Many of us have well water near our gardens. If you use this water for household and garden purposes, ensuring enough safety is crucial. Otherwise, you, your family members, and garden plants might be harmed if they are contacted with this contaminated water.
So, Can weed killer get into well water?
Yes, weed killers can get into the well water through rain or when your garden is located uphill location than the well water. But if you take enough precaution and don’t apply it before the rain, it has minimal chances to get into well water.
Here we will describe more important details about “Can weed killer get into well water?” Let’s begin!
Can Weed Killer Get Into Well Water?
So, you are here to know about, Can weed killer get into well water? Weed killers can get into well water if you are not careful while applying them.
Most personal well waters are not required to do any testing by Environmental Protection Agency to test the water quality. Thus, you have to do it on your own if you want to know the condition of your well water.
Well water is often prone to get into contact with weed killers if your garden is very close to the well. Carefully choosing the weed killers is crucial to ensure maximum safety. You must try to use the weed killers far away from your garden area as much as you can. It will prevent water contamination.
Which Ingredient Posses Risk For Well Water?
Most chemical-based weed killers contain an active ingredient, which name is “Glyphosate.” It is pretty dangerous for human beings, wildlife, plants, and environments.
We use these Glyphosate-based weed killers or herbicides to kill harmful weeds in our garden landscapes. Being non-cautious may result in harming other beneficial plants.
No doubt, Glyphosate-based weed killers are highly effective in killing weeds. However, its safety standard is still questionable. Some researchers said we should not use it, while some said they wouldn’t cause any problem if they were applied with strict safety guidelines.
But let’s understand how it is harming our water? When glyphosate is in the air, it can be easily decomposed by bacteria, sunlight, or other living organisms. But the issue arises after entering inside water systems.
So, how do weed killers get into well water? Weed killers get well water inside runoff, leaching, and heavy rain. Once glyphosate comes into contact with water, they don’t break down easily.
If you drink or use this well water for household purposes, it poses a severe risk. Also, using this contaminated water on garden plants will harm them too. When you think the well water is contaminated, it is best to avoid using it. Otherwise, it causes further health issues. Also, the plants may die from long-term usage.
How Long Does Weed Killer Stay in Water?
Weed killer usually stay for 24 hours in water. Generally, it takes around a few days to 19 weeks to 50% dissipation of chemical residues in water. It is especially applicable for standing water.
On the other hand, it may take only one day to 4 days to remove a great number of chemical residues from the water in the moving water systems.
Chemical residue inside moving water systems is dissipated more quickly than standing water.
It depends on several factors, such as —
- How high or low is the temperature?
- How much is the water depth?
- How many macrophytes are present in the water?
- What are the sediment ratios?
- What are the surrounding environmental conditions?
Since well water is standing water, it will take a considerable period to dissipate. More importantly, they are located in a locked location, and they can’t mix with other substances easily.
How Much Well Water Contaminated From Weed Killers?
Glyphosate-based weed killers can enter your well water in several ways, such as groundwater, runoff, or heavy rain. If you rely on this well water, it will cause a serious potential risk for you, your family members, and your pets.
You may not see any visual problem after a few usages. But once you start drinking or using this water for several days, you will face different health issues gradually. After all, glyphosate is a chemical ingredient, which has a long-term effect. Apart from human beings, your garden plants will be heavily affected if contaminated water is used to water them.
However, you can’t differentiate between clean, safe water and harmful, contaminated water. There won’t be any unique taste, smell, or appearance on the contaminated water. Thus, you might be unaware that weed killer solutions contaminate your well water.
Only by testing the water can you be sure. That’s why many experts recommend testing well water or water resources at least once a year. You can know whether any harmful things such as chemicals, nitrates, or bacteria are inside the well water.
Since it is hard to figure out without a test, the contaminated water may already cause heavy damage for you and yourself. To be on the safe side, you should take as many precautions as possible. The more cautious you are, the lesser risk you have.
