Water wells may seem like something people used to have in the way back when, but the truth is 15% of Americans do not use the public drinking water system. If you’re thinking about getting a private water well drilled on your land, the infographic provides the necessary procedure for doing so. If you already have a private water well on your land, be sure to review the infographic for the precautions to take to maintain the cleanliness of the water inside. For places in the United States where summers can often dry out the surface water, the upkeep of these wells is essential to have a source of water for the rest of the season. The facts on our infographic were gathered from sources like the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Environmental Services Center, and Well owner. For the original post, please refer to: http://www.wlwsi.com/infographic-crash-course-water-well-guidelines-safety/

1. PRIVATE
water well GUIDELINES & SAFETY
15% of Americans rely on their own
private drinking water supplies
Getting drinking water from a private source, such as a water
well, can pose health risks if certain precautions are not taken.
STEPS TO WATER DRILLING
ON YOUR LAND
1. GET INFORMATION ON LOCAL SOIL &
GROUNDWATER QUALITY
The Natural Resources Conservation
Service (NRCS)
This organization is a part of the U.S. Department
of Agriculture.
They can inform you of any pollution threats and
if radon is a problem in the area.
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/
2. FIND A CERTIFIED WATER WELL
CONTRACTOR
The National Ground Water Association
(NGWA)
CERTIFIED Call them at:
(614) 898-7791 or (800) 551-7379
to find NGWA-certified water well contractors.
Check with your local government to see if you
will require a permit and any other regulations.
http://www.ngwa.org/
3. MAINTAIN YOUR WELL
Maintenance is Key.
You should have annual maintenance checks
including a bacterial test.
Over time, small problems can become costly.
Keep up-to-date records of well installation, repairs,
pumping and water tests.
3 TYPES
OF PRIVATE DRINKING WATER WELLS
DUG DRIVEN DRILLED
ft 30-50ft 100-400ft
10-30
Deep hole
in ground
Deep into
soil
Deep into
bedrock
HIGHEST
RISK
of
contamination
MODERATE
RISK
of
contamination
LOWER
RISK
of
contamination
COST COST COST
$$$$$ $$$$$ $$$$$
WATER WELL
MAINTENENCE FOR SAFETY
PREVENTING CONTAMINATION
WELL
livestock
septic leach fields SILOS
50ft
septic tanks
100ft
250ft
petroleum
tanks
p
manure stacks
manure storage
fertilizer storage
WATER TESTING Fe Cu
Water Quality Reports & Water Testing
Pb
Check your Annual Water Quality Report from your water
supplier.
Find more info here:
http://water.epa.gov/drink/local/index.cfm
The EPA recommends that you test your water by a state
certified laboratory.
You can find a certified laboratory here:
http://water.epa.gov/scitech/drinkingwater/labcert/statecertification.cfm
Cl
DETECTING CONTAMINATION
Salty or brackish taste
could mean high sodium
content
Rotten egg odor could
be caused by hydrogen
sulfide gas or bacteria
Turbid or unclear water
due to dirt, clay salts, silt
or rust
Green stains on sinks
or faucets left by high
acidity
Detergent odor or foamy
water may be from
septic tank seepage
Gasoline smell could
mean gasoline seepage
into the water tank water
Musty/earthy smell might
be from decaying or-ganic
matter in the water
Metallic tasting water
could mean high iron con-tent
or acidity
Chemical taste may be
from industrial chemicals
or pesticides
Soapy taste might mean
dissolved alkaline minerals
in the water
well resources
Ground Water Protection
Council
http://gwpc.site.net
American Water Works
Association
www.awwa.org
National Rural Water
Association
www.nrwa.org
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources
Conservation Service
www.nrcs.usda.gov
Water Systems Council
www.watersystemscouncil.org
National Ground Water
Association
http://www.wellowner.org
National Drinking Water
Clearinghouse
www.estd. wvu.edu/ndwc
Rural Community
Assistance Program
www.rcap.org
U.S. Geological Survey
water.usgs.gov
visible
taste scent
WELL LIFE
Scan your property for old, abandoned wells and call a certified contractor if you find one.
The contractor will properly seal it to prevent contamination into the aquifer.
TASTY PLACEMENT
Scum caused by
calcium or magnesium
salts in water
Private wells are not regulated by the EPA and most states have
limited rules on water well maintenance. It is the responsibility of
the well owner to maintain the safety of their private water
supply and well equipment.
Brown/red stains on sinks,
dishwashers, or clothes
from dissolved iron in water
A well can last 20+ years. Once your well gets to this age, make sure to have a certified
contractor properly seal it.