We found out we have high, unsafe levels of arsenic in our private well. We have been drinking this water for 8 years thinking it was safe. We cooked with it, made lemonade, tea and coffee with it. Because of the taste, we did drink a lot of bottled water. Now we are thankful for the horrible taste because not drinking a lot of this water was the best thing that we could have done.

When we purchased this house we had the well water tested, and the arsenic level was safe at the time. A few weeks ago we received an email from a neighbor letting us know that someone nearby had their well tested, and it had high levels of arsenic.

Of course we immediately stopped drinking the water and had it tested. A week later were told our arsenic level is over 2 1/2 times higher than the safe level!!! Following our pediatrician's advise, we had our DD tested for arsenic poisoning; and her blood test came back 'no arsenic present'. Whew, that was a huge relief. Now we are working on getting water piped to our houses on this part of our road. The process is just starting, and we will not have water for 3 to 6 months!

Since I don't work, I am trying to help keep all of this organized and get the signatures of the homeowners so we can get water as fast as possible. The process to get new water pipes run along an existing road is a long, difficult ordeal.

So we will be using bottled water for cooking and drinking until we get water. We buy bottles and gallon jugs at the store and fill empty water jugs at my parents' house. Lugging all those bottles and jugs around I may just get some serious muscles!

Why there are high levels of arsenic on multiple streets in our area is a mystery. It could be something natural, from wood or from pesticides used on farms. We are surrounded by old farm land, and I'm sure our land was used for farming as well.

Right now I am concentrating on getting safe water piped to us. Others are upset that the arsenic is here and are trying to find someone to point the finger at. The meeting we had last night to get more information was definitely interesting!

This will be a long, long wait...I hope I have the strength to deal with it. Thanks for letting me rant!!!