous to the health of the household. If you happen to be using well-water, take a sample of it and test for possible pollutants. A simple test will give you an idea of the quality of the water you drink, cook, and use for cleaning, and bathing.
According to studies, private wells in America are home to bacteria and chemicals. Upon intake or exposure to any of the dangerous contaminants, humans and animals alike may suffer from mild to severe diseases. If you rely on a private well, it is critical to conduct regular testing and maintenance to prevent health disaster in the future.
Knowledge of common well-water contaminants will help you protect your family from the dangers of pollutants. Here are some of the common contaminants found in private wells.
Bacteria and Other Pathogens
Private wells present one of the most daunting tasks of preventing the presence of bacteria and other pathogens. Since they are not regulated by EPA regulations, there’s no guarantee you are drinking and using clean water.
Bacteria such as E. Coli and Crypto are among the common pathogens found in private wells. Both are deadly and should be removed to prevent intestinal health problems. Human sewage and animal feces are the cause of the presence of e. Coli in private wells. Households with animals near the well are prone to the infestation of bacteria and other pathogens in the water. Total coliform organisms are present in most private wells. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent them from invading your water source. Although some of the bacteria are harmless, their presence means you need to conduct regular testing and periodic maintenance.
Chemicals
If you’re located near farmlands, factories, hospitals, and warehouses, chances are, there are chemicals in your private well. Iron, sulfur, lead, carbon, and radon are among the chemical wastes found in wells near said places.
When any of these pollutants enter the supply lines of your house, the health of the people and animals are at risk. Any of the chemicals present in private wells are harmful to pregnant women, children, and the elderly people. High level of ammonia and nitrates in your private well can cause health problems. Both are found in areas near farmlands where animals and fertilizers are present.
Minerals and Dissolved Salts
Do you have minor health issues such as dry skin and dull hair? If so, perhaps you are dealing with hard water. In most deep wells, minerals like calcium and magnesium affect the pH level which will result in increased hardness of water. Our body needs minerals for it to become healthy. However, high levels of minerals may do more harm than good to the human body. While it does not have a direct impact on one’s health, the regular use of such water will affect the skin, eyes, and hair.
If you are dependent on well-water, the first thing you need to do is conduct testing to know what are present in the private well. From there, you can plan your move on the best approach to eliminate contaminants in the well to protect your family from the diseases caused by the pollutants. One way to ensure protection from pathogens, minerals, and chemicals in your private water source is with a whole house water filter system. Since there are many of these products sold in the market today, most consumers do not know which one to purchase and set up in their house.
Before we go into which water filter addresses your needs, let’s talk about the common mistakes made in choosing well-water treatment systems.
Wrong Chemistry Analysis of Well-Water
Most of the time, the common cause of buying the wrong treatment system is due to the miscalculation of the chemistry of water in private wells. Since most people are used to municipal water supplies, the proper analysis of water chemistry is a common problem for people who rely on private wells. There are different minerals present in well-water since they are unprotected sources of water. Regular testing and maintenance will help you check on the chemistry of the water in private wells. If the water is acidic, choose a well-water treatment system that’s designed to bring up the pH level to the standard or approved level. On the other end, the high level of pH should be addressed to ensure proper health.
The Lack of Understanding About Well-Water
In most cases, people commit the common mistake of choosing the wrong filter system because of the lack of knowledge on well-water. Understanding how private wells work and proper analysis of their water chemistry will help you pick the right treatment system. Most people fail to understand the importance of knowing the water parameters.
Understanding water parameters help provide ideas about the contaminants in your well. Since you rely on backyard water supply, it is your job to inspect and understand the readings in your test kits. Unlike in urban areas where the water is safe, clean, and clear, you need to be vigilant to avoid health issues caused by poor water quality. Private wells located near farmlands, industrial sites, hospitals, and other places using chemical substances must be subjected to water testing and maintenance. Another thing to know when using a private well is how well water pumping systems work. Understanding the fundamentals of how this type of water source works will give you an idea of how to choose the proper treatment system.
Lack of Knowledge About the Proper Flow Rate and Well Pumps
If you’re having a hard time addressing your well-water even when you have a treatment system installed, perhaps the problem is with the flow rate and well pump. Since there’s no one-solution-fits-all approach, you need to find out the proper flow rate or well pump to choose the right treatment system for your private well. The flow rate affects the effectiveness of the treatment system. Run a test to determine the actual flow rate of the pump used in the well. Take note that water pressure plays a key role in the success of well-water treatment. Your basic knowledge of the water pressure will help you decide on the best filtration for the job.
While most of the filter systems promise to eliminate the contaminants in the water, you need to do your homework to land the best one that will fill your filtration needs. Research what these systems bring into the table and how they fit the job.
Choosing the right whole house water treatment system to treat well-water by eliminating the contaminants is no easy task. However, there are ways to reduce the stress of picking the right one for your household. With proper knowledge through research and expert advice, you can avoid the common mistakes made by most consumers who are looking for the right treatment system. You can’t go wrong when you know what you need, what you are looking for in a well water filtration system, the flow rate of the well pump, the water chemistry, and other important information about well-water.
 
 
