Over 40 million US households use well water from community or privately owned wells. So, well water is a common source for people to meet their water supply needs. For such households that rely on private wells, everyday activities like bathing and showering require use of untreated groundwater sources.
While city dwellers may deem treated tap water a necessity rather than a commodity, those with access to private wells may question the quality of their source when using groundwater in these activities.
So, can you shower with well water?
Yes, you can. It is safe to shower with well water but if you have a water softener installed. Untreated well water on the other hand can cause problems. This is because untreated well water contains calcium, iron and magnesium. These hard minerals can have adverse effects on both skin and hair. Moreover, well water also has contaminants such as volatile organics, bacteria and sediments.
Therefore, it’s best to get your well water treated so you are aware of any potential risks beforehand. Now, let’s dive deeper to learn more about showering with well water.
How To Make Well Water Safe For Shower?
As stated earlier, millions of individuals use either privately owned or community wells to fulfill their daily needs. If you are one of these individuals, upgrading your water treatment systems can ensure that your well water is safe for showering. Here is a roadmap to make this possible:
- Test The Well Water
The first step to making sure that your well water is safe for showering is testing it. By identifying potential contaminants present in your well water you can determine the best course of action to improve its quality.
You must test for various elements such as coliform bacteria, hardness, pH levels, turbidity, VOCs (volatile organic compounds) arsenic, nitrates and sediment at least once a year or whenever you observe significant changes in taste, odor or color in the water as per EPA guidelines.
- Install A Water Softener
The second critical step is installing a softener system that uses softening salt to remove calcium and magnesium from hard well water to make it suitable for daily use. Hardness damages appliances like plumbing fixtures and laundry machines and leaves white scales on all surfaces.
- Install A Water Filtration System
The third step would require installing a whole house filter by leveraging what is available in the market varies from one model to another – these filters help remove impurities like dissolved solids while simultaneously eliminating odors from your households Well Water supply which could lead to hair loss or itchiness if consumed indirectly. In case there are higher iron concentrations in drinking and bathing water supply than usual; an iron filter may be necessary too.
- Get A Shower Filter
Lastly, installing the right shower filter will guarantee that any remaining components don’t come into contact with you. There are multiple varieties that come in different shapes & sizes and can be customized.
- Use Hair/Skin Products Made For Well Water
Apart from treating Well Water directly using these methods, adopting haircare or skincare products with cleansing agents specifically made for hard/dry skin or hard/dry hair is also necessary to keep various mineral deposits off the skin/hair.
How To Shower/Bath With Untreated Well Water?
Generally speaking utilizing untreated well-water for shower purposes if pure is perfectly secure. However one must still exercise great caution whilst doing so since getting into contact with this type of water. So, avoid ingesting the water through your nose or mouth.
It is also recommended to monitor children and elderly people when bathing or showering in well water. People with a sensitive skin should also avoid bathing in untreated well water. Moreover, people with weak immune systems, chronic illnesses and recent surgical wounds, should also avoid untreated well water for showering or drinking.
Overall, try to shower\ with treated well water and if you can, then reduce the bathing time as much as you can. This will minimize the exposure to harmful chemicals, minerals and contaminants.
Risks Of Showering With Well Water
Well by now you know that showering with well water is not that safe because it contains hard minerals. Let’s take a look at some of the risks of showering with untreated well water:
Hair Loss: Untreated well water can cause hair loss and damage your hair overall. It makes hair dry and frizzy. However, in most cases the damage is not permanent and can be reversed once you use the right hair care products.
Itchy Skin: If the well water has many hard minerals then it may cause skin dryness which could lead to itchy skin. Make sure you moisturize your skin well after each shower. Using a water filter to remove the hard minerals can also reduce this problem.
Sickness: Avoid getting water in your eyes, nose and mouth while taking a shower. This is because consuming untreated well water may lead to infections, especially if it contains coliform bacteria. This bacteria can cause nausea, stomach upset, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, etc.
How To Avoid These Risks?
We have already listed the measures you can take to make well water safe. Now, let’s shed some light on other ways to shower with well water to avoid the above-mentioned risks:
- Boil Water
This is an age old method but still very effective. If your water supply comes from a well, it is best to get a water filter. However, if you cannot get a water filter or bottled water then you should boil the water.
- Get A Water Filter System
You should get a water filtration and purification system installed especially if your well water:
- has construction near it
- Is near livestock or dairy farm
- is shallow
- Treat Well Water
If you live in an area where floods happen then after every flooding and spring runoff, get the well water tested and treated. This will ensure that the well water does not contain any nasty contaminants.
Wrapping Up
Selecting well water for your daily shower regimen can be an excellent choice as it eliminates exposure to chemicals like chlorine while providing essential minerals for our overall health. However, one must acknowledge the possible downsides from using hard water containing contaminants or odor issues.
To savor a revitalizing bathing experience using well water with assurance requires regularly conducting tests to measure its quality while efficiently addressing any problems that may arise. Proper maintenance combined with appropriate treatment options such as filtration systems or softeners is the best way to shower with well water!