Well Water Contamination: A Few Helpful Facts

Living in Bethany, we are no strangers to well water. On occassion, we may even experience problems with our wells. One problem that raises many questions is the contamination of well water and the health problems it can cause.

There are many causes for well contamination including naturally occuring chemicals and minerals. The top five contaminants responsible for illness are Hepatitis A, Giardia, Shigella, E. coli 0157:H7, Camylobacter and Salmonella.

Onset of illness depends on the incubation period (the time between exposure and signs/symptoms of illness) of the infectious agent.

Hepatitis A - Virus with incubation period of 15 to 45 days. Usually self-limited. 90% infected have no symptoms. Causes inflammation of the liver, fever, abdominal pain and jaundice.

Giardia- A parasite with an incubation period of 5 to 14 days. Causes abdominal pain, diarrhea and Fatigue. Antibiotic treatment needed.

Shigella- A bacteria with an incubation period of twelve hours to 7days. Causes diarrhea, abdominal cramping and vomiting. treated with antibiotics.

E.coli- A bacteria with an incubation period of 1 to 10 days. Causes bloody diarrhea and can cause kidney problems. Treated with antibiotics.

Campylobacter- A bacteria with a one week incubation period. Causes abdominal cramping and bloody diarrhea. Treated with antibiotics.

Salmonella- A bacteria with an incubation period of 12 to 72 hours. Causes diarrhea, fever, vomiting and abdominal cramping. Can be self-limited with serious infection requiring antibiotics.

If you develop any of these symptoms, it is important to stay well hydrated and seek medical attention as soon as possible. Although use of over the counter anti-diarrheal medications may be tempting, use of them is discouraged. Holding the infectious agent inside the body can lead to a more serious illness.