There are more than 13 million homes in the United States relying on private wells for their water access. This means there are more than 13 million residents who have the sole responsibility to test the quality of their water since the EPA does not regulate private wells. With this in mind, note that it is estimated that over 80% of diseases are caused by drinking contaminated water. Water is one of the most vital resources on the planet. We can all agree on the fact that the cleaner the water, the better it is for you. McCandless Well Drilling, Inc. has been serving Jamestown, New York, and surrounding areas for decades, and has seen firsthand how detrimental not properly regulating your well water can be. If you own a private well, here is an overview of why the quality of your water is essential and methods you can take to prevent it from becoming contaminated. Benefits of Quality Water It is worldwide and well-known that water is the key to life and that the quality of it will immensely impact your overall health.Aside from necessary hydration, there are numerous ways clean water can positively improve your overall wellbeing. • Body Fluid Balance - Drinking plenty of clean water balances your entire body’s fluids, which help with digestion, creating saliva, body temperature controlling, and distributes nutrients smoothly. • Kidney Health - Your kidneys need clean water to thrive and function properly. Because our bodies tend to deposit numerous toxins into cells during nutrient transporting, your kidneys filter this out. If you are dehydrated or have poor quality water, your kidneys will retain as much water as they can, which will keep those nasty toxins inside you. • Less Risk for Illnesses - There was a 2009 study performed at the University of California that found those use used reverse osmosis, and UV filters suffered nearly 12% less gastrointestinal illnesses than those who drank unfiltered water. Preventative Methods Every private well system uses groundwater. If that groundwater becomes polluted, it could cause serious illnesses. To be proactive and fight against the odds of consuming arsenic, aluminum, DBPs, or Fluoride, take necessary preventative methods and install water filtration systems and disinfection systems, which will drastically reduce the probability of having unsafe water. For example, one of the most effective in-home water filtration systems is reverse osmosis. Reverse osmosis uses air pressure to force water through a semi-permeable membrane, almost immediately getting rid of contaminates. As for disinfection systems, this route has numerous avenuesyou can take, such as chlorination, Pulsar Quantum, and UV Light Disinfection. When homeowners use UV light, this process uses short-wavelength UV light to destroy nucleic acids and disrupting the DNA in microorganisms in your well water. Conclusion If there is any point you should take away is that the quality of your drinking water needs to be a high priority when you have a private water well. With private water wells, it is entirely up to you to regulate and prevent your water from becoming contaminated. Some harmful bacteria, parasites, and viruses are invisible to the naked eye, but can cause immediate sicknesses if ingested. To reduce this risk, use the preventative methods mentioned above as well as stay diligent with testing your water quality regularly to ensure it is reliable and safe to use. If you have any additional concerns, questions or inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact McCandless Well Drilling, Inc. for professional sight and guidance.