Can Well Water Be Used to Wash Vegetables and Cook Rice?

Question

Our rented house uses well water with an unpleasant odor. Can we use this water to wash vegetables and cook rice? We are worried about the health impact on our child.

Answer

Well water can be used for irrigating plants. As long as it is not contaminated, well water can be used for irrigating crops, cleaning, and bathing. Boiling it will produce calcium carbonate, which must be filtered to remove suspended particles before it is safe for drinking. Deep well water typically contains more minerals and fewer metallic impurities; while surface well water is more susceptible to bacterial contamination, it can be used for cleaning vegetables after boiling and filtering out the suspended particles.