If your
family gets
drinking
water from a
private
well, do you
know if your
water is
safe to
drink? What
health risks
could you
and your
family face?
Where can
you go for
help or
advice?
EPA
regulates
public water
systems; it
does not
have the
authority to
regulate
private
drinking
water wells.
Approximately
15 percent
of Americans
rely on
their own
private
drinking
water
supplies,
and these
supplies are
not subject
to EPA
standards,
although
some state
and local
governments
do set rules
to protect
users of
these wells.
Unlike
public
drinking
water
systems
serving many
people, they
do not have
experts
regularly
checking the
water’s
source and
its quality
before it is
sent to the
tap. These
households
must take
special
precautions
to ensure
the
protection
and
maintenance
of their
drinking
water
supplies.
For more on
this topic
click here:
EPA
Schedule
Your Annual
Water Well
Checkup
Wells
tapping
ground water
resources
can provide
drinking
water of the
highest
quality.
Owning a
private
household-supply
water well
allows
homeowners
to control
their own
water
supply.
Ownership
also comes
with the
responsibility
of keeping
the water
well in good
working
order.
Why Is
a Checkup
Important?
A
properly
constructed
and
maintained
household-supply
well will
provide you
with many
years of
quality
service. The
National
Ground Water
Association
recommends
routine
annual
maintenance
checks to
ensure the
proper
operation of
the well and
prolong its
years of
service, as
well as
monitor the
water
quality.
What
Does a
Checkup
Involve?
A
licensed
and/or
certified
water well
contractor
should
conduct your
routine well
checkup.
Your
checkup
should
include :
A flow test
to determine
system
output,
along with a
check of the
water level
before and
during
pumping (if
possible),
pump motor
performance
(check amp
load,
grounding,
and line
voltage),
pressure
tank and
pressure
switch
contact ,
and general
water
quality
(odor,
cloudiness,
etc.).
An
inspection
of well
equipment to
assure that
it is
sanitary and
meets local
code
requirements.
A test of
your water
for coli
form
bacteria and
nitrates ,
and anything
else of
local
concern.
Other
typical
additional
tests are
those for
iron
,manganese
,water
hardness
,sulfides ,
and other
water
constituents
that cause
problems
with
plumbing,
staining,
water
appearance,
and odor.
Changes in
these
constituents
also may
indicate
changes in
your well or
local ground
water.
Additional
tests may be
recommended
if water
appears
cloudy or
oily, if
bacterial
growth is
visible on
fixtures, or
water
treatment
devices are
not working
as they
should.
Check with
your water
well
contractor ,
state
department
of natural
resources,
or local
health
department
for
information
on local
water
quality
issues.
A concise,
clear,
written
report
should be
delivered to
you
following
the checkup
that
explains
results and
recommendations
, and
includes all
laboratory
and other
test
results.
How Do
I Arrange
for a
Checkup?
Contact
a local
water well
contractor
and ask if
he or she
conducts the
type of
maintenance
check
described.
You can
locate
contractors
in your area
through our
Web site.
Check with
other well
owners or
other
knowledgeable
people for
good
contractor
referrals,
and ask the
contractor
for a list
of
references.
Some
additional
considerations
when
choosing a
contractor
are
certification
and
licensing.
Other
steps to
maintain
your water
well :
Keep
hazardous
chemicals,
such as
paint,
fertilizer,
pesticides,
and motor
oil far away
from your
well, and
maintain a
"clean" zone
of at least
50 feet
(15.24
meters)
between your
well and any
kennels or
livestock
operations.
Also, always
maintain
proper
separation
between your
well and
buildings,
waste
systems, or
chemical
storage
areas. Your
professional
water well
contractor
is familiar
with the
applicable
local codes.
Periodically
check the
well cover
or well cap
on top of
the casing
(well) to
ensure it is
in good
repair and
securely
attached.
Its seal
should keep
out insects
and rodents.
Keep your
well records
in a safe
place. These
include the
construction
report, and
annual water
well system
maintenance
and water
testing
results.
Get your
water tested
anytime
there is a
change in
taste, odor
or
appearance,
or anytime
the system
is serviced.
For more
info on
wells visit:
WellOwner.org
Also check
out our
Manufacture's
Products
page
