Questions (and answers!) about our well water (FA 2023) by Kenzie Burns https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023 Post your QUESTIONS as the subject and NOTES ON THE ANSWERS as the body of your padlet response. en-us 2023-10-21 17:06:59 UTC 2023-10-23 20:06:26 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f30a.png EXAMPLE: What's a "DBP" and why does it matter? mmburns3 https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2757251774 "DBP" stands for "disinfection by product", and is a class of contaminants that form when disinfection chemicals, like chlorine, interact with other elements in a water matrix, like organic and inorganic compounds. Some DBPs can have harmful health effects, like increased risk of cancer. Here's some more information: https://doh.wa.gov/community-and-environment/drinking-water/disinfection/disinfection-byproducts]]> 2023-10-21 17:19:00 UTC https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2757251774 How much iron is actually in my well? https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759432472 I couldn't find this... they only say it's above the secondary standard.]]> 2023-10-23 16:33:21 UTC https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759432472 Where is the well located? kbuelling22 https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759433847 It is on Lake Mendota Drive near eagle heights.]]> 2023-10-23 16:34:16 UTC https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759433847 How do disinfectant by-products get into the water? https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759434300 It can get into drinking water when treatment facilities use chlorine to clean the ground water. ]]> 2023-10-23 16:34:33 UTC https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759434300 What are normal concentrations of calcium and magnesium in drinking water? https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759434383 Calcium and magnesium concentrations vary around the country but typically seem to be around 50-200 ppm. This interested me because the water in Madison is much harder with around 300 ppm. ]]> 2023-10-23 16:34:36 UTC https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759434383 What can college students do to reduce the amount of minerals (like calcium) in their water? https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759434387 Something as simple as a brita filter can help filter out some of the minerals.]]> 2023-10-23 16:34:36 UTC https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759434387 What is a Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759434389 Polyfluoroalkyl substances are a group of synthetic organofluorine chemical compounds that have multiple fluorine atoms attached to an alkyl chain. Found in fast food packaging, non-stick pans, fire extinguishers, shampoo, pesticides, and paints. ]]> 2023-10-23 16:34:36 UTC https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759434389 Why is a house serviced by multiple wells, with varying percentages? https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759434493 I couldn't find a great source for this, but could probably be attributed to the fact that wells might undergo maintenance from time to time. 

The percentages seems to be generally based on proximity to the well when looking at the well map.]]> 2023-10-23 16:34:39 UTC https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759434493 What is the standard for hardness levels in water and why is it important? https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759434779 Hardness levels of water should not exceed 120-170 mg/L. High hardness levels in water can raise energy required to heat water, reduce life of equipment, and clog pipes. It can also cause damage to hair and skin. ]]> 2023-10-23 16:34:51 UTC https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759434779 How has water usage changed over the past 50 years in madison? https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759434978 2023-10-23 16:34:59 UTC https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759434978 What effect does exposure to radionuclides have on humans? https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759435027 Radionuclides cause cancer. Via oral exposure, they are known to cause bone, head, and nasal passage tumors, and via inhalation exposure, they are known to cause lung cancer.]]> 2023-10-23 16:35:01 UTC https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759435027 Why do we need more than one well going to a house? https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759435314 It is smart to have more than one well going to a house in case one of the breaks down or becomes contaminated in some way. ]]> 2023-10-23 16:35:12 UTC https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759435314 Why are some well's sodium levels so high? https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759435394 Runoff from road treatment can affect sodium levels in well water. High sodium levels in the water is not a large health risk]]> 2023-10-23 16:35:16 UTC https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759435394 How are the wells filtered? https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759435428 The wells appear to be filtered chemically on the site of the wells. They use a small amount if chlorine to kill pathogens. Additionally, fluoride is added. Even after this process, the tap water is still "hard". ]]> 2023-10-23 16:35:17 UTC https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759435428 What is ATSDR? https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759435499 2023-10-23 16:35:20 UTC https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759435499 What is a VOC? https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759435693 VOC stands for volatile organic compounds. These are compounds that have a high vapor pressure at room temperature. ]]> 2023-10-23 16:35:27 UTC https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759435693 How can iron and manganese be removed from the water? https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759436185 My well had intermediate levels of iron and manganese so I wanted to know how they could be removed. I found that they are most often treated using a water softening process (ion exchange).]]> 2023-10-23 16:35:46 UTC https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759436185 What are wells made of? https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759436190 Drilled wells are generally made of steel or PVC, not concrete. ]]> 2023-10-23 16:35:46 UTC https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759436190 What effects does the hardness of Madison water have on humans? https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759436245 - Madison water is considered very hard (20 grains per gallon)
- This can cause dry skin and hair leading to an itchy scalp if you wash your hair often
- Your skins PH can be affected weakening your skins barrier against bacteria and infections
- drinking hard water can cause stomach issues like indigestion and discomfort]]> 2023-10-23 16:35:48 UTC https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759436245 is there a safe amount of radionuclides for humans? https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759436272 Basically no, there is no safe amount of radiation, our well had a detection of 4.8pCi/L when the maximum is 5pCi/L, which is concerning]]> 2023-10-23 16:35:49 UTC https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759436272 What are radionuclides and why do they matter? https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759436388 Well 27 is very close to max allowable radionuclides- they are radioactive particles that expose you to radiation but can be filtered out (preferably by reverse osmosis]]> 2023-10-23 16:35:54 UTC https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759436388 Why are there different contaminants in different wells from the same aquifer? https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759436497 There are different local contaminants, and it all depends on the soil chemistry and materials that the well is made out of. It also depends on the depth of the well. ]]> 2023-10-23 16:35:58 UTC https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759436497 What will Radium in water do to me? https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759436527 2023-10-23 16:35:59 UTC https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759436527 Differences in Hardness depending on well location. https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759436539 The richness of calcium in our water is likely due to the large dairy industry in Wisconsin.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwja_YPBzIyCAxXeuYkEHTokAkwQFnoECBoQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hydroflow-usa.com%2Fwisconsin-water-hardness&usg=AOvVaw2yCvZlqJyzw2d7JnTwVFw2&opi=89978449
 ]]> 2023-10-23 16:36:00 UTC https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759436539 Why did the house 2 blocks away from me have a different main well? https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759436635 I was unable to find an answer in the time given, however the houses were built 10 years apart which could contribute. We also had all of the same wells, but different percentages from each well. This is something I would want to further look into.]]> 2023-10-23 16:36:04 UTC https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759436635 Why is my water so hard? https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759436777 My well produces around 343mg/L of CaCO3. I am shocked. I searched the national map and some places like Washington have less carbonate in their water. Is there a specific reason?]]> 2023-10-23 16:36:07 UTC https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759436777 Effects of Chromium https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759436779 What are the effects of chromium? I found that high levels of chromium can contribute to an increased risk of acute gastroenteritis, increased risk of the development of asthma, skin and eye irritation, and kidney and liver damage.]]> 2023-10-23 16:36:07 UTC https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759436779 What is VOC? https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759436918 They are gases emitted into the air by products or processes. They can be harmful if they react with other gases or some are harmful by themselves. ]]> 2023-10-23 16:36:12 UTC https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759436918 How does the Radium in the water effect us and what exactly is picocuries (The measurement of radium)? https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759437261 I couldn't completely find an answer to my question, but I did find that overtime it decays into Radon gas which is our most common consumption of Radiation from the natural world. I am still very curious how much a picocurie is.]]> 2023-10-23 16:36:25 UTC https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759437261 How are wells constructed? https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759437529 For municipal wells, most of the time drilling techniques are used to access deep aquifers. ]]> 2023-10-23 16:36:35 UTC https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759437529 Q: Why don't the well reports give numbers for lead concentrations? https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759437599 It is pretty much up to property owners to determine if there are unsafe levels from the Water Utility website. I guess insignificant levels are good enough for us.]]> 2023-10-23 16:36:37 UTC https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759437599 How Does Elevated Sodium Content in Water Affect Health? https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759437709 Elevated Sodium levels are not a great health concern for most, but can affect people suffering from hypertension, congestive heart failure, or those on a restrictive low-sodium diet.

