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Protecting Your Well

You can protect your water supply by carefully managing activities near the water source. For households using a domestic well, this includes keeping contaminants away from sinkholes and the well itself. Hazardous chemicals also should be kept out of septic systems. 

  •  Periodically inspect exposed parts of the well for problems such as:

- cracked, corroded, or damaged well casing. 
- broken or missing well cap. 
- settling and cracking of surface seals. 

  • Slope the area around the well to drain surface runoff away from the well. 

  • Install a well cap or sanitary seal to prevent unauthorized use of, or entry into, the well. 

  • Keep accurate records of any well maintenance, such as disinfection or sediment removal, that may require the use of chemicals in the well. 

  • Hire a certified well driller for any new well construction, modification, or abandonment and closure. 

  • Avoid mixing or using pesticides, fertilizers,  herbicides, degreasers, fuels, and other pollutants near the well. 

  • Do not dispose of wastes in dry wells or in abandoned wells. 

  • Do not cut off the well casing below the land surface. 

  • Once each year test for coliform bacteria, nitrate, pH and TDS. It is best to test for these contaminants during the spring or summer following a rainy period. These tests should also be conducted after repairing or replacing an old well or pipes, and after installing a new well or pump.

  • Every 3 years test for sulfate, chloride, iron, manganese, lead, hardness and corrosion index.

  • If your well is near seawater, a road salt storage site, or a heavily salted roadway and you notice the water tastes salty or signs of corrosion appear on pipes: Test for chloride, TDS and sodium.  

If you live in New Jersey, click here for specific information regarding drinking water wells.

Private Water Supplies

The testing frequencies in this fact sheet are general guidelines. Test more often if you suspect there is a problem with the quality of your drinking water.

Once each year test for coliform bacteria, nitrate, pH and TDS. It is best to test for these contaminants during the spring or summer following a rainy period. These tests should also be conducted after repairing or replacing an old well or pipes, and after installing a new well or pump.

Every 3 years test for  radon, mercury, sulfate, chloride, iron, manganese, lead, hardness and corrosion index.

If a new baby is expected in the household, test for nitrate in the early months of a pregnancy, before bringing an infant home, and again during the first 6 months of the baby's life.

Special Situations

Where you live, or what you are living next to, can sometimes affect the quality of your well water. If someone in your family becomes ill, or the taste, odor or color of your water changes, your water supply may be contaminated.

If your well is in an area of intensive agricultural use, test for pesticides commonly used in the area, coliform bacteria, nitrate, pH and TDS.

If you live near a coal or other mining operation, test for iron, manganese, aluminum, pH and corrosion index.

If your well is near a gas drilling operation, test for chloride, sodium, barium and strontium.

If your water smells like gasoline or fuel oil, and your well is located near an operational or abandoned gas station or buried fuel storage tanks, test for fuel components or VOCs.

If your well is near a dump, junkyard, landfill, factory, or dry cleaning operation, test for VOCs (such as gasoline components and cleaning solvents) pH, TDS, chloride, sulfate and metals.

If your well is near seawater, a road salt storage site, or a heavily salted roadway and you notice the water tastes salty or signs of corrosion appear on pipes, test for chloride, TDS and sodium.  

If you live in New Jersey, click here for specific information regarding drinking water wells.