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If your family gets drinking water from your own 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? This pamphlet helps answer these questions.

This EPA water pollution guide gives you general information about drinking water from home wells (also considered private drinking water sources). It describes types of activities in your area that can create threats to your water supply. It also describes problems to look for and offers maintenance suggestions. Sources for more information and help are also listed. [Editing for clarity by DF are marked by brackets or italics] Initial Source: EPA 816-K-02-003 January 2002

© Copyright 2009 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use the links at page left to navigate this document or to go to Other Website Topics. Green links at left show where you are in our document & website.

Where to Find Out More About Water Contamination: Sources of Information on Well Water

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Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

WATER TESTING
  WATER TESTING ADVICE
    SHOULD YOU TEST YOUR WATER?
    PUBLIC vs PRIVATE WATER
    WHEN TO TEST
    WATER TEST COSTS
    SPECIAL SITUATION TESTS
  ARSENIC in WATER
  BACTERIA TEST GUIDE
  CHEMICAL CONTAMINANTS in WATER
  CHEATING on WATER TESTS
  CHOICES of WATER TESTS
  CORRECTING BAD WATER
  EPA GUIDE to WATER QUALITY
    Ground water & Well Contamination
    Drinking Water from Household Wells
    What Is Ground Water, How Is It Polluted
    Where Do Water Pollutants Come From
    Naturally Occurring Pollution Sources
    Private Well Contaminant Concerns
    Pollution due to Humans
    Level of Risk of Water Contamination
    Six Steps to Well Water Safety
    Protecting Ground Water From Contaminants
    1. How To Spot Well Contamination Problems
    2. Well Water Test Strategy
    Reasons to Test Well Water
    3. Understanding Water] Test Results
    4. Well Construction and Maintenance
    5. Talk With Local Water Experts
    6. Fix Well Water Contamination Problems
    More Information on Well Water
    Well Water Definitions
 FHA WATER TESTS REQUIRED
  LEAD in WATER, ACTION GUIDE
  LEAD POISONING SYMPTOMS
  LEAD TEST VARIATION CAUSES
  ODORS IN WATER
  SEWAGE CONTAMINATION
  TOTAL COLIFORM TESTING
  WATER CONTAMINANT LEVELS
WATER TEST INTERPRETATION
WATER TESTING GUIDE
WATER TREATMENT EQUIPMENT CHOICES
  WATER TREATMENT EQUIPMENT CHOICES
  WATER ODORS, CAUSE CURE
  WATER PUMPS & WELLS
  WATER QUALITY TESTS, CONTAMINANTS, TREATMENT
WATER QUANTITY IMPROVEMENT
WATER QUANTITY USAGE GUIDE
  WATER SOFTENERS
  WELL SHOCKING GUIDE
WELLS CISTERNS & SPRINGS
  WATER PRESSURE LOSS
  WATER TANK TYPES
  WELL CLEARANCE DISTANCES
  WELL TYPES
  WELL, PUMP, TANK LIFE

The many links at page-left and within this EPA article provide extensive and detailed articles on water testing, correcting bad water, and related topics -- DF]

[Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links at page left show where you are in our document or website --DF]

To find out more about your watershed and its ground water visit "Surf Your Watershed" at www.epa.gov/surf. Also look at the "Index of Watershed Indicators" at www.epa.gov/iwi. These websites can also tell you possible sources of problems. Companies with permits to release their wastewater in your area are listed. You can see if they meet pollution control laws. You can also learn how your watershed compares to others in the country.

• The U.S. Department of Agriculture and EPA support a program to help farmers, ranchers and rural homeowners. Called Farm*A*Syst or Home*A*Syst, it helps identify and solve environmental problems, including protecting drinking water. Obtain a copy of the Home*A*Syst questionnaire/ checklist that can help you find possible threats to your water supply from:
• National Farm*A*Syst/Home*A*Syst Program 303 Hiram Smith Hall 1545 Observatory Drive Madison, WI 53706 Ph: 608.262.0024, Fax: 608.265.2775 homeasys@uwex.edu
• For more information on current and future federal drinking water standards and for general information on drinking water topics and issues, contact the EPA at www.epa.gov/safewater or at:
• U .S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20460

Or call:

The Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800) 426-4791 The hotline operates from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM (EST) The hotline can be accessed on the Internet at www.epa.gov/safewater/hotline/index.html

You can get a list of Federal drinking water standards from the EPA website. In addition, the EPA Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water gives chemical and health risk information for a number of drinking water problems through its Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800) 426-4791.

This information is also on the internet at www.epa.gov/safewater. If you do not have a computer, most public libraries offer internet access. Even though federal standards do not apply to household wells, you can use them as a guide to potential problems in your water. Be aware that many states have their own drinking water standards. Some are stricter than the federal rules. To get your state standards, contact your state drinking water program or local health department.

• Other sources of information include:
• Ground Water Protection Council http://gwpc.site.net
• American Water Works Association www.awwa.org
• National Rural Water Association www.nrwa.org
• National Drinking Water Clearinghouse www.estd.wvu.edu/ndwc
• Rural Community Assistance Program www.rcap.org
• U.S. Geological Survey water.usgs.gov
• U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service www.nrcs.usda.gov
• Water Systems Council www.watersystemscouncil.org

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