Residents who drink well water are recommended to conduct water tests after such weather events.
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After heavy rains, surface pollution can enter groundwater – various chemicals, nitrogen substances used in agriculture, pesticides, organic materials, and microorganisms. Nitrites and nitrates can enter groundwater from nearby barns, chicken coops, or field toilets.
“Water contaminated with these toxic substances does not have a specific taste, smell, or color. Neither boiling nor household water filters will remove them, so if there is a chance that rainwater could have entered the well, it is very important to conduct water tests,” says Gintautė Gelumbauskienė, head of the Chemical Research Department at NVSPL.
Increased organic pollution may be indicated by a changed appearance of the water – it may become cloudy, take on a yellowish-brown tint, or have a sweetish taste. The presence of petroleum products in the well indicates serious groundwater contamination – such water should not be consumed, and the well must be pumped out and cleaned.
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After heavy rains, wells can also be contaminated with bacteria and other microorganisms dangerous to health. Consuming contaminated water can cause nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, or fever. Unlike chemical pollution, bacteria can be destroyed by boiling water, so it is recommended to use only boiled well water for food.
Water quality can be worsened not only by rains. After prolonged droughts, when the water level in wells decreases, the concentration of various substances increases, which can change the taste, smell, and safety of the water. During the hot season, high water temperature also creates more favorable conditions for pathogenic bacteria to multiply, and volatile organic compounds can enter the water flowing through plastic pipes.
As summer comes to an end, NVSPL specialists recommend testing for ammonium, nitrites, nitrates, permanganate index, iron, manganese, Escherichia coli, enterococci, and coliform bacteria. These tests help assess whether drinking water is safe to consume and timely detect possible chemical or microbiological contamination.
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