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Well water often contains at least small amounts of some contaminants, including the metals iron and manganese. At low concentrations, these metals aren’t harmful to your health, but they can cause staining. Iron causes orange stains while manganese leaves brownish-black stains. Soaps and detergents don’t remove these stains, and the use of chlorine bleach can actually intensify them. Test Your Well Water for Contaminants The presence of stains often makes it obvious that iron and/or manganese are present in your water supply, but it’s still a good idea to use a test kit to determine the exact concentrations of each of these contaminants. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Secondary Drinking Water Standards recommend that your drinking water contains no more than 0.3 parts per million of iron and 0.05 parts per million of manganese. Iron concentrations as low as 0.3 parts per million can cause staining.   In addition to the concentration, it’s important to determine the form of the contaminants present in your water. If the water collected from your well is initially clear but then turns orange or black over time, this means that the contaminants are dissolved in your water. If solid particles of iron and/or manganese are apparent immediately in your well water, this means that the contaminants are in an oxidized form. Knowing the concentration and form of the contaminants in your water will help you to determine the most effective treatment.   Investi...

As the debate over the accessibility and cleanliness of drinking water continues to simmer, it is natural for you to want to abandon those deceptive bottled water companies and begin filtering your own personal water source. This step towards safeguarding your health seems liberating at first, but it is important to note that water filtration comes with its own set of pitfalls. While you may have spent a pretty penny on a state-of-the-art drinking water filtration system, that product may not be protecting you from all contaminants. Chlorine, for example, is particularly harmful to your health with frequent exposure, and can be absorbed through the skin, and breathed in as vapors in addition to being ingested orally (according to the Pacific Health Center). Imagine the amount of exposure to harmful substances children receive when taking baths!  Fear not, however, for there is an answer to the problem of water contamination and it comes in the way of whole house water filters, but before you jump the gun and invest in any filtration system read the following information on water contaminants and you’ll be ready to tackle the problem head-on. Water Contaminants and Their Sources According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drinking water in this country comes from either ground or surface water. Surface water such as from lakes, rivers, streams and reservoirs are treated by public water systems to reduce the level of natural and man-made contaminants to...

Hydraulic fracturing is the process of drilling into the ground to obtain natural gas and oil from the earth. Commonly known as fracking, this is largely accomplished through the use of sand and water. However, a small amount of chemicals referred to as highly volatile organic compounds (HVOCs) are also used in fracking, and these chemicals can contaminate the well water that makes it into your home. Add that to the fact that surface gas can escape into the water table too, and you have a serious potential health concern for your family. Hazards of Fracking Water Contamination Trimethylbenzene, Xylene and Hexane are among the primary HVOCs that can contaminate water as a result of fracking. And while fracking isn’t the only way HVOCs find their way into the environment, exposure can cause a range of health problems, including irritation of the mucous membranes, damage to the central nervous and respiratory systems, deterioration of memory and potentially even cancer. Furthermore, natural gas can escape into the water table, resulting in water that is actually flammable.   Chlorine in Drinking Water Unfortunately, even chlorine can play a role in making the water you drink and bathe in unhealthy. Chlorine is typically added to water because of its ability to destroy bacteria and other infectious agents that could make you sick. And while its presence is seen as protective in nature, it acts with organic elements naturally found in our water to create a dangerous compound c...

Contaminants that can sometimes be found in drinking water can have a serious effect on your health. Some contaminants, such as cesium, iodine, lead, strontium, and tritium can lead to cancer. Other contaminants, such as chlorate, chlorite, cyanide, ethylbenzene, and xylenes can cause other organ, respiratory, and neurological issues. Chlorite and chlorate are a byproduct of disinfection in systems involving chlorine dioxide, and can cause thyroid gland effects, neurobehavioral effects, decreased absolute brain weight, and altered liver weights. Cyanide is introduced into water by industrial and mining effluents and are released from organic compounds, and exposure can cause hypersensitivity, asthma, or bronchitis. Ethylbenzene and xylenes come from the emissions or spills of petroleum and chemical industries, and exposure can lead to liver and pituitary gland issues or neuromuscular effects. Carcinogenic contaminants can also be found in drinking water. Cesium and strontium come from nuclear weapons and reactors and can cause multiple cancers. Iodine can also cause multiple cancers and comes from sewage effluent. Lead and tritium are naturally occurring but can lead to cancer as well. While some of these contaminants may not have immediate health consequences, they can be dangerous if you’re exposed to them for a long period of time. Even at low doses, the effects can be cumulative over the years. In the United States, there is a requirement to test for all of the contami...