An average of 13 million American households own a private well. Private wells are not subject to federal legislation that applies to public drinking water systems. Thus, it is up to good owners to regularly check the safety of their drinking water to ensure it is safe for human consumption.
The regulatory reach of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is restricted to public drinking water systems, which the federal Safe Drinking Water Act administers. EPA does not control private wells or publicize criteria or standards, although they give recommendations.
A few states have private well water safety and quality provisions, and a few counties within states have regulations overseeing good private inspections. The water in private wells originates from rainfall absorbed into the ground and caught in pores and spaces.
Wells, also known as springs or aquifers, access groundwater. Contaminants that pollute groundwater during overflow or leakage can cause sickness when ingested. Sources of contamination likely originate from naturally occurring conditions.
Human activities include draining minerals and metals from the soil, such as arsenic, iron, and manganese, as well as spillage from landfills, leaking septic tanks, and pesticides.
Testing well water is a generally basic process. An accredited laboratory, such as the state or local public health laboratory, investigates sample water from the well. The laboratory provides test kits, which can be dropped off at the research center or sent for overnight delivery.
The cost of testing varies depending on the research center conducting the tests and the number and type of tests directed.
Kinds of Contamination
Contaminated water can result in major health-related outcomes. These include gastrointestinal disease caused by bacteria, viruses, and parasites, heavy metal poisoning from lead, arsenic, and other metals, and poisoning from fertilizer or synthetic compounds.
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Microorganisms (e.g., bacteria, viruses, and parasites)
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Nitrate and nitrites
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Heavy metals (e.g., arsenic, antimony, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, selenium, and others)
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Organic chemicals
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Radionuclides (i.e., radioactive forms of elements such as uranium and radium)
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Fluoride
Degree of Contamination
The latest national survey of private wells' quality was done in 2009 by the US Geological Survey (USGS). It tested private wells in 48 states. Found that about 23% of the wells had at least one contaminant at a degree of likely health concern. Findings included:
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Inorganic chemicals, such as metals, radionuclides, and nitrate, were frequently found at these elevated concentrations. However, nitrate is obtained primarily from natural sources.
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Like pesticides and solvents, artificial organic compounds were found in most (60%) domestic wells inspected. Yet concentrations were rarely more noteworthy than human health standards (under 1% of wells).
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About half of the wells had at least one "nuisance" contaminant, a compound that harms taste, smell, or other sensory factors at a level or concentration outside the scope of qualities suggested by the US Environmental Protection Agency.
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Microbial contaminants such as bacteria were found in around 33% of the roughly 400 wells that had their water dissected for those contaminants.
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Typically, contaminants found in domestic wells appeared as mixtures with other contaminants instead of alone. This raises a potential concern, as the overall toxicity of a mixture can surpass that of any individual contaminant.
Regulations of State and Local
There are no federal regulations on private wells. However, federal agencies provide proposals and broad specialized guidelines.
Regulation is additionally restricted at the state and local levels. A small number of states have guidelines on private well testing. Some of these provisions apply to landlords or wells serving numerous units.
Counties regularly have provisions in building standards and allowing measures. One model is New Jersey's Private Well Testing Act.
Passed in 2001, it requires dealers or purchasers of a property with wells to test the untreated water for a water quality limit and survey the test results preceding the title's closing.
Under the law, landowners must test the well water once every five years. Then, each tenant will be given a copy of the results. The law was amended in 2018 to incorporate extra contaminants resolved to have hindering health impacts.
A New Jersey Department of Environment Protection report gives insights concerning the law and its usage.
North Carolina General Statute 87-97 expects districts to have programs to allow, investigate, and test private wells. Wells must be tested for bacterial and chemical contaminants within 30 days of completion. The health office or laboratory staff acquires tests. Connecticut additionally requires testing of recently built wells.
The Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act applies to private wells that serve more than 25 people. Michigan has arranged sampling guidelines for testing the presence of PFAS in private wells. Furthermore, it suggests that arsenic should be tested well.
Florida does not have well-testing guidelines for single-family households or individual rental units.
Yet, wells serving different rental units or business properties must meet prerequisites under the state's Limited Use Public Water System rule or the Florida Safe Drinking Water Act.
The state's Landlord-Tenant Law requires landowners to keep the plumbing in good working condition. Some Florida areas also have rules for testing and repairing new wells.
Duty of Public Laboratories
The duty of states and public laboratories is essentially centered around recommending and instructing good owners and helping to guarantee their drinking water quality.
A 2017 Private Well Class survey provides information about the state's function and nearby local public health and environmental laboratories in private well testing.
The survey, which was divided into 37 state public health and environmental laboratories and local laboratory directors, centers on the abilities and limitations of these laboratories.
• About 70% of state public health laboratories and 57% of local public health laboratories acknowledge private well water tests from the general population.
• Public health laboratories test a yearly median of roughly 4,000 (state) and 1,000 (local) private good tests. There was great unevenness in the number of tests led. One state laboratory center also tested 50,000 samples. Another tried 20,000. A local laboratory announced leading 4,000 tests.
• Approximately 75-84% of local and state public health laboratories depend on service fees to help the private well testing program.
Keeping Wells From Contamination
Private good owners can find a way to maintain a strategic distance from well water contamination.
Location of the Well Site
The location for another well ought to be deliberately thought of. Wells should be located at least 200 feet from a landfill, garbage dump, or sewer and, at any rate, 50 feet from a septic tank, except if state or local codes or guidelines are tougher.
Wells should be situated at higher elevations than the surrounding zones whenever possible to reduce the chance of contamination. Many states and localities require permits for wells and have codes and guidelines to help guarantee water security.
Numerous resources help owners distinguish a suitable site and draw in qualified contractors to select the right site.
Regular Testing
Numerous states and counties urge good private owners to test their well water consistently. Annual testing is frequently suggested for select pollutants (e.g., nitrate, coliform microorganisms). Less successive testing is indicated for different foreign contaminants.
Maintenance
The Water Systems Council suggests keeping a good maintenance record and developing a specific well maintenance plan for inspecting and testing well water and water treatment systems.
Avoiding Contamination
Well, owners can find a way to prevent contamination. Some preventive advances include:
• Keeping unsafe chemicals (e.g., paint, compost, pesticides, engine oil) away from the well.
• Inspecting and keeping up septic systems on the property.
• Do not permit garage, rooftop, or road overflow to gather around the well.
• Securing snow or leaves do not gather around the well.
• Keeping pets and livestock waste away from the well.
Take Measures After a Flood
Floodwaters can take a wide scope of contaminants (e.g., sewage, chemicals). Following a flood, a well and pump inspection ought to be directed. If the well has been covered in flood, emergency disinfection is vital. Following disinfection, the water must be tested.
Recovery
State and local offices involved in advancing the testing of private wells report that well owners regularly experience difficulties deciphering testing results, distinguishing suitable treatment, and managing treatment expenses.
Preventive Approaches
Various preventive approaches can be taken to restrict the contamination of groundwater.
For example, the agricultural community can decrease the use of pesticides and fertilizers.
Communities in regions with hard winters can decrease the amount of salt on the roads, as the groundwater consumes the chemicals.
Rapidly containing and tending to chemical spills can diminish the contamination of groundwater.
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