Health dept. highly recommends that well water be tested for arsenic

[July 03, 2013]  Groundwater is a vital resource that most Americans rely on as their primary source of water. The Mahomet Aquifer, a major aquifer in east-central Illinois, supplies water for wells to residents throughout much of central Illinois and the northern half of Logan County. Although water from aquifers is generally safe, no well owner should assume their water is or will always be free from contaminants.

Arsenic is a contaminant that is a naturally occurring element located in the earth's crust. Arsenic can be found in deep bedrock, and once it dissolves naturally, it can find its way to groundwater. Arsenic is highly toxic and in drinking water has been linked to various cancers and other ailments.

According to the Illinois State Water Survey, arsenic has been found at levels exceeding the maximum contaminant levels of 10 parts per billion throughout most of the Mahomet Aquifer. For additional Mahomet Aquifer information and a map, visit the ISWS website at www.isws.illinois.edu/gws/archive/mahomet.asp.

Therefore, it is recommended that residents who obtain their water for domestic use from a private well that draws from the Mahomet Aquifer have their water tested for arsenic. Testing can be done by a certified laboratory or through the ISWS. Check local listings for certified laboratories or contact the ISWS at 217-300-7420.

If arsenic in your well is found to exceed the maximum contaminant level of 10 ppb, exposure to arsenic can be reduced by (1) using bottled water for drinking and cooking; (2) installing a water treatment system such as reverses osmosis, home distillation, deionization or activated alumina media filter; (3) constructing a new well (does not work in some situations); or (4) connecting to a public water source. Per Section 4 of the Logan County Water Ordinance, if public water is available within 200 feet of the subject property, the public water shall be the sole water source.

Owning your own water well is like owning your own car. It's up to the homeowner to ensure proper maintenance and do everything possible to be assured the water from the well is safe. Therefore, routine maintenance, inspections by licensed well drillers and annual sampling for coliform and E. coli bacteria, nitrate and nitrite is recommended. Water sample test kits can be purchased at the Logan County Department of Public Health for $15.

To help homeowners understand and care for their water wells, free online training for private well owners is now being offered as a project of the Rural Community Assistance Partnership, the Illinois State Water Survey, Illinois Water Resources Center and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The training is funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. For more information or to sign up for the free class, visit www.privatewellclass.org.

If you have questions, you can also contact the Logan County Department of Public Health at 217-735-2317.

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Information source: Illinois State Water Survey

[Text from file received from the Logan County Department of Public Health]