Apply Weed Killers From A Distance Place
If your well water is very close to your garden landscape, never use any chemical-based weed killers. Not just weed killers, avoid herbicides, pesticides, and other chemical solutions.
Avoid mixing, applying, spraying, or storing these harmful solutions close to your well water. The further location you choose to use them, the better it is.
So, how much distance from well should you maintain to apply weed killers? It should be at least 100 feet or more from the well’s top position.
Ensuring sufficient distances from the applying location to the well water will reduce the risk of contamination. But it has a probability to enter your well water in several ways, such as groundwater, runoff, etc.
So, how to take out glyphosate and all contaminants from your well water? One of the most practical solutions is using granular activated carbon filters. It is made from raw organic materials and specially designed to remove different chemicals from water effectively.
Avoid Using Chemical Weed Killers
Many natural solutions are available to control and kill weeds from your garden. If your well water is very close water to your garden, it is best to avoid using chemical-based weed killers.
So, what to use for weeds as alternatives to weed killers? You can use various types of essential oils such as Clove, pine, peppermint, or citronella oil to kill weeds. They directly attack weeds’ cellular membranes and kill the plants’ leaves.
Alternatively, you can also use white vinegar, another natural acid, to kill weeds’ foliages. The solution first dries up the foliages and then burns the entire weed plants gradually. However, make sure you use it cautiously to avoid harming other plants.
Another effective solution is creating a mulch on the garden areas where weeds are repeatedly growing. You can use corn gluten on the mulch. Optimal results are achieved when it is used twice a year. This will prevent weeds’ growth.
You don’t have to worry about corn gluten as it is entirely safe for your well water. It won’t cause any contamination of the water. Additionally, pets remain safe while using corn gluten.
Other than these, regularly mow your lawns. Keep the grass size 3 inches. Taller grass invites broad-leaf weeds. Thus, keeping the grass size small prevents the growth of weeds.
Hopefully, you got a clear idea about “Can weed killer get into well water?”
How To Use Weed Killers If Well Water Is Nearby?
Though it is best to avoid chemical-based weed killers, sometimes you may have no option but to use them. Here are some crucial points you should remember while applying weed killers on your lawn if the well water is nearby.
1. Say No to Backsiphoning
We often use garden hoses to spray weed killers on our lawn. If your garden has siphoning action, you may end up adding chemicals to the water sources. If your well water is nearby, you are more likely to fill water from it.
You may unknowingly contaminate the water using the chemicals. So, make sure there is no backflow while adding water from the well water.
2. Read The Product Instruction Carefully
Not all weed killers are made equally. The manufacturing company follows special methods to make them. Thus, you may need to follow different methods to apply the weed killer.
Apart from that, its dilution ratios, handling system, and disposal approach may vary from other weed killers. That’s why it is best to read the product label carefully so that you don’t miss out on any vital information.
In addition, you are supposed to follow all the safety standards while applying the solution. Avoid using excessive amounts. This may harm your lawns. Plus, it may lead to contamination, creating long-term effects.
3. Maintaining a Minimum Distance
As we have already mentioned, maintaining a safe distance from the well water is the best thing you can do. It doesn’t only prevent contamination but also keeps your plant safe.
So, what if you don’t use your well water? Can you freely apply weed killers from a nearby place? No, absolutely not! Since well water comes from the ground sources, it will mix with nearby ponds and other water sources. Ultimately, they will contaminate them.
4. Wear All the Protective Gear
Check the proper products with a description – Can Weed Killer Burn Your Skin?
It is essential to keep your safe while applying weed killers. You must wear all the protective gear such as goggles, a mask, hand gloves, rugged boots, and a hut. If possible, wear a raincoat-type cloth to safeguard your whole body. Alternatively, wear full trousers and a shirt to protect the entire body parts.
5. Ensure Safe Storage
Apart from using weed killers safely, you must keep them in a safe place. Make sure it is not close to pets and children. Keep them in a place where they can’t access it easily. Properly wrap it up.
