We just found out. It's unsafe to drink due to coliform bacteria.
We rent, what can we do to make our water safe?
Is our landlord legally responsible to ensure safe drinking water?
Don't they have to disclose something like that prior to renting?
We pay a fee each month, in addition to rent, for unsafe well water!!
We have always used a Brita Filter, but I'm not sure that kills bacteria. Also are there any health problems related to this?
2006-10-16 08:21:09 · 19 answers · asked by kaydee 2 in Health ➔ Other - Health
Your landlord is responsible for ensuring the well is clean and safe for consumption. They violate federal guidlines if they don't. (In the US) A bita filter does not clean bacteria, you have to boil the water first. The bacteria can cause a lot of intestinal problems and is just generally unsafe. Stop drinking it without boiling it. Contact your lanlord, especially since you pay them a fee for it, then contact an attorney especially if someone is already ill.
2006-10-16 08:24:49 · answer #1 · answered by brett.brown 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would say the landlord is responsible for ensuring potable water. That said, it is easy to disinfect your well.
To do in the evening, preferebly on a weekend:
Find your well head, take off the top, Run a hose from a nearby faucet and run it, with water running, into the well. Pour 1/2 gallon of regular clorox or other cheap bleach in the well.
Wait until you smell the bleach in the hose water, that shows it is mixed up, Let run for a few minutes, turn off and remove hose, recap well. Turn on all faucets in your house and outside faucets as well, let run until you smell the chlorine in each one, then shut off. Let your well sit undisturbed overnight. You can flush, just don't drink the water or bathe, will dilute the bleach.
In the morning, turn on the faucet farthest from the well, and run it until you can no longer smell the bleach, may take 20 minutes or so. Flush out all other faucets as well, and run the washer one cycle after that to ensure you don't bleach any clothes. Also run the diswasher.
Make sure you don't have any automatic waterers for pets, if so, disconnect and provide them with unbleached water.
Should disinfect your well about once a year.
2006-10-16 08:33:20 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A Brita filter will NOT remove bacteria. Don't drink that water. Your landlord definitely IS responsible to provide you with potable water. There are treatment systems he can install, but of course they will be expensive. He can pass the expense along, at least in part, to his tenants. You may need legal counsel to get this situation corrected. In the meantime, boil the water you use for cooking, and drink bottled water. Don't even brush your teeth with the tap water. I'm not sure about bathing in it...
2006-10-16 08:23:06 · answer #3 · answered by MOM KNOWS EVERYTHING 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Using bottled water fro drinking and washing dishes is a good idea till you find out more info about the coliform bacteria.
Call your local goverment, try enviromental or water authority.
I might try a local t.v. station as well if you are not getting good results from your landlord, who should try to resolve the problem.
There might be a chemical you can put in the well to get rid of the problem.. but it seems there is a slightly larger problem of the bacteria getting into the drinking water. so there must be a crack in the sewer or leach bed (or however your home waste gets taken care of.)
There are steps to take to help yourself on this and I hope you can get the help you deserve and need from local government and landlord. Check out wikpedia for more info.
2006-10-16 08:28:49 · answer #4 · answered by rennes89 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get a reverse osmosis water filtering system
Or get a regular filter, put glass tubing in front of that and use ultra violet light to kill any bacteria. Have your landlord take care of it.
2006-10-16 08:23:05 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If i can't purchase any bottled water then I let the water run out the faucet for about 2 minutes, boil it for 5 minutes and then store it in the fridge.
2006-10-16 08:23:56 · answer #6 · answered by *SexXyLuV* 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Read your lease regarding the water pump. Ask the landlord to bring the water quality up to the legal standards. meanwhile, go buy bottled water.
2006-10-16 08:22:57 · answer #7 · answered by Plasmapuppy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1) Talk to your landlord. Discuss the issue rationally. Ask for safety measures to be implemented that does not cost you more rent or extra costs.
2) Ask your city/county for advice and a plan to clean it up. Requst funding.
3) Ask your physician for advice and a plan to clean it up.
4) Last resort, call a lawyer.
2006-10-16 08:24:38 · answer #8 · answered by shlomogon 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Get A Berkey Water Filter. Do a search for berkey water filters to find a decent price for one.
2006-10-16 08:33:51 · answer #9 · answered by Jim D. 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
umm yeah either go out and buy water from now on or i think that you should move somewhere else i personally think that the landlord is responsible for it because it is his property and he is making you pay to use it there may be health issues i think that you should go to the doctor to get checked out
2006-10-16 08:24:19 · answer #10 · answered by allie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