Drinking Drinking WaterWater

Safe Water is Safe Water is ImportantImportant

Used for drinking, cooking, cleaning, bathing, etc.

Unsafe Water Puts Children at Unsafe Water Puts Children at RiskRisk

Why?...

• Immune system still developing

• Bodies still growing

What May Be in Drinking What May Be in Drinking Water That is Unsafe?Water That is Unsafe?

• Bacteria and Viruses• Nitrates• Lead and Copper• Other harmful chemicals

Bacteria and VirusesBacteria and Viruses

• Can make you sick (upset stomach, diarrhea,

or serious illness)

• Can be worse for children, pregnant

women, and sick or older people

NitrateNitrate

• animal and human waste, and fertilizer.

SourceSource::

ProblemProblemss::• “Blue Baby” Syndrome

• Birth Defects

• Miscarriages

Lead and CopperLead and Copper

• metal from pipes, etc.

SourceSource::

ProblemProblemss::• Learning disabilities in children

• Behavior problems in children

• chronic digestive problems in adults and children

Check Your Pipes!Check Your Pipes!

Lead Pipes/ SolderLead Pipes/ Solder• used in homes before 1988

• dull gray color, scratches easily with a key

CopperCopper• reddish brown in color

• may be used in new faucets

Other Harmful Other Harmful ChemicalsChemicals

• Pesticides:Pesticides: runoff from lawns and fields or leaking from storage containers.

• Gas or oilGas or oil

ProblemsProblems::

• damage to kidneys liver, or other organs

• cause cancer • cause problems if you

are pregnant

Public Water SupplyPublic Water Supply

• Tested for over 80 different kinds of chemicals.• Company must notify you about unsafe water• Water test results made public annually

Private Water Private Water SupplySupply

Has it been more than two years since your water was tested?

If your drinking water comes If your drinking water comes from a private well or spring, it from a private well or spring, it is up to you to keep it clean and is up to you to keep it clean and

safe.safe.

What Do You Know About What Do You Know About Your Well?Your Well?

Do you know where your well is?Do you know where your well is?

•Uphill from sources of waste and chemicals.

Do you know how old your well is?Do you know how old your well is?

•If more than 20 years,have it checked

•Dug or bored:big hole, two feet across or more and is less than 50 feet deep.

(May be less safe)•Drilled well:

a narrow hole (4 -10 inches around), and is deeper, sometimes hundreds of feet.

•Driven point well (sandpoint):is 1 -2 inches around and may not be deep.

What kind of well do you have?What kind of well do you have?

Is Your Well in Good Is Your Well in Good Shape?Shape?

• Well casing above ground,

no holes or cracks.

• No gaps around casing.

• Well cap fits tightly.

• No low area near well.

• No chemicals stored near or in the well house.

Unused WellsUnused Wells

Uncapped, unused wells can Uncapped, unused wells can pollute your groundwater and pollute your groundwater and

drinking water.drinking water.For guidelines on

how to properly seal an unused well,

contact your local Health Department or County Extension

Center.

Protect Your Water Protect Your Water SupplySupply

• Backflow Prevention Devices: Help keep pollutants from washing

back into hose and into drinking water supply.

Visit the Healthy Visit the Healthy Homes Partnership Homes Partnership

site:site:www.healthyhomespartnership.netwww.healthyhomespartnership.netFor more information on healthy home

environmentsSpecial thanks to North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension for the original creation of

these slides:Dr. M. Cassandra Wiggins

Dr. Sarah D. KirbyDr. Wilma S. Hammett