Sometimes, you may make an excessive amount of weed killer solution. So what to do with the remaining? Should you ditch or pour them on the ground or a dustbin? No, never!
You should share them with other family members or friends so that they can use them on their lawns. Or wrap them in a container properly and keep them in a dangerous waste collection location.
The Health Effects of Weed Killer Exposure
The health effect of weed killers may vary from person to person. However, it depends on how much you are exposed to this chemical and how long you have been exposed.
If the exposure period is shorter, you will experience minor issues such as
If it is long-term exposure, you will face several health issues. It may cause
Should I Test My Well For Weed Killers?
Yes, you should test your well for weed killers. However, if you are sure that there is no way to get weed killers into well water, then you can avoid it.
One way to ensure that your well water is safe is to test it once a year. It helps you know whether the water is in good condition to use or drink. It is a part of regular maintenance.
Additionally, if you notice any abnormality in your well water, do a specific test to figure out a particular issue. Your well water might be contaminated by a chemical of your knowledge.
If the result shows, that the water is contaminated or susceptible to being contaminated, stop drinking this water. Drink from bottled water. Also, avoid bathing as much as possible.
In fact, it is better to stop drinking the water when you see anything susceptible. Wait for the test and drink the water only if the result shows nothing on the water.
What To Do If My Well Water Is Contaminated?
If you are certain that your well water is contaminated then immediately drain out the water without thinking about purification.
So, you have already learned about “Can weed killer get into well water?” But there are many things yet to learn!
If you’re well water is contaminated, you should call a professional immediately. There are many water treatment services available in the market.
Choose a reliable one. This will ensure safety for you and your family members. In addition, it will save costs in the long run.
In the absence of water treatment services in your area, what should you do? It is hard to say how effective it will be for well water. But, many people use chlorine to remove viruses, bacteria, and other organisms especially, from public drinking water systems.
However, it is still questionable how many chemicals chlorine can remove from the well water. As well water is enormous, you have to use a considerable amount of this solution.
A more practical solution is using reverse-osmosis treatments or charcoal filters to make the well water pure. But it is best to get professional service to get a permanent solution.
So, what to do if you have no option but to use and drink the contaminated water? It is best to find an alternative option, such as drinking bottled water and using water from your neighbors until you solve the problem.
You must first boil the water properly and filter it using a high-quality filter to make them drinkable. But you should not practice for a long time.
Removing chemicals from your well water should be your primary concern. The more delay it, the more harm it will cause you, your family members, and your pets.
1. Carbon Block Water Filters
Carbon block water filters are one of the most popular and practical solutions to remove chemicals from water. This type of device can filter out various contaminants from the contaminated water and make the well entirely safe to drink and use.
2. Reverse Osmosis
Another well-known device is Reverse Osmosis, which also does the same task of removing chemicals and contaminants from water. This device mainly puts pressure on water molecules to filter out all the harmful substances from the water and make it super clean, usable, and drinkable
How To Minimize Weed Killers Exposure?
Aside from knowing about “Can weed killer get into well water?” the number of weed killers you are exposed to should also be understood. Here are tips to follow:
- Some weed killers break down fast, while some take a little bit more time. Choose weed killers that break down quickly.
- Read the product label properly to learn extra precautions, which you may not see in other weed killers.
- Choose weed killers that work quickly and stick to the plants’ leaves fast. By doing so, they will avoid falling to the ground.
- Never apply weed killers before the rain, or it has a probability to rain. Choose sunny weather.
- Don’t use weed killers to hardscape surfaces. They may quickly get into nearby storm drains.
- Make sure the weed killers don’t touch the untreated areas. Spray carefully.
- While washing the tools you have used to apply weed killers, make sure they don’t touch other plants. Wash them in a safer zone.
- Don’t apply weed killers to any nearby water resources.
- Avoid using excessive amounts of weed killers. Measure the amount correctly.
Finishing Up
Is this question still bothering you: Can weed killer get into well water? You should not! We have already discussed all the precise details of this topic. If you have any more queries, please contact us anytime.