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ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS GUIDE WATER TESTING WATER TESTING ADVICE SHOULD YOU TEST YOUR WATER? PUBLIC vs PRIVATE WATER WHEN TO TEST WATER TEST COSTS SPECIAL SITUATION TESTS ARSENIC in WATER BACTERIA TEST GUIDE CHEMICAL CONTAMINANTS in WATER CHEATING on WATER TESTS CHOICES of WATER TESTS CORRECTING BAD WATER Common Water Tests for Bacteria FAILED WATER TESTS - WHAT TO DO WELL SHOCK / CHLORINATION PROCEDURE FAILED WATER TESTS - WHEN to RE-TEST EPA GUIDE to WATER QUALITY Ground water & Well Contamination Drinking Water from Household Wells What Is Ground Water, How Is It Polluted Where Do Water Pollutants Come From Naturally Occurring Pollution Sources Private Well Contaminant Concerns Pollution due to Humans Level of Risk of Water Contamination Six Steps to Well Water Safety Protecting Ground Water From Contaminants 1. How To Spot Well Contamination Problems 2. Well Water Test Strategy Reasons to Test Well Water 3. Understanding Water] Test Results 4. Well Construction and Maintenance 5. Talk With Local Water Experts 6. Fix Well Water Contamination Problems More Information on Well Water Well Water Definitions FHA WATER TESTS REQUIRED LEAD in WATER, ACTION GUIDE LEAD POISONING SYMPTOMS LEAD TEST VARIATION CAUSES ODORS IN WATER SEWAGE CONTAMINATION TOTAL COLIFORM TESTING WATER CONTAMINANT LEVELS WATER TEST INTERPRETATION WATER TESTING GUIDE WATER TREATMENT EQUIPMENT CHOICES WATER TREATMENT EQUIPMENT CHOICES WATER ODORS, CAUSE CURE WATER PUMPS & WELLS WATER QUALITY TESTS, CONTAMINANTS, TREATMENT WATER QUANTITY IMPROVEMENT WATER QUANTITY USAGE GUIDE WATER SOFTENERS WELL SHOCKING GUIDE WELLS CISTERNS & SPRINGS WATER PRESSURE LOSS DIAGNOSIS GUIDE WATER PRESSURE & FLOW MEASUREMENT WATER TANK TYPES WELL CLEARANCE DISTANCES WELL TYPES WELL, PUMP, TANK LIFE More Information InspectAPedia Blog - News Updates Air Conditioning Bookstore Electrical Environment Exteriors Heating Home Inspection Insulate Ventilate Interiors Mold Inspect/Test Plumbing Water Septic Roofing Structure Accuracy & Privacy Policies Contact Us |
If your family gets drinking water from your own well, do you know if your water is safe to drink? What health risks could you and your family face? Where can you go for help or advice? This pamphlet helps answer these questions. It gives you general information about drinking water from home wells (also considered private drinking water sources). It describes types of activities in your area that can create threats to your water supply. It also describes problems to look for and offers maintenance suggestions. Sources for more information and help are also listed. [Editing for clarity by DF are marked by brackets or italics] Initial Source: EPA 816-K-02-003 January 2002 Edits, content addition, & web page design © Copyright 2009 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use the links at page left to navigate this document or to go to Other Website Topics. Green links at left show where you are in our document & website.What are Some Naturally Occurring Sources of [Water] Pollution?Microorganisms: [Water Contamination]Bacteria, viruses, parasites and other microorganisms are sometimes found in water. Shallow wells - those with water close to ground level - are at most risk. Runoff, or water flowing over the land surface, may pick up these pollutants from wildlife and soils. This is often the case after flooding. Some of these organisms can cause a variety of illnesses. Symptoms include nausea and diarrhea. These can occur shortly after drinking contaminated water. The effects could be short-term yet severe (similar to food poisoning) or might recur frequently or develop slowly over a long time. Radionuclides: [Water Contamination]Radionuclides are radioactive elements such as uranium and radium. They may be present in underlying rock and ground water. Radon - a gas that is a natural product of the breakdown of uranium in the soil - can also pose a threat. Radon is most dangerous when inhaled and contributes to lung cancer. Although soil is the primary source, using household water containing Radon contributes to elevated indoor Radon levels. Radon is less dangerous when consumed in water, but remains a risk to health. Nitrates and Nitrites: [Water Contamination]Although high nitrate levels are usually due to human activities (see below), they may be found naturally in ground water. They come from the breakdown of nitrogen compounds in the soil. Flowing ground water picks them up from the soil. Drinking large amounts of nitrates and nitrites is particularly threatening to infants (for example, when mixed in formula). Heavy Metals: [Water Contamination]Underground rocks and soils may contain arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, and selenium. However, these contaminants are not often found in household wells at dangerous levels from natural sources. Fluoride: [Water Contamination]Fluoride is helpful in dental health, so many water systems add small amounts to drinking water. However, excessive consumption of naturally occurring fluoride can damage bone tissue. High levels of fluoride occur naturally in some areas. It may discolor teeth, but this is not a health risk. ... Technical Reviewers & References
Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website. EPA GUIDE to WATER QUALITY More Information on Building Diagnostic Inspections and Repairs
Water Supply & Drain Piping, Wells, Pumps, Water Supply Equipment
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