In the conditions of destruction of infrastructure facilities as a result of hostilities, the problem of providing the population with good-quality drinking water arises. For this purpose, in the absence of centralized water supply, water from alternative sources (wells, pump rooms, catchments, etc.) is increasingly used.
But few people have thought about: is well water safe for human health?
What do you need to know about water from such sources?
Firstly, water is a factor in the transmission of many infections of bacterial, viral, and parasitic origin, and well water is no exception. Especially in the spring, during seasonal floods, when the risk of microbial contamination of wells is very high.
While this problem can be solved by boiling water, contamination of a different nature, in particular, with toxic substances and chemical compounds (if their content exceeds the maximum permissible standards), can make water completely unsuitable for consumption.
In recent years, nitrate pollution of groundwater, which is widely used in rural areas for decentralized water supply, has been increasing. First of all, nitrates are a sign of organic pollution of the aquifer - either nitrogen-containing organic fertilizers are used, or it is fecal pollution of the aquifer. The source of pollution is cesspools, leaky septic tanks or tanks for collecting liquid waste, manure storages, livestock holdings, etc.
Drinking water containing more than the recommended amount of nitrates can in some cases lead to a disease called water-nitrate methemoglobinemia. This disease is caused by a significant increase in the content of methemoglobin in the blood, which is formed as a result of the toxic effect of nitrates on hemoglobin, which leads to oxygen starvation of tissues (hypoxia). Infants under 1 year of age who are formula-fed (when formulas are prepared with water with a high concentration of nitrates) are at increased risk. Elderly people, people with anemia, and people suffering from diseases of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems are also sensitive to nitrates.
We recommend:
- do not drink water from wells and springs whose nitrate content exceeds regulatory standards, and do not use it to prepare baby food mixtures. In such circumstances, we recommend using water from verified sources or bottled water;
- Use mineral and organic fertilizers with caution in the private sector;
- comply with sanitary and hygienic requirements when installing and operating wells (insulating the walls of the wells, installing a fence, canopy, cover, common bucket, etc. around the head of the clay lock);
- do not place within a radius of 50 m from wells and manure pits, yard toilets, compost and cesspools;
- At least once a year, it is necessary to clean the well from silting and rock washing, while simultaneously carrying out routine repairs of the fastening and disinfection.
Let's take care of the quality of drinking water - about our health!