Bacteria
– Bacteria are common well contaminants.
Lead
– A toxic metal, used in many home plumbing systems. (PDF, 752 KB)
Manganese - Common element found in
minerals, rocks, and soil that is naturally found in groundwater but can be
harmful at high levels. (PDF, 67 KB)
Nitrate
– A common contaminant in drinking water, nitrate is used largely in
agricultural and residential fertilizers. (exit DHS; PDF,
700 KB)
Recommendations for people with nitrate contaminated water:
- Avoid drinking water
containing nitrates greater than 10 ppm during pregnancy, and do not
give the water to infants less than 6 months of age or use the water to
prepare infant formula.
- Do not attempt to remove
the nitrate by boiling the water.
- The Wisconsin Division of
Public Health recommends that people of all ages avoid long-term
consumption of water that has a nitrate level greater than 10 ppm.
Pesticides
– Pesticides used on corn, soybeans, other crops can affect water supplies.
Pesticide
Reports published by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade
and Consumer Protection.
Sodium - a naturally occurring element commonly
found at low levels in drinking water supplies. (PDF, 23 KB)
Strontium - a mineral that
occurs naturally in the environment (DHS link)
Radium
and Radon
are two radioactive metals that occur naturally in
Wisconsin groundwater. (exit DHS; PDF,
700 KB)
Volatile
Organic Compounds
– VOCs can enter wells from leaking underground storage tanks, landfills,
other
sources.
