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 water recedes . Raw sewage from treatment plants , animal waste and pesticides from farms , and spilled fuel , are all carried by the floods . Either way, public water supplies are government-regulated and have safeguards to protect against contamination. Such material enters the water system , potentially contaminating it with bacteria such as bacteria , which can cause gastrointestinal problems , reproductive difficulties and neurological disorders . The federal government estimates that approximately 15 million American households rely on private wells . Such wells are not regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency .
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 water 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 bacteria , which can cause gastrointestinal problems , reproductive difficulties and neurological disorders . The federal government estimates that approximately 15 million American households rely on private wells . Such wells are not regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency .