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Private Water Well Guidelines & Safety
- 1. PRIVATE water wellGUIDELINES & 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.