Known contaminants:
You can filter these contaminants and more out of your drinking water by using the PurAsure 360 Reverse Osmosis System!
It is our belief at Angel Water that everyone should know what contaminants could be in their drinking water! We want you to have the best information possible. That way, you can make an informed decision on how to get cleaner and healthier water!
Most homes in the Village of Hawthorn Woods run on private wells. The original water system for Hawthorn Woods was installed over 60 years ago. However, the village replaced it in 2010 with a new distribution system called Aqua Illinois.
So, while some information comes from Aqua Illinois, there are other contaminants common to well water that you need to know about.
Coliform, sulfur bacteria, iron bacteria, and radium are all contaminants common to well water.
These contaminants, and more, carry health risks and can harm your plumbing. They also bring out more cosmetic damage, such as stains and making your water smell like rotten eggs.
Coliforms are bacteria that are always present in the digestive tracts of animals and humans. The bacteria are also found in plant and soil material.
While most coliform bacteria do not cause disease, it can create a strain of E. coli that does. This strain, known as 0157:H7, can cause severe illness, including kidney damage or failure. This strain often comes from cattle, chickens, pigs, and sheep.
Furthermore, coliform does not have any physical features to identify it. However, as you’ll see with some of the other contaminants, such as iron bacteria, there are ways to detect certain toxins.
But with coliform, the only way you’ll know for sure is through testing your water annually. If coliform shows up on your annual water test, it could also indicate other pathogens growing in your well.
Sulfur bacteria is a toxin that occurs naturally. It also has the potential to produce hydrogen sulfide gas. These bacteria come from decay and chemical reactions in soil and rocks.
Sulfur bacteria creates a slime-like texture in your drinking water. This slime can produce other contaminants, such as iron bacteria. Iron bacteria are like sulfur bacteria; however, the coloring is different. If it’s iron bacteria, the slime will be reddish-brown. Sulfur bacteria show up as white, grey, or black.
Sulfur bacteria also have the potential to create harmful toxins. While bacteria may not be harmful, the gas produced by it can be. Increased amounts of hydrogen sulfide gas in the atmosphere can lead to nausea, headaches, tremors, and more.
Sulfur bacteria are also corrosive. It will clog and weaken your plumbing, costing you money for repairs.
Like sulfur bacteria, iron bacteria are naturally occurring. These small living organisms grow out of the soil, shallow groundwater, and surface waters.
These bacteria produce a thin, threadlike filament in standing water. Oxygen and iron can combine and create rust deposits and cells of bacteria. And, like sulfur bacteria, they will create a slimy material that harms your plumbing.
This slimy material corrodes and weakens your pipes while restricting water flow through the well.
Iron bacteria also leave stains in your toilet, sink, and bathtub. They can appear to be yellow, orange, red, or brown.
Radium is a radioactive element that forms through decay in rocks and soil. It is present in most drinking water and can be harmful to your health if consumed in high enough doses.
The health risks of radium include an increased risk of cancer, kidney damage, and congenital disabilities.
Radium comes in two forms: radium-226 and radium-228. When the EPA reports on radium levels, the forms of radium are either reported together or separately. The same goes for Aqua Illinois, who report radium levels together.
Aqua Illinois reported that in 2019, the highest levels of radium detected were 3 pCi/L. The EPA standard sets radium levels to exceed no more than 5 pCi/L.
However, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) sets its own standard for what should be considered safe levels. For radium levels combined, that is 0.5 pCi/L. So, radium levels in Hawthorn Woods are 6x higher than the EWG standard.
Calcium is a mineral that naturally occurs in the Earth’s crust. Because of its abundance coming from the Earth’s crust, calcium is commonly found in well water.
If the calcium mineral dissolves to high concentrations, it creates what is known as hard water. Hard water, while not harmful to your health, does impact other aspects of your life.
Hard water leaves behind a slimy feeling after washing with soap. It can give you dry and itchy skin. And if it builds up enough, hard water can clog your pipes. If hard water clogs your pipes, they will become weaker and result in cracking and leaking.
Your bathtub and sink will also be left with stains, costing you more money to replace those cosmetic issues.
While Aqua Illinois and Lake County distribute an annual water testing report every year, it is a good idea to get your water tested anyway.
One reason is that the water report doesn’t collect all data from every year. Even though it’s an annual report, certain contaminants only have to be tested every so often. So, for example, barium may be listed on the 2019 report, but it was tested for in 2018.
An annual water test can help you stay current on the quality of your water. It also enables you to track progression throughout the years. That way, if a new contaminant comes up, you can see what may have caused it.
Even though annual testing tells you what’s in your water, the question now is, how do you prevent contaminants from getting into your drinking glass?
The best way to block contamination is with an NSF-certified water filter! Water filters trap the toxins as they go from your water system to your glass. It acts as a barrier, keeping your water cleaner and healthier!
We want you to understand what could be in your drinking water. If you want to know more, try our Water Wizard! It’s a free online water assessment quiz!
Please give us a call at
(847) 382-7800 or stop by Angel Water!
If you want to understand the quality of the water your family depends on everyday, contact us today. One of our representatives is standing by to help you schedule your free water test. We’ll send one of our local water expert to test the water at your tap and explain common problems and solutions for your specific water composition so that you can rest easy, knowing that your family is drinking the healthiest water possible.
