A recent study found 34 dangerous compounds in groundwater across the United States, including microplastics, pharmaceuticals and caffeine degradation in a significant number of samples.
Water Quality
Is Groundwater Contamination Poisoning Your Private Well?
5 min read
- 01 | Contaminants Found in 23 Percent of Private Wells
- 02 | Where Does Groundwater Come From?
- 03 | Common Contaminants and Health Risks
- 04 | Sources of Groundwater Contamination
- 05 | What Parts of the Country are Most At Risk?
- 06 | How to Identify Sources of Contamination In Your Community
- 07 | Signs that Your Well Water Is Contaminated
- 08 | Disinfecting Your Well After a Flood or Major Contamination
- 09 | How to Purify Your Drinking Water and Protect Your Family
15 million US households get their drinking water from groundwater and private wells.
Unfortunately, private wells aren’t regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency, and that means that if you’re on a private well you’re on your own.
Although the US has some of the safest groundwater in the world, it can still become contaminated with bacteria, chemicals and other harmful pollutants.
Here’s what you need to know to keep your family safe from groundwater contamination:
In a recent study, the US Geological Survey (USGS) tested over 2,000 private wells across the country.
Researchers measured everything from chemicals like gasoline to organic compounds like chlorine.
Roughly 23% of them contained unhealthy levels of at least one contaminant.
Contaminants like to travel in groups, though, so if your well is contaminated you probably have more.
Groundwater goes on quite a journey before it arrives at your well.
It starts as rain, soaks into the soil and flows downhill until it settles in underground pockets called aquifers.
Private wells tap into aquifers to provide your family with drinking water.
Along the way, your water has plenty of opportunities to pick up harmful pollutants.
Some of the most common groundwater contaminants are:
- Heavy metals like arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead and selenium can cause kidney, liver and intestinal damage and may increase the risk of cancer.
- Pathogenic microorganisms like bacteria, viruses and parasites are found mainly in sewage and animal waste and can cause gastrointestinal illnesses, infections and diseases like cholera and Legionnaires disease.
- Nitrates and nitrites are found in sewage fertilizer. They’re especially dangerous for infants under six months. High levels can cause “blue baby syndrome,” a potentially deadly condition that reduces oxygen in the blood and causes shortness of breath and blue skin.
- Radionuclides include radioactive elements like uranium and radium. They occur naturally and are produced in nuclear power plants. Drinking radionuclides can damage the kidneys and increase the risk of cancer.
- Fluoride is added to municipal treatment plants to prevent tooth decay and also ends up in groundwater. High fluoride levels can cause skeletal fluorosis, a condition that causes bone and joint pain. It may also cause tooth discoloration over time.
- Organic chemicals like chlorine and formaldehyde can damage the liver and kidneys and harm the circulatory, nervous and reproductive systems.
Even if your well is properly installed, it can still become contaminated and lead to serious health issues like:
- Neurological disorders
- Gastrointestinal illness
- Reproductive problems
- Weakened immune function
Children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with chronic diseases are the most at risk.
Where on earth do all these toxic contaminants come from?
The most common sources of groundwater pollution are:
- Septic Systems: Improperly designed or poorly maintained septic tanks can leach fecal matter, nitrates, bacteria and other harmful pollutants into local aquifers.
- Natural Sources: As water flows underground, it absorbs compounds like chlorides, fluorides, iron and manganese from the rocks and soil.
- Underground Storage Tanks: Municipal highway departments and private owners use them underground tanks to store gas, heating oil and other chemicals. When these tanks corrode, they can leak hazardous substances into groundwater.
- Mining: Mining operations release heavy metals, sulfides and minerals into groundwater. When it rains, these compounds flow into the groundwater below.
- Farming and Agriculture: Pesticides and fertilizers are widely used by farmers, homeowners, local governments and golf courses. They seep into the soil and release volatile organic compounds (VOCs), nitrates and other pollutants.
- Disposal of Hazardous Waste: Improper disposal of hazardous waste, gasoline, swimming pool chemicals and paint thinner eventually end up in groundwater. It's shocking how many people just dump them on the side of the road!
- Commercial Industry: Auto repair shops, pharmaceutical plants, airports, carwashes, laundromats, dry cleaners, construction sites, railroad yards and other businesses are notorious for releasing toxic chemicals into the soil.
Groundwater is expensive to restore, and the costs ultimately get passed onto, you, the homeowner.
People in poor rural areas are the most at risk for groundwater contamination because they depend on private wells.
The main culprit is agricultural runoff of fertilizers, pesticides and animal waste.
If you live in farm country, contaminants like bacteria, viruses, pesticides and nitrates are the biggest concerns.
The type of aquifer that your house sits on is important too...
Crystalline rock aquifers, for example, are known for high levels of radionuclides. These types of aquifers are common in Texas, California, the Appalachians and parts of Colorado.
Sandstone aquifers, on the other hand, are usually much safer.
The only way to know for sure is to have your water professionally tested by an EPA-certified water testing laboratory.
Before moving to a new town, consult a water quality expert about the local groundwater quality.
The best professionals to reach out to are:
- Public water system officials
- Local health department officials
- State environmental agencies
- Local geologists and civil engineers
They’ll be able to tell you the type of aquifer that your home sits on and and the most common contaminants in the region.
Aside from living in a high-risk area, other contamination warning signs look out for include:
- Corroded pipes and plumbing
- Construction projects nearby
- Gas drilling operations nearby
- Landfills, factories, dry cleaning and gas stations nearby
- Odor of gasoline, fuel or oil
- Any bad smells coming from your water
- Salty tasting water
- Flooding
- Scummy residues in your sink and shower
- Soap that won’t lather
- Water that looks cloudy or discolored
- Recurring gut health issues
Not all contaminants pose an immediate health risk, but if you notice any of these warning signs you should test your water immediately.
Floods are a private well owner's worst nightmare because they saturate the groundwater with sewage, pesticides, gasoline and bacteria.
If your well is contaminated with bacteria, you’ll need to hire a contractor who specializes in drinking water disinfection.
Chances are they’ll have to treat your well with chlorine to kill those nasty water bugs.
But chemical disinfection is only the first step...
The next step will be to remove toxic chemicals, heavy metals and minerals.
Luckily, an in-home water system should do the trick!
Not all water filters are created equal...
Activated carbon filters are great for removing chlorine and other disinfectants, but they won’t protect you from hard-to-remove contaminants like pesticides and arsenic.
Ultraviolet (UV) systems are great for killing bacteria, but they can’t do a darn thing about chemicals and heavy metals.
So what’s the solution?
Reverse osmosis (RO) systems use several types of filtration to remove up to 99.9% of all contaminants, including bacteria, chemicals and heavy metals.
They combine sediment filters, carbon filters, ion exchange resins, RO membranes, polishing filters, and remineralization to produce perfectly pure water for you and your family.
Cloud Water Filters also use built-in software to track water usage and automatically ship replacement filters right to your door.
They even sync to an app on your phone so you can monitor your water quality 24/7!
Click here to learn more.
