Understanding Well Water Contaminants and Their Symptoms

Private and community well water is not regulated by the EPA or treated by the city/municipality. This leaves water treatment, in most cases, up to the homeowner to guard against possible pollutants and pathogens — and the illnesses or adverse symptoms that can come from exposure.

Drinking, cooking, brushing your teeth and even bathing with contaminated water can put you at risk. A water test is the quickest way to find out what’s in your well water and to guide the best treatment solution (filtration, purification, softening, etc.) for your home.

Common Well Water Contaminants and Their Impact

From bacteria and heavy metals to pesticides and chemical runoff, there is no shortage of naturally occurring and manmade contaminants that can enter well water. Well water quality is continually in flux over time due to geographic location, your well’s age and depth, changes in nearby industrial activity and environmental factors such as heavy rains or a change in seasons.

Even with a water treatment system, if you suspect your water is contaminated or experience any of the symptoms outlined below, it’s best to stop consumption and get your water tested immediately.

1. Microorganisms (Bacteria, Viruses, Parasites)

Are you worried that your well water is making you sick? Drinking water that contains microorganisms such as bacteria (including E. coli), viruses and parasites can cause gastrointestinal disruption, illness and infection.

Microorganisms commonly enter your well through leaking underground septic or storage tanks, agricultural runoff (especially from animal feedlots), aging pipes and from animal solid waste that pollutes the groundwater. Heavy rains and snowmelt can also wash microorganisms into your well, including those naturally found in the environment.

• Symptoms: Consuming water contaminated with harmful microorganisms can cause symptoms quickly — within a few hours to a few days. Most microorganisms are colorless and undetectable by taste in water, though high levels of fecal coliform bacteria may change water color slightly. Signs of waterborne illness include vomiting, nausea, cramps, diarrhea, fever and headache.

Boiling water offers a quick fix to kill bacteria, but for a long-term solution, look to ultraviolet sanitization. UV sanitization eliminates microbiological contaminants without the need for chemicals (shock chlorination).

2. Heavy Metals

Many heavy metals, both essential and toxic, occur naturally in rocks and soil. These enter well water through mineral dissolution, groundwater movement and, in some cases, erosion and surface runoff. Agricultural runoff and industrial activities such as mining, improper waste disposal and manufacturing can also introduce potentially toxic metals into groundwater, contaminating the well.

While not all heavy metals in water will be toxic, the impact on your health depends on their form and concentration. Common metals in well water include arsenic, cadmium, lead, chromium, barium, zinc, copper, manganese and iron.

• Symptoms: Drinking water that contains high levels of heavy metals can increase your risk of both acute and chronic liver, kidney and intestinal damage. Tell-tale signs that your water contains metals include discolored water (often brown or orange), rust around drains and a foul or fishy smell.

Do you have an older well and pipes? Corrosion of aging plumbing lines can release heavy metals directly into your drinking water.

Reverse osmosis purification and cation exchange water softeners both offer significant removal of heavy metals from well water. It can also be useful to have your pipes and plumbing systems checked for corrosion.

3. Hard Water Minerals

Hard water is one of the most common water quality issues for people on well (and city) water. Hard water refers to the high concentration of dissolved minerals in water, such as calcium, magnesium, manganese and iron. These minerals occur naturally in the rock and soil in and around your well’s aquifer.

Over time, minerals can build up in the well and increase water hardness when left untreated. Similarly, mineral accumulation in your hot water heater can reduce its lifespan and efficiency, leading to corrosion and reduced water flow.

• Symptoms: Drinking hard water is not a serious concern for your health, though excess minerals may produce an unpleasant taste or odor in the water. Hard water can often dry out your skin and hair, contributing to non-cosmetic issues like eczema, brittle hair, flaky scalp and clogged pores. In your home, hard water presents in a variety of ways depending on the mineral, including mineral build up in pipes, staining on plumbing fixtures, reduced efficacy of soap to get clean, soap scum residue in the shower, cloudy or spotted dishes and a reddish-brown waterline stain in the toilet.

Many homeowners on well water will benefit from installing a water softener to mitigate the presence of hardness minerals.

