Testing Water for Pollutants

Water absorbs dissolved minerals, organic compounds and organisms as it moves through the air and soil into surface and ground water supplies. Unacceptable materials may find their way into the water due to some of our activities.

Public water systems are required to regular test and treat water for certain contaminants according to the rules and regulations set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Testing your water from a public system could indicate problems in your home's plumbing, connections or treatment system. Most private systems are in rural or suburban areas.

Private well owners are responsible for monitoring the quality of their water. Testing for possible contaminants on a regular schedule is the only way to be certain your water supply is safe. Occasional problems do occur in any state's water supplies. Nuisance problems generally do not present a health risk, but the water may not be acceptable for all household activities. The most common nuisance problems are objectionable taste, odor, color and hardness. Once properly identified, these problems can often be corrected with water treatment systems. Testing for every possible contaminant is unnecessary and expensive. This will help you identify the tests you need for your water supply. Testing confirms a problem exists so appropriate treatment can be recommended and you do not purchase expensive, unnecessary treatment systems.

Your first concern is to provide your family with a safe source of water. Private well owners should test for total coliform bacteria and nitrate. The presence or absence of bacteria or nitrate often indicates the safety of your water supply. Testing must be done to detect these contaminants since both are typically invisible, odorless and tasteless. Coliform bacteria are found in the digestive tract of all birds and mammals. Most coliform bacteria are not harmful themselves, but point to an unsanitary condition and possible presence of disease causing agents. In some cases the bacteria are found in the pipes or well and not the water supply itself. Sources of nitrate include food, water and soil. High levels of nitrate in the water supply can cause infant cyanosis (blue baby) in children under six months. Chronic, long-term risks are not known at this time. Like coliform bacteria, the presence of nitrate indicates the possibility other contaminants.

Many people depend on ground water as their primary source of drinking water. Many of these individuals, especially those residing in rural areas, have their own wells. In light of recent reports of groundwater contamination in many areas of the world, much concern exists about the safety of well water. This is designed to address this concern and provide a guide to testing private wells. Many contaminants are natural. Where do these contaminants come from? Many are naturally occurring substances such as calcium, magnesium, silica and fluoride.

As many as 50 minerals may naturally occur in water but these generally do not cause health problems, since they usually occur in such small amounts. More often they impart undesirable properties such as unpleasant taste, odor or hardness to the water. Some contaminants are living organisms, mainly soil bacteria. The ones which cause the most common odor, taste, smell and discoloration problems are the sulfur, iron and manganese bacteria. Occasionally other types of bacteria, which indicate unsanitary conditions, are present. These may not affect the characteristics of water but are indicators of the possible presence of disease-causing microorganisms.

Man Made Contaminants: These include a wide range of synthetic organic compounds, such as trichloroethylene, phenols, benzene and toluene. Other chemicals which may contaminate water are the heavy metals such as lead and cadmium, and salt or brine used on roads. In general, these contaminants pollute groundwater as a result of improper storage or disposal practices. Leaking underground storage tanks and leaking landfills are two common examples. At high-enough levels, these contaminants may render water unsuitable for drinking and may cause adverse effects on health. Tests of well water have to be very specific. It is not possible to test one well and determine what the contaminant levels are in other wells in that area. A very complex hydro-geological investigation would be needed to make this determination, and this is not generally cost-effective. Thus, it is usually up to the individual well owner to decide if well testing is needed and what particular tests should be performed.

If well-water quality is in doubt, the first thing that a well owner should do is to contact the local health department. Department personnel can discuss the problem and recommend further action. In some cases, a visit to the well site will be needed before a decision can be reached. If the situation warrants it, water testing may be the next step. This testing may be done by the local health department, by the state health department or by a private testing firm. Many tests can be done by the appropriate agency, but private testing may be needed due to the limited resources available in these agencies. The agencies work on a priority system, which takes into account both the potential health risk and the number of people who may be affected.

Regardless of who performs the testing the first step is the collection of the water sample. If the well owner performs the sampling, he or she is usually provided with the appropriate sterilized sample bottle and instruction on how, when and where to collect the sample. This is a crucial step, since the contaminants are generally present in very minute amounts, and careless sampling can destroy the possibility of obtaining accurate results. Once the sample is obtained, it may be tested for a number of different types of contaminants.

1. One type of test is designed to detect bacterial contamination. Most odor, taste, smell and discoloration problems are due to bacteria, so this test is performed quite commonly. It is usually done free of charge by the local health department.
2. A second type of analysis, a partial chemical analysis, is used to detect commonly occurring inorganic constituents, such as magnesium, calcium, sodium, iron, fluoride, chloride and nitrate. Some of these, such as fluoride and nitrate, may be health hazards at high- enough levels. Others, such as magnesium and iron, are usually of concern due only to their effects on. This type of test is more expensive than the bacteriological analysis, but it is still not very costly.
3. A third, and potentially very expensive, type of analysis is a specific chemical analysis. This is used to look for one or a few particular chemicals which are suspected of being present in the water. It is not possible to simply analyze water for everything; the well owner must narrow down the possible sources of the problem so that a limited set of tests can be conducted.

Some of the most common types of specific chemical analyses are:

• Purgeable halocarbons - These include many solvents such as paint strippers and degreasers
• Purgeable aromatics - Petroleum products, such as paint thinner, gasoline and fuel oil.
• Non-volatile organics - Many pesticides.
• Total organic halogen - Organic chemicals containing chlorine or bromine.
• Total organic carbon - Organic compounds and the existence of a class of contaminants.

