October 2009
Water Works
Information for Older Adults and Family
Members Who Take Care of Older Adults
Are you an older
adult or do you
have an ongoing
health problem?
If so, take extra
care. You may be
less able to fight
off disease than
others. And you
may get sick from
polluted water
more easily.
We all need water to live.
We use it for drinking,
cooking, bathing, cleaning,
and growing crops.
Some water is not safe. It is polluted.
It has harmful matter in it that can
make you sick.
Harmful matter can be in any water.
It can be in your drinking water. It
can be in the water where you swim.
It can be in water from sewers that
overflow. You can protect your health
by learning how to avoid unsafe water.
Tap Water in the Home
Most drinking water is safe. But
sometimes harmful matter gets in
it and makes it unsafe to use. This
section describes some of the ways
your tap water in your house can
become polluted.
Lead
Lead in your water is bad news. As time
goes by, lead builds up in your bones.
It can cause pain in the muscles and
joints. It can damage your brain and
your nerves. Some plumbing systems
have lead in the pipes. Old pipes can
wear down and let lead into the water.
Microbes
Microbes are bacteria and other unseen
matter that are in your drinking water.
Most microbes will not harm you. But
some microbes carry disease and can
make you very sick. Salmonella and
E. Coli are examples of harmful microbes
that can cause serious illness. Some
211 million cases of illness caused by
harmful microbes occur in the U.S.
each year1.
Arsenic:
If your water comes from a public
water system, it is tested for arsenic.
EPA (the Environmental Protection
Agency) sets the standard for the
levels of arsenic allowed in the water.
However, the standard does not cover
private wells or very small water
systems. Does your drinking water
come from a well or from a very small
system? If so, you may want to test it
for arsenic.
Radon:
Radon gas is the second leading cause
of lung cancer in the United States.
You can't see or smell Radon. It can be
in the rocks, in the soil, and in water.
There are many ways that Radon can
get into the home. One way is through
well water. When you shower with
well water, Radon can get into the air.
But Radon can be in your home no
matter what water supply you have.
It's a good idea to have your home
tested for Radon.
How Can I Avoid
Unsafe Water?
Be aware of any announcement by
your local health department about
a water problem. Follow the advice
carefully. Find out if there are any
ongoing problems with your water.
1 Mead PS, Slutsker L, Dietz V, McCaig LF, Bresee JS, Shapiro C, Griffin PM, Tauxe RV.
Food-Related Illness and Death in the United States. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 1999; 5(5):607-625
EPA Drinking Water Hotline (800) 426-4791
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Dehydration
Older adults can suffer
from not drinking enough
water. This is called
dehydration. The feeling of
being thirsty declines with
age. You may not feel the
urge to drink as often as
when you were younger.
You may take medicines
that reduce the water in
your body. You may have
a physical problem that
makes it hard to drink.
Diarrhea and other health
problems may rob your
body of needed water.
Signs of dehydration
include:
Dry or sticky mouth
Low or no urine output
(urine without much
water in it appears dark
yellow)
Lack of tear drops
Sunken eyes
Tired all the time
Your body needs a lot
of water. Dehydration is
life threatening. If you
don't drink enough water
because you don't like the
taste of your tap water:
Filter the water
Get bottled water
But don't ignore the
dangers of dehydration.
Give your body the water
it needs to keep alive and
healthy.
Here are some safety steps
you can take:
1. Learn About Your Water:
If your water comes from a
public water system, it must
meet EPA standards. Call your
water company. Ask if there are
any problems with your water
supply. Ask for a copy of the
annual water quality report. If
you live in an apartment, ask
the manager to post the water
quality report.
If your water comes from a
well, it is not covered by EPA
Standards. You must get your
well water tested at least once
each year. It's the only way to
find out if your well water is
safe to use.
2. Follow public notices about
drinking water: Something
may happen to make your
drinking water in your house
unsafe. Your water company
will let people know about this
by TV, radio, newspaper, or
other means. The notice will
tell you what to do to be safe.
Sometimes you will have to
boil the water for one minute.
Sometimes you will have to use
bottled water for a time. To stay
safe, follow all the directions
carefully.
3. See if you should test for
lead: Call your local health
department or water company.
Ask if you need to test your
water for lead. If so, do not
boil the water. Boiling will not
get rid of the lead. It will make
the problem worse. As the
water evaporates, the amount
of lead in the boiled water
will increase. If you think your
plumbing system might have
lead in it, don't use the hot
water. Use only cold water for
drinking and cooking. Run the
cold water until it becomes as
cold as it can get.
To find out more, call the
National Lead Information
Center at (800) 424-LEAD.
4. Test for Radon in the Air of
Your Home: There are many
low-cost, "do-it-yourself" radon
test kits that you can buy. You
can get them by mail or at the
hardware store. You can also
pay a professional to test your
home for radon. If you have
high levels of radon, it may be
coming from the water. If your
water comes from a public
water supply, contact your water
company. If you have radon in
your water from a private well,
call EPA's Drinking Water Hotline
at (800) 426-4791.
How Can I Avoid Water
That Is Unsafe for
Swimming?
