Truthfully, you are going to find pollutants in well water systems. Contrary to what a lot of people assume, a large number of those pollutants actually come from nature as opposed to man-made sources. After all, water flows along the landscape and comes in contact with streams, rivers, ponds, soil, rocks, and sand. During that time, it comes in contact with a number of impurities. While some of the things the water comes in contact with are harmless, others can be hazardous to your health. To protect your family, it is helpful to be aware of what pollutants could be in your well water.
Bacteria
Not every pathogen that exists causes illness. However, there are many that do including the bacteria found in both animal and human fecal matter such as shigella, vibrio, and salmonella. High levels of any of these pathogens can cause diarrhea, vomiting, bloating, and nausea.
Heavy Metals
As water passes by soil and rocks, it is extremely common for it to absorb heavy metals including lead, cadmium, arsenic, and chromium. Symptoms from the consumption of these heavy metals can vary, but some include delayed development in children, learning disorders, attention disorders, and other neurological issues.
Fluoride
Fluoride is a natural compound that exists in most sources of water. While some fluoride is necessary for your dental health, chances are pretty good that there is fluoride in both your toothpaste and your mouthwash. Ingesting too much of this natural compound will discolor your teeth in addition to causing bone tissue damage, fatigue, achy muscles, and chronic headaches.
Nitrates & Nitrites
Nitrates and nitrites are two naturally occurring compounds found in decomposed plants, fertilizer, and animal waste. Both of these natural compounds are harmless to an adult; however, they are extremely dangerous to a child under the age of one. A child who has been exposed to these natural compounds will develop a blue tinge on his or her skin. This blue tinge typically develops around the mouth and eyes. It is caused by the bodies reduced ability to consume oxygen.
Parasites
Giardia and cryptosporidium are two examples of the many parasites found inside the intestines of animals. When these parasites are in their dormant stage, they are small enough that they can pass through filtration systems and they can survive most disinfectant treatments. Consumption of these parasites can cause dehydration and diarrhea.
The unfortunate truth is there is not a single treatment that will eliminate all of these pollutants from your water. The best thing you can do is run a series of quality tests on your water regularly to ensure it is safe for consumption. When it doubt, have the water treated and drink bottled water until you are sure it is safe again.
For more information, contact Hvactech Systems plumbing or a similar company.
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