Sodium can only be harmful in these cases when the concentration exceeds 20mg/L.

]]> 2023-10-23 16:36:41 UTC https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759437709 How big of a concern is radium in drinking water? https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759438229 Well 27 has been found to have a combined radium amount of 2.3-4.3 pCi/L, which is not far off from the maximum contaminant limit of 5.0 pCi. There is no safe level of radium, but the MCL set by the EPA is well below the amount that is detrimental to human tissue. However, if a source of water exceeds this MCL, the water treatment facility in question will be required to take steps to remove some radium from the water source.]]> 2023-10-23 16:37:01 UTC https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759438229 What is a picocurie? https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759438503 one trillionth of a curie, a curie is a unit of radioactivity.]]> 2023-10-23 16:37:11 UTC https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759438503 Are municipal wells visible above ground? https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759438528 There were a lot of different types of wells on the internet. I'm not sure exactly which one is the correct type.]]> 2023-10-23 16:37:12 UTC https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759438528 What's a picocurie? https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759438784 A picocurie is one trillionth of a curie. A curie is a non-Si unit of radioactivity in units of becquerel (Bq). It was named after Pierre Curie.]]> 2023-10-23 16:37:21 UTC https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759438784 Why was the concentration of lead listed as "not containing significant amounts" while other contaminants are listed as having a concentration of zero? https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759439318 The water utility of Madison website stated on a separate page that it is up to the property owners to determine the concentration of lead in their pipes because the lead would likely come from pipe corrosion and not from the groundwater itself. 

Interestingly, there seems to be no easy way to quickly test for lead in water. Most tests involve having a professional come in and take the test instead of having a quick at home test. ]]> 2023-10-23 16:37:41 UTC https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759439318 What is a picocurie (in relation to radionuclides)? https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759439344 Measures disintegrations per minute. My well had 2.5 picocuries/L, which is about the average for background environmental levels and half of the standard (5 pCi/L).]]> 2023-10-23 16:37:42 UTC https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759439344 Why do wells have different yearly flows? https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759439560 Difference in demand near the well and ease of tapping into the aquifer]]> 2023-10-23 16:37:50 UTC https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759439560 Radionuclides, what are they? https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759439824 Radionuclides are radioactive radium and uranium found in water. Pump 27 is contaminated between a range of 2.3 to 4.8 pCi/L. Extremely close to the maximum range of 5pCi/L. How should these be removed from my drinking water?]]> 2023-10-23 16:38:00 UTC https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759439824 Does the distance from well to the place you live make significant impact on how containment your water is? https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759439908 2023-10-23 16:38:04 UTC https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759439908 Why is tap water fluoridated? https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759440909 Fluoridation of tap water was first practiced in 1945. It was found to reduce cavities in schoolchildren. Because of this and subsequent studies on children's dental benefits, it was accepted and adopted by neighboring states and soon other countries in the mid-late 20th century. Recent data over the decades since has shown a decrease in cavities since fluoridation, but countries with non-fluoridated water also had decreasing rates of cavities. Fluoridation has also proven to not reduce cavities in adults.]]> 2023-10-23 16:38:43 UTC https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759440909 How much lead is needed to be considered a "significant amount" https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759441991 15 ppb is the standard needed before it becomes dangerous is what I found]]> 2023-10-23 16:39:16 UTC https://padlet.com/mmburns3/well_water_fa2023/wish/2759441991