Can contaminants in my well make me and others sick?
The short answer to this question is yes. While it may depend on the toxicity of a chemical, its concentration, and the duration of exposure, well water contaminants can lead to short and or long term health effects. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have identified the following to be the most common outbreaks in domestic well systems: Contaminants in my well that can make me and others sick:
- Hepatitis A (liver disease usually spread by ingesting fecal matter)
- Giardia intestinalis (diarrheal disease caused by feces contamination)
- Campylobacter (infectious disease caused by bacteria)
- E. coli (bacteria caused disease)
- Shigella (infectious disease caused by a group of bacteria)
- Salmonella (infectious disease caused by a group of bacteria)
- Cryptosporidium (diarrheal disease caused by parasite)
- Arsenic and Nitrate poisoning (cancer and other symptoms)
- NEW! Harmful Algae Blooms English / Spanish (produce toxins, and when ingested can cause negative health effects)
While everyone in your household may not be affected, vulnerable populations (i.e.: children, the elderly, pregnant women, and autoimmune compromised individuals) are particularly susceptible. For other contaminants and their health effects, visit Drinking Water Services’ list of chemicals.