Pressure Tank, Reverse Osmosis, Sump Pump, Radon Removal, pre and post Sediment Filter, Solution Feeder and a water softenerInfections Prevented By Water Treatment & Purification

Many people still have homes that are hooked up to a private well that draws water into their house from an underground source. Homeowners tend to agree this is a safe and preferred method of obtaining water for their home since there are many methods of water purification that can be used to keep the water supply fresh.

Issues can arise, however, if annual water inspections are not conducted by a professional residential water testing company. Such companies perform well inspections and a water leak detection if necessary, and advise a homeowner in the best water treatment and purification techniques for their home.

If you are experiencing smelly water or stinky water with a strong odor and discoloration, it is important to have water testing completed to avoid infections and sickness. Causes of smelly water can be the pipes or the well its self, and a well inspection is crucial to determine if there is contaminated groundwater causing an issue and jeopardizing the health of those who live in your home.

What Causes Contaminated and Smelly Water

There are numerous ways that a well can be contaminated, not the least of which is an increased amount of nitrites in the soil. Unfortunately, many people whose homes are hooked up to a private well still live near agricultural and even industrial sites, and runoff from these sites affects the groundwater. Trace elements from agricultural sites continue to seep into the soil, often reaching deep enough to affect a home’s well water supply.

Regular water testing can often help predict what contaminants your water supply may be susceptible to and if there’s any way to prevent future contamination. Your professional water testing company can recommend several water treatments that can be used to keep your well water safe, relatively free of contaminants, and you and your family drinking healthy safe water. You may also experience problems with mold in your pipes. If you find this to be the problem, make sure to hire a mold specialist like Mold Remediation Pros.

Infections Caused by a Lack of Water Purification

Lead Poisoning

pieces of well casing in sediment housingLead poisoning occurs when there is a large concentration of lead in your drinking water, and this condition can be quite harmful. The issue can come from old pipes or from contaminated groundwater, but the effects tend to be more noticeable in young children than in adults.

There are a host of health problems that can come from lead poisoning, some that are fatal, and others that can seriously damage the body in very painful ways such as organ damage and nervous system disorders. Always talk to your residential water testing company about the lead in your drinking water during your annual inspection.

Diarrhea

Smelly WaterDiarrhea is a fairly common infection with contaminated water and can cause severe dehydration. Children and infants are severely susceptible to this condition and should be taken to a doctor if their symptoms persist from a water contamination issue.

Typhoid Fever

drinking waterWhile it might appear that typhoid fever isn’t heard about as often as other infections, typhoid fever affects millions of people around the world and is caused by eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water. The symptoms are typically seen to materialize as nausea, a headache, and a loss of appetite, and it is important to consult a doctor if symptoms persist.

Arsenicosis

arsenic contaminated waterArsenic is a poisonous substance that can be found in wastewater that is released by industrial sites that are situated by rivers. It doesn’t take a large amount of arsenic to fall ill once consumed. Effects witnessed will be the lungs, kidneys, and liver, and can also lead to cancerous skin lesions that are extremely painful. Always include arsenic levels during your well inspection.

Dysentery

brown water in glassDysentery is an aggravated case of diarrhea that involves intense abdominal cramps and horrible nausea. In most cases, a person will run a high fever when this infection takes hold and will find blood in their stool.

It can take up to 4 days for this condition to take effect, but if there is any suspicion that a person has been infected then it’s wise to seek medical help, and of course, conduct a well inspection using a residential water testing agency to stop the issue before it becomes worse in the household.

Understanding What Happens During a Well Inspection

inspectionTo help prevent these infections from occurring due to contaminated water in the home, annual well inspections and water treatments should be conducted by residential water testing professionals in your area. Many inspectors will perform a visual well inspection to check the condition of the water and to see that the system is working properly. These basic inspections tend to cost the least and are the most cost-effective, but they do not find everything that might be wrong.

An inspector will also perform a test during the inspection that will search for water leaks, and they could recommend a few different water treatments that might help with water purification to increase the quality of your well water. Typically, a well inspection will take a few hours to complete, but if there’s water testing to be done then the results might take a few weeks to come back from the lab.

Steps to Take for Well Disinfection

Likely as not, once your well is determined to be contaminated, there will be steps that will need to be taken to disinfect it. While this is possible to take care of on your own, it is typically recommended to let someone that is trained and experienced to handle this process.

If you are determined to handle the process on your own, there are well water disinfection resources online to assist. Before you begin, there are several steps to take to ensure your safety and that the well disinfection is handled properly:

  1. Use common household bleach, NOT dry, granulated chlorine.
  2. Determine the depth of the well and how many gallons it holds.
  3. Determine how much bleach you’ll need. Every 50 gallons of water in the well requires one quart of bleach. Do NOT use more than recommended. Combine bleach with water before adding to the well.
  4. Remove the well cap and pour the mixture directly into the well casing. Be safe, wear rubber gloves, and safety glasses.
  5. Recirculate the well water by running a hose into the well for about 30 minutes.
  6. Turn on all the hot water heater. Turn on all faucets, showerheads, washers, and outside faucets. There should be a strong chlorine smell coming from each location, this will mean that it’s working. Leave the mixture in the system for at least 12 to 24 hours before removing the chlorinated well water.
  7. Remove the chlorinated water by running the pump and using a hose to run water from outside faucets to a safe area. Once the chlorine odor is gone the flushing process is complete. If you’re leery of this and can’t smell the chlorine then purchasing a water testing kit would be a good idea. The indoor water can be flushed to the septic or sewer system to remove this water from inside the home.
  8. Wait for around 5 to 10 days to resample the water. Repeat this test in 3 months to confirm the treatment worked. Test annually to make certain that your pump is working properly.

Trusting a Professional Water Purification Expert is the Best Way to Prevent Infections

The health of you and your loved ones are too important not to plan for a well inspection on a regular schedule. If there are any indications of infection, like smelly water or strong odors, then an inspection ASAP is highly recommended. If the problem persists, it is advised to check your well pump and, if possible, to budget for a much-needed well inspection and well disinfection process. In the end, the cost of these services is well worth the ensured safety of you and your family.