Well water: composition, benefits and harms

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Perhaps every owner of a suburban area has a well. With the quality of urban tap water increasingly being questioned and bottled products also often being unrefined liquids, many are beginning to consider drinking from their own source.

Hundreds of years ago, well water was indeed considered the cleanest and he althiest. But today its quality may be questionable, since there may be industrial production nearby, and the neighbors have a septic tank buried in the ground. Therefore, it is worth considering whether it is worth giving preference to such a drink.

The benefits of well water

If the reservoir for the liquid was dug in accordance with all requirements and dangerous substances do not seep into it from the soil, then this drink really has a lot of advantages. Unlike tap water, this water has a high content of useful mineral components.

For example, if we consider the composition of this liquid, then in terms of its biochemical parameters it is considered the best for the human body. Pure well water is free of chlorine and chemicals,which are added in huge quantities by city sewage treatment plants. It is a natural cool and refreshing liquid that will give you energy for the whole day.

But, only in 30% of 100 such water passes all laboratory tests. Due to the rapidly deteriorating environmental situation, there are fewer and fewer regions where you can safely drink raw well water. Therefore, in no case should you give preference to such a drink without preliminary laboratory tests.

Presence of nitrates and other harmful components

According to numerous tests, rather dangerous components are most often found in wells. For example, gardeners are often engaged in the destruction of insects with the help of pesticides and other chemicals. Through the soil, these substances seep into the well, after which they are sent directly to the human body.

The main danger lies in the fact that the composition of the water can change during the season. Therefore, even if the water passed all the necessary tests at the beginning of summer, this does not mean that by the end of the warm season, chemistry will not begin to accumulate in it.

Nitrates in well water are a great danger to children. A small organism is not able to fully neutralize these components, which can lead to oxygen starvation of tissues and severe poisoning.

Iron

Many are sure that the iron in well water is no different from that found in berries and other naturalproducts. Actually it is not. For example, if a summer resident dug a well next to iron ore deposits, then the composition of his blood after such regular drinking will not change. The fact is that this component is in the liquid in an inorganic form.

Gradually, iron will accumulate in the human body. This may well provoke blockage of the arteries, the development of gallstones and many other dangerous ailments. The human body is simply not able to absorb such iron. If you eat a little blackcurrant, then the blood counts will immediately change. This is because in this case we are talking about useful, organic iron.

How else is this water dangerous?

The well itself is a closed environment. This means that the worst viruses and bacteria can easily multiply inside. Especially if the owner of the suburban area notes that the temperature of the well water is quite high. If the rings are shallow and the liquid is constantly heated by the soil, this will only hasten the development of an environment favorable for microbes.

In addition, organic components, plants, accidentally drowned small animals, insects, and so on can decompose in the well. Often even dangerous E. coli is found in wells. From pathogenic microflora, how deeply the rings are installed will not protect. Of course, the deeper the water is taken, the cleaner it should be. But, do not forget about the underground currents, which can bring thousands of bacteria with them.

How long agothe well was used and its technical features

This factor is also important. If stagnant processes occur in the well, then the water in it becomes dangerous not only for drinking, but even when watering or using it as a technical fluid. Under the influence of ultraviolet, the pathogenic microflora grows strongly and makes buildings of this type usable.

You also need to remember that if the well is not equipped with a special cover, then it will never have clean water. The same applies to underground structures. The quality of well water will always be low if the joints between the rings were not sealed during construction. It is also worth abandoning such a drink if clay deposits are already visible on the walls of the structure.

Self-determination of contaminants

Of course, the composition of water cannot be determined by eye. But the type of fluid contamination can be clarified independently. To do this, you need to collect some water in a clean glass beaker and look at its quality. If it is cloudy and third-party inclusions are observed in it, then cleaning will definitely be required.

After that, you need to look inside the well with a flashlight. If there is plaque, dirt and unpleasant growths on its walls, then this means that bacteria are actively multiplying inside. Of course, the presence of algae also indicates that urgent cleaning of well water is required.

Color and smell

It is also worth evaluating other parameters of the liquid poured into a glass. If the smell of a wellwater is unpleasant and there is a feeling that a rotten egg was broken in front of the nose, this indicates severe hydrogen sulfide pollution. This gas can only appear if bacteria multiply in the liquid. In this case, in addition to cleaning the liquid, measures will be required to saturate it with oxygen.

After that, it is worth evaluating the shade of the water. If it contains an increased amount of nitrogenous compounds, then in this case the liquid will be a reddish hue. At the same time, at first, the water may seem only slightly yellowish. However, gradually the shade will become more and more intense. If a person still continues to drink water, then you should pay attention to the sweetish aftertaste. It also appears with increased nitrogen content.

If the water is green, then most likely the owner of a suburban area will also notice an unpleasant marsh aroma. In this case, we can say with confidence that algae began to multiply at the bottom of the well. Also, a greenish tint can indicate stagnant processes in the liquid. This happens if no one has used the well for a long time, and the summer cottage has been completely abandoned for years.

Sometimes just looking at the surface of the water in the well is enough. If it is very dark, the bottom is not visible, and green, red and yellow dots or stains are visible on the surface, then it is very dangerous to use such a liquid for drinking. The more dirt accumulated at the very bottom, the blacker the water will be.

When can you drink this water?

First of all, you need to periodically donate liquid to the laboratory. If the composition of the water meets the standards, then it is important to follow several rules for using the well in order to prevent harmful bacteria and other microorganisms from entering it. Trouble can be avoided if the head of the structure is reliably protected. A house should rise above it, or at least a cover should be available.

Periodically, it is recommended to use a submersible drain-type pump for cleaning. It helps to effectively pump silt and debris from the bottom of the well. It is also necessary to periodically check how well the underground structure is sealed. It is worth installing rainwater drainage, and installing filter elements at the bottom.