What Are the Signs of Well Water Contamination?

Wells are a valuable resource for homeowners, but they come with a lot of responsibilities.

Private wells aren’t regulated like municipal water sources. This means that you must have an immediate response when any type of contamination occurs.

Of course, you must know if your supply is affected before you can do that. It is recommended that all well-owners test annually.

Warning Signs Your Well Water is Contaminated

Chances are, you know if your well water is contaminated. Contamination can happen even when you regularly maintain your well. This can happen at any time, so it pays to be aware of the signs.

If you’ve seen any of these signs, your well water may be contaminated:

• Cloudy water. Water should be colorless, clear, and sparkling; If you fill a glass and the water is cloudy, your well water may be contaminated. Cloudy filtered-water indicates that sediment, clay, silt and dirt particles have penetrated your supply. Air bubbles can also cause this issue; if this is the problem, your pump may be malfunctioning.
• Strange-tasting water. Many residents also say they detect chemical, metallic, soapy or salty water. These flavors can indicate the presence of agricultural chemicals, alkaline minerals, road salt or sewage. Those are among the last things you want in your water supply.
• Unpleasant odors. Your water may have a rotten smell if sulfur bacteria or hydrogen sulfide gas have contaminated your well water. Sulfur bacteria is the growth of certain bacteria that is naturally occurring. If the levels are high enough, exposure can cause health problems including headaches, delirium and nausea.
• Family members become ill. People get sick for all sorts of reasons all the time. But if your family is facing sudden health issues for no clear reason, you should seek water testing. Symptoms to look for include fever, cramping, diarrhea, nausea and fatigue.
• Discolored water. Is your water orange, brown or reddish? If so, it may have tannins or iron in it. These aren’t typically dangerous in small quantities, but they aren’t great to look at. Too much iron in your water can actually harm your pipes.
• Oily film on water surface. Cloudy water could also happen if there are minerals and other organic matter in your supply. When combined they give it an oily look. If this is an issue for you, your well pump might need to be replaced. Sometimes, this means your well was installed too near an untreated body of water.

The stains on your water fixtures. Red stains in or around your water fixtures may suggest a high concentration of dissolved iron.

And that can put your health at risk.

Green stains, even worse, have commonly been a sign of high acidic content. When acid eats away, it fails pipes and leeches into the water.

Common Types of Well Water Contaminants

A certified lab test will reveal which specific pollutants are in your water. At Hague Quality Water of Maryland, we often expose these contaminants when we provide well water tests:

• Microorganisms: Bacteria, viruses and parasites, found in sewage and waste
• Nitrate and nitrites: used in fertilizers, sewage and waste
• Heavy metals: arsenic, antimony, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, selenium, etc.
• Organic chemicals: present in pesticides, dyes, paints, pharmaceuticals, solvents, disinfectants and more
• Radionuclides – uranium and radium
• Fluoride (toxic in high amounts)

Such contaminants are typically from agricultural facilities, junkyards, commercial activities, chemical manufacturing, residential chemical storage areas and septic tanks.

These contaminants come from a large number of sources.

Take Action!

The best way to protect yourself from well water contamination is regular testing.