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Guide to Drinking Water Contamination
What is Groundwater and How Does It Become Polluted
- POST a QUESTION or COMMENT about the definition of groundwater & about the sources of groundwater contamination
Water well pollution: water contaminant sources, water pollutant testing & detection,& water contaminant removal or treatment:
A guide to contaminants in drinking water from household wells: this article describes the sources of contaminants found in well water, well water testing strategies, and procedures for correcting drinking water well contamination problems.
We begin with an EPA definition of ground water and an explanation of ways in which groundwater becomes contaminated. The EPA information is expanded, illustrated, and linked to related in-depth information about drinking water and irrigation water safety, sources, contamination, and contamination tests or treatments to make water safe to drink or "potable".
InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.
A Guide to Contaminants in Drinking Water from Household Wells
- Original source: EPA Guide to Contaminants in Drinking Water from Household Wells - EPA 816-K-02-003 January 2002, expanded, illustrated and annotated with information from additional SOURCES, February 2013-May 2015
This article series provides 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.This document also describes problems to look for and offers maintenance suggestions.
Sources for more information and help are also listed.
An original US EPA document was annotated, edited for clarity, expanded, and illustrated. We also add links to greater detail. As just one example, where the original document noted that the distance from a well to possible sources of contamination are important, we
Initial document ource: EPA 816-K-02-003 January 2002, updated here through February 2020. [1]
All of us need clean water to drink. We can go for weeks without food, but only days without water. Contaminated water can be a threat to anyone's health, but especially to young children.
About 15 percent of Americans have their own sources of drinking water, such as wells, cisterns, and springs. Unlike public drinking water systems serving many people, they do not have experts regularly checking the water's source and its quality before it is sent through pipes to the community.
To help protect families with their own wells, almost all states license or register water-well installers. Most also have construction standards for home wells. In addition, some city and county health departments have local rules and permitting.
All this helps make sure the well is built properly. But what about checking to see that it is working correctly and the water is always healthy to drink? That is the job of the well owner, and it takes some work and some knowledge.
This article series also answers the question: Who is responsible for making sure that the drinking water from a private well is safe?
What Is Ground Water And How Can It Be Polluted?
Ground water is a resource found under the earth's surface. Most ground water comes from rain and melting snow soaking into the ground. Water fills the spaces between rocks and soils, making an "aquifer". (See Watershed Graphic.) About half of our nation's drinking water comes from ground water. Most is supplied through public drinking water systems.
But many families rely on private, household wells and use ground water as their source of fresh water.
Ground water - its depth from the surface, quality for drinking water, and chance of being polluted - varies from place to place. Generally, the deeper the well, the better the ground water. The amount of new water flowing into the area also affects ground water quality.
Ground water may contain some natural impurities or contaminants, even with no human activity or pollution. Natural contaminants can come from many conditions in the watershed or in the ground.
Water moving through underground rocks and soils may pick up magnesium, calcium and chlorides. Some ground water naturally contains dissolved elements such as arsenic, boron, selenium, or radon, a gas formed by the natural breakdown of radioactive uranium in soil. Whether these natural contaminants are health problems depends on the amount of the substance present.
Definition of watershed:
A "watershed" is the land area where water soaks through the earth filling an underground water supply or aquifer. It is also called a recharge area.
Definition of water table:
The "water table" is the line below which the ground is saturated or filled with water and available for pumping. The water table will fall during dry seasons. A well can pump water from either the saturated zone or an aquifer. Wells must be deep enough to remain in the saturated zone.
List of common sources of ground water [or well water] contamination
In addition to natural contaminants, ground water is often polluted by human activities such as
- Improper use of fertilizers, animal manures, herbicides, insecticides, and pesticides
- Improperly built or poorly located and/or maintained septic systems for household wastewater [see SEPTIC SYSTEMS]
- Leaking or abandoned underground storage tanks and piping [see OIL TANKS]
- Storm-water drains that discharge chemicals to ground water
- Improper disposal or storage of wastes
- Chemical spills at local industrial sites
These problems are discussed in greater detail later in this article series.
Suburban growth is bringing businesses, factories and industry (and potential sources of pollution) into once rural areas where families often rely on household wells. Growth is also pushing new home developments onto the edge of rural and agricultural areas.
Often municipal water and sewer lines do not extend to these areas. Many new houses rely on wells and septic tanks. But the people buying them may not have any experience using these systems.
Is groundwater safe to drink?
Most U.S. ground water is safe for human use. However, ground water contamination has been found in all 50 states, so well owners have reason to be vigilant in protecting their water supplies. Well owners need to be aware of potential health problems. They need to test their water regularly and maintain their wells to safeguard their families' drinking water.
What is the Hydrologic Cycle?
