Improperly disposed batteries containing cadmium increase the risk of well water contamination/© Adobe Stock
Cadmium is a heavy metal that can naturally occur in the environment in small amounts. Both natural processes and anthropogenic sources can elevate the amount of cadmium in the soils and groundwater. Anthropogenic simply means the result of human activities. Cadmium is used in nickel-cadmium batteries, jewelry, coloration of plastics and various electronic equipment.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency lists cadmium as a primary contaminant and includes corrosion of galvanized pipes, erosion of natural deposits, discharge from metal refineries, runoff from waste batteries and paints as sources of cadmium contamination.
What are the effects of cadmium in well water?
Short-term exposure: Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle cramps, salivation, sensory disturbances, liver injury, convulsions, shock and renal failure.
Long-term exposure: Effects from lifetime exposure to levels above those set by the USEPA include kidney, liver, bone and blood damage.
When should I test for cadmium in my well water?
The safe level of cadmium in well water is less than 0.005 milligrams per liter, or 5 parts per billion, according to the USEPA. If you have specific concerns about the cadmium levels in your well water, it is recommended to consult with your local health department or a licensed health professional for further guidance.
To ensure you are protecting your family’s health, we have developed a set of recommendations for testing that are provided in our article, "What do I need to know about sampling my well water?" , that includes cadmium. When testing your well water you will very rarely be testing for only one thing, like cadmium, and instead testing for a suite of constituents that are important to identify if in your drinking water.
What treatment should I use if there is cadmium in my well water?
Once you test and have decided to treat your water to remove cadmium, the Minnesota Department of Health has developed a Home Water Treatment Guide that covers treatment for common constituents in well water, including cadmium.
The most important advice we can provide you is if you are going to add treatment to your home water system, be sure the treatment device has been certified to remove cadmium by an independent third-party certification organization.
Where can I get local help and information about cadmium in my well water?
Contact your local health department – They can help you interpret your sample results and may have information on the best treatment options for your situation. If they personally aren’t able to answer your questions, they will know who to contact who will be able to help you, likely at your state health department.
Contact a water treatment professional - we would recommend contacting a water treatment professional who has been certified through the Water Quality Association’s Professional Certification Program.
State or Federal Geologic or Water Resource Agency – they may have completed field studies of your area or collected samples from water wells to map and understand the water quality in your state. In addition, they may house water well logs, including yours, or be able to provide additional information about the aquifer your well is getting water from.
Consult your well driller or drilling contractor – the contractor that drilled your well, and other local contractors, may be aware of the water quality issues nearby including high cadmium, and might have worked with other well owners in your area to solve this issue .
Research online – you should be inquisitive; it will help you significantly because there may be great information available online. Use search terms like “my state (CA, ME, IL, etc.) water well logs”, “my state groundwater quality”, or “my state well water quality”.
Contact us directly – if these other local sources don’t work out for you, we may be able to help. We may be able to provide direct assistance, and/or direct you to a technical assistance provider in your area who can help answer your questions (free service funded by USEPA).
Additional Resources
Home Water Treatment. Minnesota Department of Health.
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