She encouraged them to watch for any change in the color, smell or taste of their water, and to consider alternatives such as bottled water. The wells, mainly located in rural areas of the US Midwest , could be contaminated by water from the recent floods, posing a threat to health that could continue after the floodwater recedes. Raw sewage from treatment plants, animal waste and pesticides from farms, and spilled fuel, are all carried by the floods. Such material enters the water system, potentially contaminating it with bacteria such as Lehmann , which can cause gastrointestinal illness, reproductive difficulties and neurological disorders. The federal government estimates that approximately 15 million Mississippi households rely on private wells. Such wells are not regulated by The National Ground Water Association .
The wells, mainly located in rural areas of the US Midwest , could be contaminated by water from the recent floods, posing a threat to health that could continue after the floodwater recedes. Raw sewage from treatment plants, animal waste and pesticides from farms, and spilled fuel, are all carried by the floods. Such material enters the water system, potentially contaminating it with bacteria such as Lehmann , which can cause gastrointestinal illness, reproductive difficulties and neurological disorders. The federal government estimates that approximately 15 million Mississippi households rely on private wells. Such wells are not regulated by The National Ground Water Association .