Once the tests are completed, the well owner is faced with interpreting any positive results. The presence of a contaminant is not always an indication of a health hazard. It is the level at which it is found that is most important. Although there are no established levels for private well water, the levels established for public supplies can be used as guides. It is best to discuss results with a sanitarian from the local health department, since he or she will have these established levels available and can help you interpret your results.

If the well owner finds that the well is contaminated with levels that might have significant health effects, the well should not be used. At this point there are five basic alternatives: install a new well, connect with a public system (if available), use bottled water, install filters, or move to another area. Drilling a new well may not solve the problem if it is drilled into the same aquifer, if the contaminant has also polluted the deeper aquifer, or if the source of contamination has not been identified. It is also expensive. Bottled water is generally just a temporary solution. In addition to the expense, the quality of bottled water not always assured. Installation of filters may appear to be an attractive solution but it also has drawbacks. These devices are unregulated and thus vary in effectiveness; they require careful maintenance and generally lack malfunction indicators. Filters are usually not recommended by health agencies. The last solution, moving to another location, is a drastic one but may be necessary in extreme situations. Most people assume that scientists have a good understanding of the health effects of water contaminants. Unfortunately, this is not the case for many substances found in well water. As a result, the well owner is often faced with uncertainty in the interpretation of contamination which may occur. Discussion with appropriate health officials should reduce this uncertainty, but it must be understood that difficult decisions may be necessary. The scientific community is working on these problems, but it will undoubtedly be a long time before the health effects of all water contaminants can be predicted with confidence.

The following lists problems found in water supplies and the appropriate tests to request.

Problem or Concern - Test; Appearance

• Frothy, Foamy - Detergent
• Black Flakes - Manganese
• Brown or Yellow - Iron, Tannic Acid; Stains on fixtures or clothing
• Red or Brown - Iron
• Black - Manganese
• Green or Blue - Copper; Odor or Taste
• Bitter - Nitrate, Sulfates
• Rotten Egg - Hydrogen Sulfide
• Metallic - pH, Iron, Zinc, Copper, Lead
• Salty - Total Dissolved Solids, Chloride, Sodium
• Septic, Musty, Earthy - Total Coliform Bacteria, Iron
• Soapy - Detergents (Surfactants)
• Gasoline or Oil - Hydrocarbon Scan, Aromatic Volatile Organic Chemicals
• White Deposits on Pots/Soap Scum - Hardness
• Discoloration of Child's Teeth - Fluoride
• Family or Guests Become ill - Total Coliform Bacteria, Nitrate, Sulfates
• Water Supply Used for Infant Less Than Six Months Old - Nitrate
• Corrosion of Plumbing - Lead, Iron, Zinc, Manganese, Copper Sulfates, Chloride; If You Suspect or Observe Contamination from:
• Old Lead Pipe or Solder - Lead, Copper, pH, Zinc
• Leaking Fuel Tank - Hydrocarbon Scan, Aromatic Volatile Organic Chemicals
• Coal Mining - Total Dissolved Solids, Iron, Sulfates, pH, Corrosion Index, Manganese, Aluminum, Arsenic, Selenium
• Gas and Oil Drilling - Total Dissolved Solids, Chloride, Sodium, Barium, Lead, pH, Corrosion Index, Strontium, Volatile Organic Scan
• Landfill - Total Dissolved Solids, pH, Volatile Organic Scan, Heavy Metal Scan
• Septic Systems - Total Coliform Bacteria, Nitrate, Detergents, Total Dissolved Solids, Chloride, Sodium, Sulfates
• Land Application of Sludge- Coliform Bacteria, Nitrate, Metals (Lead, Cadmium)
• Intensive Agriculture - Total Coliform Bacteria, Nitrate, Pesticide Scan, pH, Total Dissolved Solids
• Livestock Feedlots - Total Coliform Bacteria, Nitrate, Total Dissolved Solids, Total Organic Carbons
• Road Salt - Total Dissolved Solids, Chloride, Sodium

When To Test

Private wells should be tested yearly for coliform bacteria, nitrate, hardness and pH. Tests for iron, sulfates and chloride should be done every three to five years. If you are expecting a baby in your home you should test for nitrate at the beginning of the pregnancy. Depending on the test results, you may wish to test again before bringing the baby home and during the baby's first six months.

Even if you have a public water supply your water should be tested for total coliform bacteria if you make any changes in your plumbing or water treatment system which could introduce a contaminant. Before buying a new house have the water tested for bacteria and nitrate to insure its quality. Lending agencies often require the bacteria test before approving a loan.

If you have an old or shallow well, it is especially important to test your water regularly. Older methods of well construction, and the well's location in relation to septic or livestock facilities on many farms, makes older and shallow wells prone to contamination. You should test for bacteria if your well head becomes flooded or submerged. Following a chemical spill or leak within 500 feet of your well, test your water for possible contamination. Also test your water supply if your neighbors have found contamination.

Report unknown contamination or objectionable taste, odor or color in a private well to: Department of Public Health. Testing. Discuss your water problems with your county Health Department or water testing lab. After contacting the lab your next step will be to take the sample. Follow the instructions from the lab closely. Keep a record of the test results. The records will show any change in your water quality you may not have noticed. Records are also necessary if you need to prove an outside activity, such as a spill or leak, affected your water supply.

Currently on the market are screening tests to conduct various water tests in your home, such as tests for hardness, iron or nitrate. Many public agencies also conduct screening programs as a public service. Keep in mind these tests are a simplified version of the tests conducted by a lab. The results do not indicate if your water is safe to drink, only whether your sample contains the tested contaminant and the approximate level. These screening tests serve as useful tools for indicating if further testing is needed. If the results are positive, you should follow up with a test from a lab.