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Private Drinking Water Wells
National Information
More National Information 
- Disinfecting a Domestic Well with Shock Chlorination - New Mexico State University
- Farm*A*Syst & Home*A*Syst
- Protecting Your Well & Wellheads - University of Georgia (PDF) (2 pp, 292K, About PDF)
- Reducing Contamination by Improving Wellhead Management - Tex*A*Syst
- Reducing Ground Water Contamination - Tex**A*Syst
- Testing of Private Wells - Michigan State University
- Water Management Publications - Iowa State University
The quality and protection of drinking water from private and domestic wells is the responsibility of the private and domestic owner of that well. EPA regulates public water systems; it does not have the authority to regulate private drinking water wells. Because many citizens living in rural areas get their drinking water from private and domestic wells, they need to take charge of the maintenance and protection of the their well. In order for a private well to provide safe, clean water it needs to receive adequate testing and inspection, as well as be located, constructed and maintained properly. Potential contaminants include bacteria, nitrates, corrosivity and lead.
More information on private wells can be found at your local health department, agricultural extension agent or at :
- Mid-Atlantic Master Well Owner Network
- Well Permits - Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
- Water, Water Wells and Water Contamination - Maryland Cooperative Extension Service (PDF) (12 pp, 313K, About PDF)
- Well Protection in Flood Prone Areas - Maryland Department of the Environment (PDF) (3 pp, 52K, About PDF)
- Private Water Wells in Pennsylvania - Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
- Guide to Private Wells - Virginia Water Resources Research Center (PDF) (33 pp, 1.2MB, About PDF)
- Private Well Regulations - Virginia Department of Health
- Well and Spring Management - Virginia Cooperative Extension Program
- Individual Water Supplies - West Virginia Department of Health & Human Resources
