IS YOUR WATER SAFE?
Brian Kaiser is a chemist in the Public Service Lab at the
Illinois State Water Survey, 2204 Griffith Drive, Champaign.
He has 10 years experience in analyzing water quality and can
be reached at 217/333-9234.
Probably the words most frequently heard by a
chemist or lab manager when a well owner brings in a
sample of water to be tested are, "I just want to know if
it's safe!" These days, people are highly conscious of
their health and what they are consuming. They want to
know that their air, food, and water supplies are free of
contaminants that could change or shorten their family's lives.
98% of the wells in Illinois are privately owned supplies
Folks who get their drinking water from a public
water supply may not have to worry quite as much
about their water quality as those who have a well in
their back yards. Public water supplies are regulated by
federal and state standards. When these standards are
not met, the utility is required to notify its customers of
the problem. However, the 1.3 million Illinoisans who
drink from their own wells have to take the responsibility for checking their water quality themselves. How do
they decide whether their water is contaminated or
not? How much contamination can they allow in their
well water before they must be concerned about it?
And where is the contamination coming from, anyway?
How does water become contaminated?
One definition of contamination may be that which
makes the water unfit for a particular use. In the case of
drinking water, then, a contaminant would be anything
that makes the water unpleasant or unhealthy to consume.
Bad odors or tastes can make the water unpleasant.
Nobody enjoys drinking water that smells like rotten eggs or tastes salty or bitter. On the other hand,
some contaminants that cannot be seen, smelled, or
tasted can be a danger to health. Many bacteria, trace
metals, organics, etc., can go undetected by human
senses but can cause sickness or even death.
Contaminants can be found in water due to human
activities or may occur in water naturally. As rain water
seeps into the ground it dissolves minerals and nutrients
from the soil and rocks. Anything that is normally found
in the earth's geology can end up in well water. Likewise, anything that has been spread upon the earth's
surface or buried in the soil by man can also be picked
up by rain or surface water and end up in the well
water.
What are some examples of contaminants?
The Federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) limits the kinds of contaminants and the amount of the
contaminant that are allowed in public water supplies.
The Environmental Protection Agency has also issued
Health Advisories for some contaminants that may not
be regulated by the SDWA. These two resources provide good guidelines by which to evaluate the private
well water of rural citizens. Some of the contaminants
are measured in milligrams per liter (mg/L). An equivalent expression is parts per million (ppm). Other contaminants are measured in micrograms per liter (ug/L),
also known as parts per billion (ppb).
1 mg/L = 1 ppm; 1 ug/L = 1 ppb; 1 ppm = 1000 ppb
1 ppb = 1 drop of water in 13, 210 gallons of water
(equivalent to a 24' x 4' round swimming pool)
Contaminants that can be found naturally in water
include radon gas and radium. These are products of
radioactive decay and are known to be carcinogens
(cancer-causing agents). Some trace metals occur in
July 1991 / Illinois Municipal Review / Page 17
nature. Arsenic, barium, cadmium, mercury, and silver
can be found in geologic formations and may affect the
nervous system, the circulatory system, and some organs. Coliform bacteria are indicators of the sanitary
quality of water. Although these bacteria are found
almost everywhere, their presence in well water indicates possible contamination by organisms that can
cause stomach and bowel problems as well as typhoid
fever, cholera and other diseases.
Although nitrates can be found naturally in well
water, any amount near the SDWA limit of 10 ppm as N
is usually due to the actions of man. Large amounts of
nitrates in water are probably due to nitrogen fertilizers
or to human or animal wastes. Infants are most susceptible to nitrate poisoning, in which a condition known as
methemoglobinemia can occur. Pesticides spread by
man can work their way into groundwater and cause
nervous system and organ disorders. Solvents and
cleaning agents such as benzene and carbon tetrachloride might contaminate well water from leaking storage
drums or improper disposal and are possible carcinogens. Lead in drinking water can cause nervous system
damage and is usually due to corrosion of plumbing
system materials.
People are not the only creatures concerned with
safe drinking water. Livestock and pets need water free
from contaminants if they are to survive and reproduce.
Rural water well users must take the initiative to see that
they protect their water supply from contamination
and must routinely make a check of their well water
quality. These actions will help ensure that they are not
jeopardizing their health or livelihood.
For more information obtain a copy of "Safe Drinking Water: Testing and Treating Home Drinking Water"
from your local Cooperative Extension Service Office
or contact your local health department. •
Page 18 / Illinois Municipal Review / July 1991