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Drinking Water From Household Wells
                        INTRODUCTION

                            pproximately 15 percent of our
                            nation's population relies on
                        individually owned and operated
                        sources of drinking water, such as
                        wells, cisterns, and springs. Forty-six
                        states license or register individuals
                        who install domestic water wells and
                        construction standards for household
                        wells are in place in forty-two states. In
                        addition, local health departments may
                        have requirements. Ultimate responsi-
                        bility for a household well and the
                        drinking water it provides, however,
                        rests with the well owner.
                          What if you are among the 15 percent
                        getting your drinking water from your
                        own well—do you know if your water is
                        safe? What kinds of things pose a threat
                        to your well and to the ground water
                        which is its source? What health risks
                        do you and your family face? Who can
                        you turn to for help or advice?

                          This pamphlet helps answer these
                        questions, and provides you with more
                        information about drinking water from
                        individual, household wells.

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GROUND WATER
OCCURRENCE AND EXTENT
OF POLLUTION
   Ground water is a vast resource that
underlies the earth's surface. Ground
water occurrence,  its vulnerability to
contamination, and its value and use as a
resource, vary from place to place. The
vulnerability of ground water to contami-
nation depends on hydrogeologic condi-
tions, such as the extent and location of the
recharge area, the  depth of ground water,
the soil and rock composition overlying
the aquifer, the recharge rate, and the
 specific properties of the chemical con-
 taminants.
    Ground  water  contamination has been
 documented in every state of the United
 States. However,  the exact extent of
 ground water contamination is not known.
 It has been estimated that less than 2
 percent of ground water is contaminated
 at this point in time.
POTENTIAL GROUND
WATER CONTAMINATION

SOURCES
  Understanding and identifying the
potential sources of contamination of your
well is a first step toward assuring safe
drinking water for you and your family.
Some of these potential threats come from
nature—naturally occurring "contami-
nants—that, if present in your drinking
water, may present a health risk. Other
potential sources come from past or
present human activity—things that we
do, make, and use, which may result in the
pollution of the water we dnnk.
    Following are these potential contami-
 nation sources, including the actual
 contaminants and an explanation of how
 they might end up in your drinking water:
                                                          The
                                                          Hydrologic
                                                          Cycle.
   Source: The National Water Well Association.

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Naturally Occurring Contaminants
•  Microorganisms: Bacteria, viruses,
   protozoans, and other microorganisms
   are sometimes present, particularly in
   water sources close to ground level
   which might be exposed to surface
   water influence (e.g., shallow wells).
   While these naturally occurring
   organisms are usually harmless, some
   of them can cause a variety of illnesses
   (with symptoms such as nausea and
   diarrhea), and most importantly, these
   illnesses can occur shortly after one
   drinks contaminated water.
 • Radionuclides: Radioactive elements
   such as uranium and radium may be
   present in underlying rock and may
   end up in the drinking water. Radon—
   a gas that is a natural product of the
   breakdown of uranium in the soil-
   may also pose a threat. Radon is most
   commonly a threat when inhaled and is
   considered a known human carcinogen
   that can  contribute to lung cancer.
   Radon is less dangerous when con-
    sumed in water, but remains a risk to
    health.
 Nitrates and Nitrites: Although
 elevated nitrate levels are usually a
 result of human activity (see below),
 they may be found in ground water
 due to the breakdown of naturally
 occurring nitrogen compounds.
 Consumption of excessive amounts
 of nitrates and nitrites is particularly
 threatening to infants and children.
 Heavy Metals: Underlying rocks and
 soil may contain arsenic, cadmium,
 chromium, lead, and selenium. These
 contaminants are rarely found in
 individual wells at levels that present
 a problem, but activities such as
 mining and construction can release
 larger amounts into nearby ground
 water sources. If released and
 consumed at excessive levels, these
  contaminants pose a health risk.
•  Fluoride: Although fluoride is
  considered essential for good dental
  hygiene, in some cases, consumption
  of excessive amounts of naturally
  occurring fluoride can actually
  damage bone tissue. Discoloring of
  teeth may also be a concern, although
  it is not a health risk.

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Potential Contamination Sources
from Human Activity
.  Bacteria and Nitrates: These are
   abundant in human and animal
   waste material. If either septic tank
   systems or livestock management
   areas are located too close to a well,
   and if these systems or areas are not
   maintained properly, then contami-
   nation may result Consumption of
   excessive amounts of nitrates can
   cause adverse health effects in very
   young infants and susceptible adults.
 • Household Plumbing Materials:
   Corrosive water may cause plumb-
   ing materials to leach into your
    tapwater. Of primary concern is lead
    (and to a lesser extent, copper) that
    may have been used in pipes, solder,
    or fixtures. The acidity or pH,
    temperature, and mineral content ot
    your water all affect how "corrosive
    it is. The age of plumbing materi-
    als—in particular, copper pipes
    soldered with lead—is also impor-
    tant. The newer the pipe or solder,
    the more susceptible it is to corro-
    sion. Consumption of these corro-
    sion by-products, even at relatively
     low amounts, can be harmful.
Fertilizers and Pesticides: In agricul-
tural areas, fertilizers and pesticides are
applied frequently. This may a so be
true in suburban areas where there are
a lot of lawns and backyard gardens,
and around golf courses. Depending
upon the types and rates of chemicals
used, the methods of application, and
physical conditions of the local environ-
ment (soil type, topography, seasonal
precipitation), these chemicals may end
 up in ground water. Many fertilizers
 contain nitrogen compounds which
 may break down into nitrates, possibly
 adding to the other sources of nitrates
 mentioned above. In addition, house-
 hold or commercial chemicals used to
 treat buildings for termites or other
 pests may also pose a threat, again,
 depending on the type of chemical, the
  type of soil, and the amount and
  frequency of precipitation. For further
  information, see the EPA publication
  entitled, "Pesticides and Drinking
  Water Wells."