The hydrologic cycle is the natural process of rain and snow falling to earth and evaporating back to form clouds and fall again.
The water falling to earth flows into streams, rivers, lakes and into the soil collecting to form ground water.
This EPA pamphlet, annotated & expanded in this article series, 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
Reader Comments & Q&A
Comments:
(Jan 30, 2013) Anonymous said:
i love your info. great!
(Feb 7, 2013) emily said:
i love your imformation about what is groundwater and how can it be polluted
Reply:
Thank you; we also welcome questions, critique, corrections, content suggestions.
Question:
(Aug 1, 2012) Raja G said:
Dear Sir
WE are used in underground water last 8 years. The last week corporation people damage the open drainage
That day onward the borewell water is fully damaged. The drainage is nearby borewell pumb.
Kindly give the suggestion . My contact no 9750072842.
Reply:
Raja, I'm sorry but I don't have a clear idea of what happened nor what's going on. You need someone local, on the scene to inspect and explain. There are indeed methods described here at InspectApedia.com for repairing a damaged well bore or casing. But we don't know what you have installed. If specific questions arise I'll be glad to help as much as we can.
Question: how do wells get polluted
(Nov 14, 2012) Anonymous said:
What is the step by step process of how it gets polluted ?
Like I know step one is the cause if the damage. ( people throwing trash on the ground etc.)
What would happen next
Reply:
Anon: I hope you'll follow this article series for a more detailed answer to your question. Each article ends with a "Continue Reading at" suggestion.
In general, contaminants leak into a well from surface runoff that is itself contaminated, or contaminants can leak down into the original water aquifer that feeds a well.
Question: water filter clogs after installing a new pump
(Dec 5, 2014) waynetcrawford@verizon.net said:
Recently replaced submersible pump with one of the same horsepower. Ever since have needed to change whole house filter once every 3 days as opposed to once every 3 months before the switch. Sediment has always been rust colored and still is but it quickly clogs filter. Only change is the replacement of the pump. Any idea why so much sediment.
Reply:
If the submersible pump is too close to well bottom OR if the well casing has been damaged, OR if there is a leak in well piping you may be picking up soil as never before.
...
Continue reading at WATER POLLUTANT SOURCES or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.
Or see these
Recommended Articles
SIX STEPS to WELL WATER SAFETY
WATER TESTS for CONTAMINANTS - topic home
WATER QUALITY TEST CHOICES & WATER TEST FEES
WATER TREATMENT EQUIPMENT CHOICES - home
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WELL WATER CONTAMINATION: CAUSES, CURES at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.
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INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to WATER TESTING
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Citations & References
In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.
- "Bacteria in Drinking Water" - "Chlorine," Karen Mancl, water quality specialist, Agricultural Engineering, Ohio State University Extension. Mancl explains factors affecting the effectiveness of chlorine in water as a means to destroy bacteria and other microorganisms. OSU reports as follows:
- Chlorine kills bacteria, including disease-causing organisms and the nuisance organism, iron bacteria. However, low levels of chlorine, normally used to disinfect water, are not an effective treatment for giardia cysts. A chlorine level of over 10 mg/1 must be maintained for at least 30 minutes to kill giardia cysts. -- http://ohioline.osu.edu/b795/index.html is the front page of this bulletin
- Giardia exposure limits for drinking water: see www.mass.gov/dep/water/drinking/standards/giardia.htm is the current regulatory exposure limit (your minimum target for sterilization)
- Health Effects of Chemical Contaminants in Drinking Water, US Environmental Protection Agency,
- Hydrogen peroxide: Wikipedia on history of use of hydrogen peroxide: Information on Hydrogen peroxide as a sterilant is in Wikipedia at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sterilization_(microbiology) HO2 has been used for a long time, including by vaporization for sterilizing freeze dryers.
- Hydrogen Peroxide warning: US FDA Warning about drinking hydrogen peroxide: www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/h/hydrogen-peroxide.htm This article cites a 2003 entry in Journal of Food and Science on using Hy.Perox to sterilize vegetables, referring to E.coli - NOT to Giardia.
- Iodine: "Do Iodine Water Purification Tablets Provide an Effective Barrier against Cryptosporidium parvum?", Starke, Jeffrey A., Bowman, Dwight D., Labare, Michael, Fogarty, Elizabeth A., and others, Military Medicine, 25 October 2001 [possibly a later version of this article appeared in 2005 -DF] http://www.amsus.org/military medicine/milmed.htm
- Ohio State University article on the concentration of chlorine necessary to act as an effective disinfectant, and the effects of the water's pH and temperature: See http://ohioline.osu.edu/b795/b795_7.html for details.
