What are Metals & How Do They Affect My Home?
Metals are elements that are found in nature.
They can be a hazard to your health and home, as some metals will cause corrosion on your pipes, appliances, and other household items. Metals may also discolor the water you use for drinking or bathing.
There are many different kinds of metals and they can be found inside our homes in many ways:
The water that comes out of your faucet might contain small amounts of lead from old lead pipes or solder used during construction (this is known as "background" pollution). If this is the case with your well water system then there's nothing wrong with using it normally without treatment but you should have it tested annually by an independent laboratory accredited by EPA's National Laboratory Accreditation Program (NLPAP). You can find these labs online.
If there has been any contamination from well drilling equipment used nearby then you should consider testing it before using the water for drinking purposes due to potential health risks associated with heavy metals such as arsenic which may leach into groundwater supplies near drilling sites.
If you are concerned about industry, large scale farming, or dumping of hazardous chemicals nearby, you should definitely get your water tested.
What Metals Can Be In My Well Water?
There are a lot of metals that can be found in well water.
The most common ones are iron, arsenic, copper, lead, mercury and zinc. Less commonly found but still present is nickel (which can be toxic at high levels) as well as selenium and chromium.
If you know what to look for when testing your water for metals--and if your test results indicate that there are elevated levels of any of these substances--then it's time to take action!
Water is one of the most important things we rely on every day.
Water is one of the most important things we rely on every day. It's essential for life, and it helps keep our bodies healthy.
But did you know that water can also be used to clean your home?
Your plumbing system uses water to transport waste away from your house and into a septic tank or sewage treatment plant. If there's too much sediment in the well, it can clog up pipes and cause them to break down prematurely--which means that instead of getting rid of contaminants in your drinking supply they end up back inside again!
How Do I Know If My Well Water Contains Metals?
The best way to know if your well water contains metals is to have it tested.
If you don't want to pay for a professional test, check out home testing kits and Agricultural Extensions.
There are two types of metal tests: total dissolved solids (TDS) and acidity/alkalinity.
The TDS test measures all minerals in solution--including metals--and gives an overall picture of how much stuff is floating around in there. The acidity/alkalinity test measures pH levels only; it doesn't identify specific chemicals so much as whether they're acidic or basic (aka "basic" being good).
Well Water Is Not Heavily Regulated Like Other Types of Drinking Water
Well water is not as heavily regulated as other types of drinking water, so there's no guarantee that it's safe.
Wells are also not tested regularly or consistently enough to ensure that they meet safety standards.
While municipal systems are required to test their water at least once per month, well owners often only have their wells tested once every few years--and even then, it's up to the owner whether or not they want their water tested at all!
This means that if you're relying on a well for your household needs, you may be exposed to harmful metals without even realizing it.
And even if you do get your well tested regularly and find out there's something wrong with its quality, there isn't always anything anyone can do about it because people who live near sources of pollution like factories (or even farms) often have no choice but rely on groundwater for their drinking supply anyway--and all too often this leads directly back into trouble again!
What Are The Effects Of Having High Levels Of Metals
Having high levels of metals in your well water can cause damage to your home and health.
The most common effects are:
Damage to pipes, fixtures, and appliances (faucets, toilets)
Health problems like liver disease or kidney disease
In addition to these risks, there's also the possibility that you'll be drinking metal-infused tap water every day!
If you think about it that way--you're drinking metal every day--it might make you feel sick just thinking about it.
The Metals Found In Well Water Can Be Harmful To Humans and Homes
The metals in well water can cause corrosion, scale and sediment, discoloration and other health issues that are not only unsightly but also potentially dangerous.
Corrosion: Metals tend to react with each other or oxidize when they come into contact with oxygen from the air (or from bacteria). This reaction leads to a breakdown of metal surfaces over time; this is called corrosion. In pipes this can lead to leaks or holes in your plumbing system if left untreated long enough--and since it happens slowly over time rather than immediately after exposure by one big incident like an earthquake or flood event where there are sudden changes in pressure levels within pipes due to rapid movement of water through them (which would also cause scale formation), you might not even notice until it's too late!
Health Effects: Accroding the the United States EPA, exposure to heavy metals can cause liver, kidney, intestinal damage, anemia, and cancer. YIKES!
It's Important To Test Your Well Water For Metals
If you don't know whether your well water has high levels of metals, it's important to get it tested.
Testing can be performed by a professional, an Agricultural Extension, or at home using simple kits that are readily available online.
If you're not sure where to begin, contact your local health department for advice about how to test for metals and where to find help testing if needed.
The pH levels in well water vary, which makes it difficult to determine if those metals are present or not.
The pH Levels In Well Water Vary
Varying pH levels make it difficult to determine if metals are present or not.
If the pH level is too high, it could mean that there are too many dissolved solids in your well water. You will notice this the most in your toilet and on your clear glasses. The minerals left behind after this process will build up over time and collect on those surfaces.
There are a Few Ways to Test For Metals in Well Water
There are ways you can test your water for metals and remove them from your home if necessary.
Test the water in your well for metals, such as lead and arsenic, by contacting a commercial company that specializes in water testing.
Purchase a home testing kit
Agricultural Extension
Local Health Department
Well water can contain dangerous metals that could damage your home over time.
Test your water for metals
Remove the metals from your water
Get a filter to remove the remaining metals in your well water
Install a whole house filter system that will remove any contaminants
Well water is one of the most important things we rely on every day, but it can also be harmful if you don't know what kinds of metals are present in your home's water supply.
If you're concerned about whether your well water contains dangerous metals or not, it's important to get it tested as soon as possible.
If you're interested in saving a lot of money to filter your well water, consider my Homemade Well Water Filter
Feel free to contact me at Teena@FixURWater.com