Lead in Well Water? Understanding the Risks

Clean water is essential for health, safety, and daily living. For households relying on private wells for drinking water, ensuring its purity is critical. One major concern is lead contamination—a silent intruder that’s tasteless, odorless, and harmful even in small concentrations.

This guide explains the risks of lead in well water, how it gets there, and, most importantly, how you can test and protect against it to keep your family safe.

What is Lead, and Why is it Dangerous?

Lead is a toxic metal commonly found in natural deposits, old pipes, plumbing systems, and industrial waste. Even at low levels, lead exposure can have severe health effects, particularly for children and pregnant women. It’s linked to developmental delays, nervous system damage, kidney issues, and high blood pressure in adults.

Because lead contamination is often undetectable without proper testing, you could unknowingly consume harmful water every day.

How Does Lead Get Into Well Water?

Private wells are particularly vulnerable to contamination because they are not regulated like public water systems. Here are the most common ways lead can enter a well:

1. Corroded Plumbing: Many older wells and plumbing systems were built with lead-based pipes, fittings, and solder. Over time, these materials can corrode, allowing lead to leach into the water. 
2. Groundwater Contamination: Lead can seep into groundwater from natural deposits or industrial waste in the surrounding environment.
3. Brass Components: Some well pumps and fixtures still use brass components, which can contain trace amounts of lead.

If your well water system is more than 20 years old or located near industrial sites or urban developments, the risk of lead contamination can be higher.

How to Test for Lead in Your Well Water

Testing is the only way to confirm whether your well water contains lead. Here’s how to do it:

1. Use an EPA-Certified Testing Kit

Find EPA-approved laboratories or testing services that specialize in lead screening. You can collect water samples yourself and send them in for analysis. Make sure to test water from several points, like your kitchen sink and outdoor faucet, to identify if contamination happens in the plumbing.

2. Hire a Professional Well Expert

For more thorough testing, a certified well technician can assess your entire system, from the wellhead to your tap. Professionals like John’s Well Drilling in Dover, Delaware, even offer maintenance and testing as part of their well management services.

3. Look for Red Flags

While lead itself is odorless and tasteless, its presence can sometimes coincide with cloudy water, strange smells, or metallic tastes. If you notice these signs, test your water immediately.

Preventing and Addressing Lead Contamination

If tests confirm lead in your water supply, you’ll need to act quickly. Here’s what you can do to reduce and prevent lead exposure:

Replace Old Pipes and Plumbing 

• Inspect your plumbing for lead-made components like solder or pipes. Replace them with safer materials such as PVC, copper, or stainless steel. 

Install a Water Filtration System 

• Use certified water filters designed to remove lead. Options like reverse osmosis systems or whole-house filtration can significantly reduce lead levels in water. 

Schedule Regular Well Maintenance 

• Regular well maintenance from professionals like John’s Well Drilling ensures your system stays in top shape and reduces risks of contamination. Their experts can repair pumps, replace tanks, and inspect for sources of lead exposure.

Use Cold Water for Consumption 

• Lead dissolves more easily in hot water. Always use cold water from the tap for drinking and cooking to minimize exposure.

Test Annually 

• Test your well annually for lead—even after remediation—to detect any new contamination early. 

How Lead Affects Your Health

Lead contamination isn’t just a household inconvenience; it can have dire consequences for your health:

• Children: Developmental delays, learning difficulties, lowered IQ, and behavioral issues. 
• Pregnant Women: Increased risk of miscarriage, premature birth, and developmental harm to the fetus. 
• Adults: Kidney dysfunction, high blood pressure, and memory problems with prolonged exposure.

Minimizing lead exposure is one of the most proactive steps you can take to safeguard your well-being.

Preventative Measures for Well Owners

If you rely on a private well for daily use, take these preventative steps to ensure your water stays clean and safe long-term:

1. Install a Well Cap: A secure, sealed well cap prevents surface contaminants from entering your water supply. 
2. Maintain Proper Distance: Keep potential sources of contamination (like septic tanks, chemicals, or industrial areas) at least 50 feet away from your well. 
3. Inspect Regularly: Have a certified contractor inspect your well annually for structural integrity, water flow, and contamination risks. 
4. Upgrade Infrastructure: Replace aging systems with modern, lead-free components.
5. Educate Yourself: Stay informed about state or local guidelines for private well maintenance to proactively address any regulatory requirements. The EPA also provides excellent resources for residents.

Final Thoughts for Well Owners

The risks of lead contamination in well water are too important to ignore. Taking proactive steps to test, maintain, and upgrade your well system isn’t just a good investment—it’s essential for your family’s health and peace of mind.

Take Action Today with John’s Well Drilling

Professionals at John’s Well Drilling have over 40 years of experience in the industry. We are Delaware’s leading well drilling and servicing company. 

We are accredited by the Better Business Bureau and licensed to conduct well drilling and installation of geothermal systems. 

Our services include well drilling, well pump installation, pump repair, and replacement, tank replacements, well servicing geothermal drilling, and agricultural wells. Call us at 302-734-2211 or fill out our contact form to get a free quote.