Can Well Water Cause Headaches? Common Contaminants to Check
If you suffer from headaches and are on a private well, you may question if your drinking water is at fault. This can be the case, especially if the water contains elevated levels of nitrates, heavy metals, bacteria, or chemical contaminants. The only way to know for sure if your water contains contaminants that can cause headaches is through testing.
Why Well Water Can Become Contaminated
Unlike city water, private wells are not regulated and tested by anyone. So you are responsible for your own water quality.
Private water wells pull from groundwater that can be affected by weather changes, flooding, nearby agricultural or industrial activities, naturally occurring minerals in the ground, or from biological contamination like animal waste.
Because many contaminants are invisible and odorless, these often won’t be noticed without testing until you are already having health issues such as headaches.
Contaminants That Can Cause Headaches
Nitrates
Nitrates are one of the most common concerns for well water in agricultural areas. Fertilizers, manure runoff, and septic can all cause increased levels of nitrates in nearby groundwater supplies.
High nitrate exposure may cause symptoms such as headaches, nausea, fatigue, and dizziness in some situations. Infants are especially vulnerable to nitrate contamination.
Heavy Metals
Heavy metals include lead, arsenic, manganese, and more. These can be found naturally in the earth and are at higher levels in some regions. They can also come from the plumbing used in your home where metals can be leached into your water.
Long-term exposure to some heavy metals has been associated with neurological symptoms that may include headaches, fatigue, or difficulty concentrating.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
VOCs are chemical compounds that can enter groundwater through gasoline leaks, industrial runoff, paints, solvents, or nearby manufacturing activity.
Some homeowners notice unusual chemical smells, sweet odors, or fuel-like tastes when there are VOCs in their water. Exposure to certain VOCs may cause headaches, dizziness, or irritation.
Bacterial Contamination
Bacteria can enter well water through surface runoff, flooding, damaged well caps, or septic system failures. While bacteria themselves may not directly cause headaches, waterborne illness can sometimes lead to dehydration, fatigue, nausea, and headaches.
Signs Your Water May Need Testing
- Your water recently changed in taste, color, or smell
- Multiple people in the home experience similar symptoms
- You recently experienced flooding or heavy rainfall
- You have not tested your well water within the past year
- Symptoms improve when away from home
When Should You Test Your Well Water?
The EPA recommends private well owners test their water at least once a year. Bacteria testing is a great “canary in the coalmine” for water quality. Meaning it’s an early indicator of other problems like leaks or surface water. Safe Home recommends testing every other month for coliform bacteria. The minimum should be quarterly testing for coliform bacteria.
Additional testing may be important after flooding, plumbing repairs, nearby construction, or sudden changes in water quality.
DIY Water Testing vs Laboratory Testing
DIY water test kits can be useful for quick screening and routine monitoring. However, some contaminants require laboratory testing.
For example, heavy metals and VOCs can only be tested through laboratory analysis.
What Should You Test For?
If you are suffering from headaches and believe your water may be a possible cause. We recommend doing broad, comprehensive testing since many of these contaminants can cause issues at levels where they can not be seen, tasted, or smelt.
The best test for well water owners suffering from headaches is the Safe Home Ultimate Test Kit. It offers In-Lab Testing for Nitrates, Heavy Metals, VOCs, and a free DIY Bacteria Test Kit all in one kit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can hard water cause headaches?
Hard Water doesn’t directly cause any health problems including headaches. It’s an aesthetic concern that can negatively affect your hair, skin, and appliances but doesn’t cause headaches.
Why do I get headaches after showering?
If headaches consistently occur after showering, we’d recommend testing for VOCs. This is because VOCs evaporate in the shower and are inhaled. Safe Home Test Kits offer a VOCs Test Kit at our EPA-Certified Lab.
How often should private well water be tested?
Most private wells should be tested annually at minimum. We recommend doing routine bacteria testing in-between laboratory testing. We offer a quarterly bacteria testing package.
Can well water contamination happen suddenly?
Yes. Flooding, runoff, plumbing changes, septic failures, or nearby agricultural/industrial activity can cause sudden contamination.
Final Thoughts
Headaches can have many possible causes, but water quality is one factor worth investigating if your well water has changed or if multiple people in your home are experiencing similar symptoms. Water testing can help identify contaminants and provide peace of mind about your drinking water.