4. Nitrates and Nitrites

Nitrate is a common well water contaminant which converts into nitrite in the body when ingested. Nitrates (and nitrites) occur naturally in the environment at low concentrations, and can make their way into your well water through decaying organic matter and nitrification, human and animal waste runoff, fertilizer runoff and leakage from landfills.

• Symptoms: High levels of nitrites in your blood can reduce its ability to carry oxygen, resulting in shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea and fatigue. Healthy adults can usually break down nitrates/nitrites at lower levels. Infants are at the highest risk and can develop methemoglobinemia (blue baby syndrome) — a dangerous condition which causes trouble breathing and blueish-brown skin around the lips, fingers, nose and toes.

People with wells on or near agricultural land may be at a higher risk for nitrate contamination, since raising livestock and using nitrogen fertilizers can increase pollution. With no smell or taste, only with a proper water test can you detect the presence of nitrates/nitrites in your well water.

Significantly reduce nitrate to safer levels in your well water using an anion exchange water softening or reverse osmosis purification system. Carbon and sediment filtration cannot remove nitrates.

5. Pesticides, Herbicides and Organic Chemicals

Whether it’s the pesticides from lawn care or chemicals from pharmaceutical production, synthetic organic chemicals (SOCs) can make their way into your well water. Industrial agriculture, along with the manufacturing and waste disposal process of many household products — including inks, paints, solvents and disinfectants — can contaminate private wells through leaching, spills and runoff into shallow wells.

• Symptoms: Water containing pesticides and organic chemicals even at low levels can impact human health, though this varies by the chemical type and duration of exposure. Over time, and at higher levels, drinking chemically contaminated water can cause damage to organs like the kidneys and liver, as well as the circulatory and nervous systems.

Looking to safeguard your water from SOCs? Reverse osmosis purification and activated carbon filtration both offer high removal rates of pesticides and other synthetic organic chemicals from water.

6. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a group of chemicals that can pose serious health risks when consumed. Found in paints, fuels, dyes, degreasers, aerosols and solvents, many VOCs are highly toxic even at low levels and include benzene, formaldehyde, toluene and trichloroethylene. VOCs commonly contaminate well water through leaching, infiltration and spills from industrial facilities, processing plants and landfills.

• Symptoms: Long-term, VOCs can disrupt cellular function and contribute to the “onset and progression of autoimmune diseases.” After immediate exposure, drinking water with VOCs may cause ENT irritation, nausea, headaches and disorientation. Not all VOCs are easily detectable in water, though in some cases can give your water a gasoline smell. Laboratory analysis is required to test for VOCs.

The most effective ways to reduce and remove the majority of VOCs from water are chemical filtration and reverse osmosis purification, both of which can protect your health and plumbing.

7. Additional Contaminants

There are many other contaminants that can make their way into your well water, including fluoride, radionuclides (uranium, radium, radon), PFAS forever chemicals and particulate matter (like sand or plant debris). The quality and pollution level of your well water is heavily dependent on your well’s location, construction and upkeep. Routine water testing and well maintenance are both smart steps homeowners can take to ensure cleaner, safer and better-tasting water.

For more information, please visit the EPA’s national drinking water regulations which detail maximum contaminant limits (set for public drinking water), pollution sources and potential health effects.

Enjoy Cleaner, Safer Water With Regular Testing

Routine well water testing at least once per year, according to the CDC, can help reduce risks of waterborne illness and contamination.

Well water testing using a state-certified laboratory test is especially important if you:

• Newly built your well
• Notice changes to your water’s quality (taste, color, odor, clarity)
• Performed plumbing, well or water system repairs
• Members of your household experience unexplained vomiting or illness
• Live near factories, farms or mining operations, especially following heavy rains/floods

If you’re on a community well, check with your neighborhood association to see if any water treatment is in place and what options they may provide.

How Kinetico Systems Can Help

Every homeowner’s well water makeup will vary. Take the guesswork out of getting cleaner, safer water with Kinetico. Our Water Quality Consultants can provide the solutions you need for every aspect of your well, from laboratory-grade water analysis and water system installation to routine maintenance.

Offering a state-of-the-art, non-electric design, our water systems are among the most certified in the industry, backed by a comprehensive warranty and best-in-class customer service. Contact us today to learn more and schedule your free water test.