You put yourself at risk of getting sick the minute you thought the well water was pure and safe for drinking without getting it tested from the authorized laboratories. You should always be aware that there are invisible bacteria found in well water that can cause deadly diseases.
Thus, the water may look fresh and clean to the eyes, but in reality, it might have harmful bacteria present in the water. Considering this, it may be the well water making you sick and not any other thing.
We spend a huge amount of money on our health if we ever get sick, let alone the suffering we go through. But we can all stop this if we are careful with what we are consuming in our daily life. Well water is beneficial for your health but for as long as it is purified.
In order to keep yourself and your family safe, you should know about the signs that depict your well water is making you sick. If you aren’t sure what those are, let’s go through them together and take a step towards health and wellbeing.
Can well water bacteria make you sick?
If you are thinking well water bacteria are not so harmful, you need to read about radon in water, nitrate, and coliform. There are numerous other forms of bacteria that might be there in your well water.
Well water bacteria are dangerous for your health, and if you continue to consume infected water for a long time, it will lead you to fatal diseases such as cancer.
So, don’t ever think the bacteria are not a cause of concern. No matter what your age or physical health is, you are likely to get affected if you drink the contaminated water.
How to tell if your well water is making you sick?
Aside from the bacteria, it’s common for well water to get contaminated through other means. When contaminants change the color and taste of water, you avoid drinking it and remain protected. However, if there are no visible impurities, you continue to drink, and this makes you sick.
Fortunately, you get symptoms before you are put in a situation from which it becomes difficult to come back. If you take notice of these signs at an early stage, you can avoid having a major problem.
So, for all of us, it’s important to be aware of such signs and keep ourselves protected.
The following signs should be on your radar.
The appearance
Starting from the underground aquifers and traveling all the way to your home, the well water will pass through a number of components. If any part of the plumbing system gets rust, dirt, or any other pollutant, it will affect the water quality, and you will get cloudy water at the end.
Similarly, the sediments may also float with your water and reach your glass. You may install the sediment filter, but still, before you drink well water, it’s important to check if it looks clear or not.
Discoloration
There are a number of elements in the plumbing system and in the well that can cause the watercolor to change. Whether it is brown water you are getting all of a sudden or it’s yellow water, since you can see it, you must avoid drinking.
Bad odor
The human senses work in a miraculous way. The minute you take water for drinking, you can easily smell it if it has a foul odor. It can be the sulfuric smell, or rotten eggs, whatever it is; you must avoid drinking the smelly water and get it tested.
Strange taste
There are elements in well water such as iron and fluoride that change the taste of water if found in excess quantities. Even though it may not harm you at the moment, you should avoid drinking the well water if it gives you an unusual taste. Get the water tested, and if it’s iron bacteria, you can apply different ways for iron removal from well water.
Other signs your well water is making you sick
The indications mentioned above are easily detectable since you can see, smell, or taste the water yourself. But, what if the water contains the invisible form of bacteria such as coliform, as mentioned earlier?
Still, you can detect, but you may notice the warning sign after a few days. So, let’s discuss below the possible symptoms to look for.
Fever or flu
If you drink contaminated water containing any form of harmful bacteria, you are likely to get headaches or temperature. It may appear to you after 3 to 4 days.
Abdominal cramps
You may suffer through this from the day one you consumed the contaminated water, or it may start after a few days; it’s a clear indication that something is wrong with what you are eating or drinking.
Diarrhea
Children are likely to get diarrhea if drinking contaminated water. Vomiting is another common sign that appears, along with diarrhea. You may feel like it is because of food you have eaten; the chances are, it might be the well water making you sick.
Loss of energy
If you feel like you have no energy left in your body, or you may feel tired at all times, it may be because of drinking contaminated well water. Do not ignore such signs and look for the cause behind them.
Do keep in mind that these signs may look minimal to you, but if you continue to ignore them, it will lead you to severe health problems that include affecting your heart, neurological system, kidneys, and other parts of the body.
How to determine if well water is safe to drink?
The only reliable method you have is a laboratory test. We recommend having your well water tested annually and whenever you notice a change in taste, smell, or color. Note that the water may look clear to your eyes, but you must get the test done to know about the invisible bacteria.
Other than that, whenever you feel any of the symptoms discussed above, seek medical help and also get the well water tested from authorized labs.
Conclusion
We all drink plenty of water throughout the day, and it is important for our health. But what if it’s contaminated and makes you sick? It won’t take much time to put you in the hospital bed. Even if well water looks clean, you must ensure it is not infected with harmful bacteria. Moreover, you can keep yourself protected if you keep an eye on signs that show the well water is making you sick.
Be vigilant with the signs, drink pure water, and stay fit and healthy.