Private, individual wells are the
responsibility of the homeowner. To help protect your well, here
are some steps you can take:
Have your water tested periodically. It is recommended that water
be tested every year for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total
dissolved solids, and pH levels. If you suspect other contaminants,
test for those. Always use a state certified laboratory that conducts
drinking water tests. Since these can be expensive, spend some time
identifying potential problems.
Testing more than once
a year may be warranted in special situations:
- someone in your household is pregnant
or nursing
- there are unexplained illnesses in
the family
- your neighbors find a dangerous contaminant
in their water
- you note a change in water taste, odor,
color or clarity
- there is a spill of chemicals or fuels
into or near your well
- when you replace or repair any part
of your well system
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Identify potential problems as the first step to safeguarding your
drinking water. The best way to start is to consult a local expert,
someone that knows your area, such as the local health department,
agricultural extension agent, a nearby public water system, or a geologist
at a local university (See more detailed information below).
Be aware of your surroundings. As you drive around your community,
take note of new construction. Check the local newspaper for articles
about new construction in your area.
Check the paper or call your local planning or zoning commission for
announcements about hearings or zoning appeals on development or industrial
projects that could possibly affect your water. Attend
these hearings, ask questions about how your water source is being
protected, and don't be satisfied with general answers. Make statements
like "If you build this landfill, (just an example) what will you
do to ensure that my water will be protected." See how quickly they
answer and provide specifics about what plans have been made to
specifically address that issue.
Identify Potential Problem Sources
To start your search for potential problems, begin close to home.
Do a survey around your well:
- is there livestock nearby?
- are pesticides being used on nearby agricultural crops or nurseries?
- do you use lawn fertilizers near the well?
- is your well "downstream" from your own or a neighbor's septic
system?
- is your well located near a road that is frequently salted
or sprayed with de-icers during winter months?
- do you or your neighbors dispose of household wastes or used
motor oil in the backyard, even in small amounts?
If any of these items apply, it may be best to have your water
tested and talk to your local public health department or agricultural
extension agent to find way to change some of the practices which
can affect your private well.
In addition to the immediate area around your well, you should
be aware of other possible sources of contamination that may already
be part of your community or may be moving into your area. Attend
any local planning or appeal hearings to find out more about the
construction of facilities that may pollute your drinking water.
Ask to see the environmental impact statement on the project. See
if underground drinking water sources has been addressed. If not,
ask why.
Common Sources of Potiental
Ground Water Contamination
Category |
Contaminant Source |
Agricultural |
- Animal burial areas
- Drainage fields/wells
- Animal feedlots
- Irrigation sites
- Fertilizer storage/use
- Manure spreading areas/pits, lagoons
- Pesticide storage/use
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Commercial |
- Airports
- Jewelry/metal plating
- Auto repair shops
- Laundromats
- Boatyards
- Medical institutions
- Car washes
- Paint shops
- Construction areas
- Photography establishments
- Cemeteries Process waste water drainage
- Dry cleaners fields/wells
- Gas stations
- Railroad tracks and yards
- Golf courses
- Research laboratories
- Scrap and junkyards
- Storage tanks
|
Industrial |
- Asphalt plants
- Petroleum production/storage
- Chemical manufacture/storage
- Pipelines
- Electronic manufacture
- Process waste water drainage Electroplaters fields/wells
- Foundries/metal fabricators
- Septage lagoons and sludge
- Machine/metalworking shops
- Storage tanks
- Mining and mine drainage
- Toxic and hazardous spills
- Wood preserving facilities
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Residential |
- Fuel Oil
- Septic systems, cesspools
- Furniture stripping/refinishing
- Sewer lines
- Household hazardous products
- Swimming pools (chemicals)
- Household lawns
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Other |
- Hazardous waste landfills
- Recycling/reduction facilities
- Municipal incinerators
- Road deicing operations
- Municipal landfills
- Road maintenance depots
- Municipal sewer lines
- Storm water drains/basins/wells
- Open burning sites
- Transfer stations
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