Is well water okay to drink?

Yes, as a private well owner, you are responsible for testing your well to ensure the water is safe to drink. EPA is responsible for making sure that the public water supply within the United States is safe. However, EPA does not monitor or treat private well drinking water.

What happens if you drink water from a well?

Heavy metals can contaminate private wells through groundwater movement and surface water seepage and run-off. People that consume high levels of heavy metals risk acute and chronic toxicity, liver, kidney, and intestinal damage, anemia, and cancer.

Is drinking well water good for you?

Well Water Quality — Because well water is coming from the aquifer underground, instead of run- off or surface water, it tends to be cleaner and fresher. Groundwater is also high in healthy nutrients and minerals that are good for the body, including children. Also, well water high in minerals often tastes better.

Why you shouldn't drink well water?

Polluted well water can cause nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. The harmful contaminants in the water could lead to serious health issues. They include cancer, neurological problems, reproductive problems, and gastrointestinal illness, says Dr. Gochfeld.

Can well water cause health issues?

Health Risks

These microorganisms can cause diarrheas, dysenteries, salmonellosis, hepatitis, and giardiasis. Symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, cramps, nausea, headaches, fever, fatigue, and even death sometimes.

Well Water Testing - Is It Safe To Drink?

How do I know if my well water is making me sick?

If your well water system contains coliform bacteria, it's almost a given that you'll experience abdominal cramps after drinking this water. This will typically be the first symptom experienced, and may be accompanied by diarrhea and nausea (see below).

Can well water cause high blood pressure?

Since well water isn't purified, it's can become filled with minerals and chemicals that can cause heart issues down the line. Regular intake of minerals can increase your blood pressure and make you feel like your heart races all the time. So please, keep your heart rate steady and your blood pressure low.

Is well water better than tap water?

Well water typically tastes better due to the lack of added chemicals (ask anyone). Public water is treated with chlorine, fluoride, and other harsh and dangerous chemicals. Well water travels straight up from the ground; you get all the health benefits of clean water with none of the harsh chemical additives.

How do you treat well water for drinking?

Will a Brita filter make well water safe to drink?

Brita filters remove many harmful contaminants, but unfortunately, they cannot be relied upon as the primary filter to make your well water safe to drink.

Is it OK to shower with well water?

Well water

If your water at home is from a private well or small community well, you should boil the water or use approved bottled water for drinking. Sometimes a well is more likely to become contaminated with bacteria. Bathing is not a problem using well water.

What is the healthiest water to drink?

Tap water is generally a better choice because it's less expensive and doesn't create single-use plastic waste. The pH level and mineral content varies between different types and sources of water, but these don't drastically affect the overall healthfulness of the water.

Is well water safer than bottled water?

From a Bottle

Most plastic water bottles aren't formulated for multiple uses, and heat causes them to slough chemicals into the water. Putting well water in a glass will protect your water from the contamination of plastic chemicals.

Do you need to clean a well?

Regular maintenance of your well is required to ensure the continued safety of your water and to monitor for the presence of any contaminants. The National Ground Water Association provides information to help you schedule a wellwater check up , or you can learn “How to Get Information on Wells Where You Live“, below.

Is well water good for your teeth?

The quality of your well water is important to your health. This includes the health of your teeth. Water contains fluoride, an element that helps protect your teeth against bacteria. While city or town water is treated with fluoride, and the content known, not everyone has water provided to them this way.

Is having a well bad?

No worry about service disruptions. It's not common for a town or city's water supply to be cut off, but it is possible. If there's a natural disaster or other emergency that could lead to a water shut off (such as mass flooding), having a well means that you likely won't be effected. It's healthy.

How do you live with well water?

Why do you put salt in well water?

The reason that salt gets into the water is that softeners use a process called Ion Exchange. Ion Exchange is the process of replacing a molecule of lesser charge for a charged molecule. The ion exchange uses salt ions to replace calcium and magnesium in the water supply.

What is the best water for high blood pressure?

A significant decrease in blood pressure was found in the group consuming mineral water at 2 and 4 weeks.

Is well water high in sodium?

Sodium and chloride occur naturally in groundwater, but levels can increase from road salt, water softeners, natural salt deposits, sewage and fertilizers. High sodium in well water can be a concern for people on low sodium diets.

Can you cook with well water?

Well water almost always requires some softening and filtration to make it ideal for drinking, cooking, and cleaning.

How common is bacteria in well water?

The occurrence of bacteria in water is common, treatable, and in most cases, preventable. The ideal situation is to have no bacteria in drinking water, although most bacteria in water wells are harmless and pose little health risk. Ground water in the majority of properly constructed drilled wells is bacteria free.

Can well water give you gas?

Hydrogen sulfide gas (H₂S) can give water a “rotten egg” taste or odor. This gas can occur in wells anywhere and be: Naturally occurring - a result of decay and chemical reactions with soil and rocks. Produced by certain “sulfur bacteria” in the groundwater, well, or plumbing system.

Why does well water taste so good?

Contains Useful Minerals

The reason is that the aquifer underground has filtered the water, making it more refreshing and cleaner than the surface water. Also, well water tastes better due to the high minerals in it which are useful in the body of adults and children.

What is the healthiest water to drink 2021?