Well Water Testing: Not Regulated but Still Required for Health

More than 43 million people depend on private wells for their drinking water, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). But the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) does not charge the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with regulating their quality and safety. Most state laws don't cover domestic well water testing either. Although it's up to individual homeowners to maintain their systems and monitor water quality, the EPA strongly recommends regular testing by a local health department or certified water lab.

The harmful impacts of contaminated water from private wells range from reduced IQ in children to gastrointestinal illness and even cancer. To help protect public health, water labs can reach out to private well owners to educate them on the need for testing, recommended frequency, interpretation of results, and actions to ensure contaminant levels don't create a health hazard.

Well Water Pros and Cons

Getting water from a private well offers many benefits, including lower costs once installed—owners avoid a monthly utility bill for water. Many also prefer the taste of well water, which isn't chemically treated and often contains high nutrient and mineral content. A private well may also increase property values. Also, well water is often protected from contamination during a natural disaster—although that wasn't the case during Hurricane Helene when the flooding inundated wells with chemicals, sewage, and debris.

On the negative side, pumping water from wells depends on electricity—and when that goes out, the water stops working unless owners have backup power. Additionally, owners must handle well maintenance, repairs, and testing—and their water may contain harmful substances including heavy metals, nitrates, pesticides, solvents, microbial contaminants, and parasites, according to EPA.

To better understand the potential risks of well water, USGS and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) conducted a study of domestic wells in 2017. After evaluating more than 20,000 private domestic wells, the researchers discovered that 2.1 million people may be using water with high concentrations of arsenic, a known carcinogen. A more recent study shows the number is almost double during drought conditions—4.1 million people in the lower 48 states may be exposed to unsafe arsenic levels.

Recommendations for Well Water Testing

Many well owners assume everything is normal unless they see, smell, or taste something unusual—but that's untrue. Owners should still test to make sure their drinking water quality aligns with EPA criteria and standards.

The EPA recommends testing well water every year. And, to ensure no mechanical issues occur over the winter, the CDC advises checking supplies each spring. In addition, the National Groundwater Association encourages owners to test well water more often if:

• An infant is living in the home.
• A resident in the home is suffering from a chronic or unexplained gastrointestinal illness.
• The well has been contaminated before.
• The well water taste, odor, color, or clarity changes.
• The home's water treatment equipment is being checked for performance.

The CDC suggests water well owners test for the following common drinking water indicators, along with any others identified by their regional health or environmental departments:

• Total coliform bacteria
• E. coli
• Nitrates
• pH
• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

Water Lab Services for Private Wells

Water test labs can encourage well owners in their communities to be aware of EPA's drinking water recommendations and decide if it's time to test. One helpful resource to share is the "Protect Your Private Well" infographic from EPA. Make sure well owners know your lab is available to help, either with advice or as a testing services provider.

Customers' most critical question is whether the concentration of a contaminant that's either suspected or known in your area poses a health threat to them. For example, certain states are at risk for elevated concentrations of chromium and trichloroethylene, according to the Water Systems Council. Emphasize that well owners should choose a state-approved lab for the specific tests they need—and mention your lab's accreditations. You should also be prepared to discuss well water testing costs, turnaround time, and results reported.

Make sure private well owners also understand that when your lab performs water testing, they benefit from having an expert interpret the data and guide them on the next steps. You can identify health risks versus aesthetic issues and refer well owners to contacts at local health departments for more serious concerns. You may also serve as a valuable resource on disinfection, on-site water treatments, rehabilitation, and construction of a replacement well—all with the goal of ensuring domestic well owners enjoy safe and healthful water.