Most beaches are safe for
swimming. But not all beaches are
safe all the time. Sometimes beach
water contains harmful matter that
can cause problems. Swimming in it
can give you a sore throat, diarrhea,
or other illnesses.
Beach Closures: Look for
warning signs posted at the
beach.
When the water is unsafe,
agencies will close the beach or
post warning signs. After storms
levels of harmful matter in the
water are most likely to be high.
How Can I Avoid Health
Problems from Leaks
and Floods?
Keep water from seeping indoors
by making needed home repairs.
Moisture and water can cause mold
to grow indoors. And mold can give
some people skin rash, runny nose,
and even breathing problems.
A sewer backflow can bring
polluted water into your home. This
can happen if a water drainage pipe
to your sewer or septic system is
blocked. Sewage backflow often
occurs during heavy rains that cause
flooding.
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Inspect Your Home for Leaks:
Establish a regular program
to inspect your home for
leaks. Check the bathrooms,
the laundry, and around the
windows and doors. Do not
neglect the roof gutters and
eaves. Fix all leaks as soon as
possible.
Get Rid of Mold: Scrub mold
off hard surfaces with soap
and water or with a cleaner
designed to kill mold. Dry the
area completely. Make sure
the water cannot return to that
surface.
• After a Flood, Clean Damaged
Areas: Standing water and
wet material are a health
risk. They can breed disease.
Remove all standing water
and wet material. Dry out your
home. Clean and disinfect the
damaged area. You may need
to replace rugs, curtains, and
furniture if sewage came into
your home.
How Can I Be Sure My
Well Water Is Safe?
Well water users can take these
safety steps:
1. Become Aware of any Local
Problems
Talk with a local expert. This
could be-
• your local health department
• an agricultural extension
agent
• a nearby public water system
• a water expert at your local
university
Ask them about problems with
well water in your area.
2. Test Your Well Water Every
Year
A well is a private source of
water. No one will inspect your
well water. You have to get
it tested yourself. Often you
cannot see or smell harmful
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What Should I Do If I
Can't Drink My Water?
Sometimes there is a
problem with treating the
water. When this happens,
you may not be able to
drink your water for a short
time.
Do you have special health
needs? Do you live in an
area with low water quality?
In either case, you may
want to switch to another
water source for the long term.
Follow Public Notices on Drinking Water: You
will be notified on TV, radio or in the newspaper if
there is a problem with your water. The notice will
tell you what to do during this time. It may tell you
to boil the water or to use bottled water. Boiling
your water for one minute will usually kill microbes.
Boiling will not take out lead or chemicals.
Drink Bottled Water: Some companies sell or
lease a water service. They provide water dispensers
and deliver large bottles of water to homes and
businesses. Some brands of bottled water are better
than others. If you are an older adult or if you have
health problems, you may want to get bottled water
that is purified. Read bottled water labels. Look for
special treatment such as filtration or distillation.
For information on the standards for bottled water,
check with NSF International:
(http://www.nsf.org/consumer/bottled_water/ or
call 877-8-NSF-HELP).
Install a Home Treatment System: If you have a
long-term water problem, home treatment may be
necessary. A home treatment system can include
filters of different kinds. If radon is a problem, home
treatment may be a solution.
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matter that is in the water. The well water must
be tested by an expert. Get it tested every year.
Also test the water any time there may be a
problem:
• Test it if someone in your family is sick and
you don't know why.
• Test it if your neighbors find something
harmful in their water.
• Test it if you see a change in your water. (The
water isn't clear or there is a change in its
taste, odor, or color).
• Test it if there is a spill of chemicals or fuels
into or near your well.
• Test it if you replace or repair any part of your
well system.
3. Prevent Problems
• Keep things that can poison the water away
from your well. Keep materials such as
fertilizers, pesticides and fuels far away from
your well.
• Take care when working or mowing grass
around your well.
• Do not put paints, thinners, waste oils,
poisons or other unsafe materials in your
septic system.
• Find out how often you should pump and
inspect your septic system. Ask your local
health department.
How Can I Learn More about
Aging and Health?
EPA's Aging Initiative is working to protect older
adults from health risks in the environment. For
more information, go to www.epa.gov/aging.
How Can I Get More Information?
These EPA websites can help you solve your water
problems:
Water on Tap: What You need to Know
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/wot/index.html
Arsenic in Drinking Water
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/arsenic/
Consumer's Guide to Radon Protection
http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/consguid.html
Emergency Disinfection of Drinking
Water
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/faq/emerg.html
Flood Clean Up
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/flood/index.html
Guidance for Persons with Severely
Weakened Immune Systems
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/consumer/pdf/
crypto.pdf
After-the-Flood Information for Private
Well Owners
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/privatewells/
whatdo.html
Mold Resources
http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldresources.html
Safe Drinking Water
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/dwinfo/index.html
Federal Guideline on Prudent Disposal of
Medications
http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/
publications/pdf/prescrip_disposal.pdf
7©
Protecting the Health
of Older Americans
Easy-to-read version of Water Works
Publication Number EPA 100-F-09-046
EPA Drinking Water Hotline (800) 426-4791
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