- Our Stolen Future: Are We Threatening Our Fertility, Intelligence, and Survival?--A Scientific Detective Story, Theo Colborn, Dianne Dumanoski, John Peter Meyers. Plume-Penguin Publishing, 1997, ISBN 0-452-27414-1., ISBN13: 9780452274143. This book is a seminal work on endocrine disruptors (chemical contaminants having impact at extremely low levels in the environment).
Recommended by Daniel Friedman, this book is a critical update to the landmark Silent Spring by Rachel Carson and discusses the effects of minute trace amounts of chemical contaminants in the environment. The text "Identifies the various ways in which chemical pollutants in the environment are disrupting human reproductive patterns and causing such problems as birth defects, sexual abnormalities, and reproductive failure. Reprint. Tour. NYT."
Amazon.com Review: By O T (Ontario, BC) - 'Our Stolen Future' is a great introduction to one of the most important scientific discoveries in our time. Having recently completed a thesis project at university on Endocrine Disruptors, I have reviewed hundreds of papers on the subject. This book is a good clear overview of the scientific literature on EDs. The authors are experts - Theo Colborn is largely responsible for creating the field by bringing together diverse researchers so they could see the big picture of their work. Many of the principle investigators are interviewed and quoted at length on the way chemicals participate in and interfere with delicate hormonal systems in animals (including humans). The major accomplishment of the book is to make an easy-to-follow story out of complex research. Many resources are available to help you assess the reliability of this story, and the best thing to do if you have any doubts is read review articles in scientific journals (which are easier to understand than technical papers). The Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) have a guidebook for health-care professionals on Endocrine Disruptors, and the US EPA has many reports on the matter. Beware of people or websites who try to 'debunk' this book (or the science behind it) by simply declaring it false, flawed or disproven. There is far too much supporting research for so simple a refutation.
OPINION: Significant and discussed in this book is the observation that at certain critical points in the development of animals, presumably including humans, exposure to extremely low levels of endocrine disruptor chemicals (EDC's) (such as BPA - Bisphenol-A or BPA, Diethylstilbestrol - DES, dioxins, PCBs, and chemicals used in the production of certain cleansers, dyes, flame retardants, plastics, pesticides, white papers ) perhaps just a few molecules, or in the parts per trillion, is sufficient to cause disruption of the animal's development, including proper sex differentiation, or the lack of it that produced androgynous ducks unable to reproduce under such conditions.
A endocrine disruptor is a synthetic chemical compound that mimics natural hormones when it is taken into the body of a human or other animal. It "disrupts" the endocrine system by turning on or off normal chemical signals that in turn can affect normal hormone levels, bodily functions, and significantly, the development of embryos. Further, unlike naturally occurring hormones ingested, for example from plants (phytoestrogens), synthetically-generated hormones accumulate in the body and can have a half-life of decades or longer.
One significance of this finding includes the observation that an important medical effect that occurs with exposure to chemicals in extremely low concentrations means that experiments to test for correlations between chemical exposure and subsequent serious medical problems will be deeply flawed if, for example, the experimental design does not include testing for the presence of the chemical at extremely low levels. A related concern is that even if harmful effects from exposure to extremely low concentrations of an endocrine disruptor are occurring, teasing out and proving that relationship can be also extremely difficult. - Silent Spring, Rachael Carson, Mariner Books; Anv edition (October 22, 2002), ISBN-13: 978-061824906.
Amazon.com Review: Silent Spring, released in 1962, offered the first shattering look at widespread ecological degradation and touched off an environmental awareness that still exists. Rachel Carson's book focused on the poisons from insecticides, weed killers, and other common products as well as the use of sprays in agriculture, a practice that led to dangerous chemicals to the food source. Carson argued that those chemicals were more dangerous than radiation and that for the first time in history, humans were exposed to chemicals that stayed in their systems from birth to death. Presented with thorough documentation, the book opened more than a few eyes about the dangers of the modern world and stands today as a landmark work. - Shock or Chlorinate a Well, When, How-to - Procedure for Shocking a Well to (temporarily or maybe longer) "Correct" Bacterial Contamination
- US EPA: list of drinking water contaminants: see http://www.epa.gov/safewater/contaminants/index.html
- UV light: This patent application for UV light sterilization www.patentstorm.us/patents/6565803.html Lists good references on water purification for Giardia et als
- Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
- In addition to citations & references found in this article, see the research citations given at the end of the related articles found at our suggested
CONTINUE READING or RECOMMENDED ARTICLES.
- Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. Tel: (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 Email: info@carsondunlop.com. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.
Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission for InspectAPedia to use text excerpts from The HOME REFERENCE BOOK - the Encyclopedia of Homes and to use illustrations from The ILLUSTRATED HOME .
Carson Dunlop Associates provides extensive home inspection education and report writing material. In gratitude we provide links to tsome Carson Dunlop Associates products and services.
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