Health effects of arsenic in NH drinking water
Arsenic is a naturally occurring element that is abundant in New Hampshire’s bedrock. If you own a private well in New Hampshire, there’s a very good chance you have arsenic in your water.
Health effects of arsenic from chronic exposure, even at low levels, has been linked to a variety of serious health problems, including:
- Cancer of the skin, bladder, liver, and lung
- Cardiovascular disease and circulatory system problems
- Neurological issues, such as peripheral neuropathy, causing numbness and weakness in the hands and feet
- Hyperpigmentation, skin lesions, and other skin damage
- Weakening of the immune system, leaving you more vulnerable to disease
- Diabetes
Public health officials describe arsenic as an “accumulative enabler,” meaning its health effects can build up over time.
Arsenic is a common water problem in New Hampshire
More than 75% of the wells in New Hampshire are bedrock wells, and one in four New Hampshire homeowners with a private well has actionable levels of arsenic in their drinking water. Because arsenic levels are known to fluctuate, it’s very important to test regularly for arsenic in your water.
The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) recommends testing every three to five years to see if there’s arsenic present in your well water. Once arsenic has been detected in your well water, annual testing is recommended as levels can change, increasing your risk or rendering some treatment solutions unreliable. Regular testing is essential as arsenic is tasteless, odorless, and colorless.
While the EPA arsenic limit is 10 parts per billion (ppb), New Hampshire’s state limit is 5 ppb. That is roughly equivalent to a couple of drops of ink in an Olympic-sized swimming pool. It’s important to understand how little is needed to have negative health effects.
Test your well water
If you test your water and find out that you have arsenic in your water, you’ll have some decisions to make about if and how you treat it. Every home and well is different, and depending on your risk tolerance and what else is in your water, a certified water specialist can work with you to help determine the best treatment options.
SecondWind Water Systems is home to your local water-treatment experts. We have more employees certified by the Water Quality Association for water treatment and installation than the rest of New Hampshire combined. Better water starts here.
Call today for a free in-home consultation. We test for a number of contaminants free and offer free pickup and delivery to a third-party lab for health-related contaminants. Third-party labs do have lab fees, but the arsenic test cost is nominal.