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Industrial Products and Wastes: A
variety of potentially harmful chemi-
cals are used widely in local business
and industry, and these chemicals may
become drinking water contaminants if
they are not properly managed. The
most common sources of such contami-
nants are:
— local Businesses: Nearby factories,
   plants, and even small businesses
   such as gas stations and dry cleaners
   handle a variety of chemicals.
   Improper management, spills and
   improper disposal of these chemi-
   cals and their wastes can threaten
   ground water supplies.
 — Leaking Underground Tanks: Petro-
   leum products, chemicals, and
   wastes stored in underground
   storage tanks may end up in the
   ground water, when improperly
   installed or constructed tanks or old,
    corroding tanks leak.
 — Landfills and Waste  Dumps-. Waste
    materials from nearby waste
    management facilities may seep out
    as rain falls on or floods the facility.
    This seepage can carry a wide
    variety of contaminants into ground
    water.
Household Wastes: Improper
disposal of cleaning fluids and
degreasers, used motor oil, paints
and paint thinners, and soaps and
detergents (often through faulty
septic tanks and associated leaching
fields) can contaminate ground
water.
Water Treatment Chemicals:
Improper handling or storage of
water treatment chemicals (disinfec-
tants, corrosion inhibitors, etc.) at the
wellhead might lead to contamina-
tion.

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SHOULD YOU BE
CONCERNED?


                YES.
   The individual well owner is primarily
responsible for the safety of water that is
drawn from his/her well. Individual well
owners do not benefit from the public
health protection provided by a regulated,
public water system, which must comply
with federal and state regulations for
various monitoring, analytical, and
reporting requirements. Private wells are
not subject to such federal regulations and
are generally regulated on a very limited
basis by the states.
    In most cases, individual household
 wells are the concern of the local health
 department. Health departments may
 assist household well owners with
 periodic testing for bacteria and nitrates,
 as well as oversee the placement and
 construction of the well with respect to
 state and local regulations—especially
 with regard to the placement of a drinking
 water well near septic tanks, drainfields,
 and livestock. The bulk of the responsibil-
 ity for ensuring proper construction,
 proper wellhead protection, and adequate
 maintenance, however, falls on  the well
 owner.
    The amount of risk involved is based
 on your physical surroundings, including
 the characteristics of the aquifer from
 which you draw your water; the quality of
  construction and maintenance of your
  well; and the human activity that takes
  place in your area.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

   Six basic steps will help you determine
and maintain the adequacy of your
drinking water:
•  Identify potential sources of contamina-
   tion
•  Have your water tested periodically
•  Have the test results interpreted
   properly .and explained clearly
•  Establish and implement a regular
   maintenance schedule for your well
   and keep accurate, up-to-date records
 • Consult the "local experts"
 • Remedy any problems, if necessary

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Identifying Potential Contamination
Sources of Your Well
   The actual presence of contaminants in
your well will be affected by local geology
and climate, your water system's construc-
tion, the extent of human activity in the
area, and your proximity to contamination
sources. Ground water contamination is
usually localized and generalizations are
difficult to make. The best way to identify
potential contaminants is to consult a local
expert for guidance on conditions in your
area. (See "Consult the Local Experts")
 •  Obtain a copy of the list of Federal
   drinking water standards. Even
   though these standards do not apply to
   household wells, you could use it as a
   guide to help determine potential
   contaminants in your water. Keep in
mind, however, that your individual
state has developed its own drinking
water standards and in some cases
they may be stricter or more exten-
sive than the federal standards. To
obtain the list of federal standards,
contact EPA's Safe Drinking Water
Hotline (see below). For the state
standards, contact your state
drinking water program or local
health department. In addition, the
EPA, Office of Drinking Water, also
has chemical and health risk infor-
mation for a number of drinking
water contaminants available
through the Hotline.
                                                               Potential
                                                               Groundwater
                                                               Contamination
                                                               Sources
 Source: The National Water Well Association,

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Have Your Well Water Tested
   Household wells should be tested
periodically. Have a competent labora-
tory or health department test your
water annually for total coliform
bacteria (from human and animal
wastes), nitrates, total dissolved solids,
and pH levels. If you suspect other
contaminants are present, tests for these
should also be done. Chemical testing
can be expensive, so you will want to
reduce the list by identifying potential
contaminants specific to your situation.
Again, local experts may be of
assistance.
    In many cases, county health depart-
ments provide testing and analysis for
bacteria and nitrates. For other contami-
nants, health departments, environmen-
tal offices, or county governments
 should have a list of state certified
 laboratories. A list of labs can also be
 provided by the State Laboratory
 Certification Officer. Call EPA's Safe
 Drinking Water Hotline for the name
 and phone number of your state's
 certification officer.
    Laboratories often provide sampling
 bottles and instructions for you to use.
 Follow these instructions carefully to
 ensure proper testing and accurate
 results.
    Your water should also be tested
 after replacing or repairing part of the
 well system (piping, pump, or the well
 itself) or if you notice a change in the
 water's look, taste, or smell.
Interpretation and Explanation of
the Results
   The amount of risk associated with a
drinking water contaminant depends on
the nature of the specific contaminant,
individual susceptibility, and the concen-
tration or amount present in the water.
Some contaminants present short-term or
acute risks to human health. For example,
it may take only one bacterium or virus to
make a person sick, and the consumption
of excessive nitrate levels over a relatively
short period of time can be dangerous. On
the other hand, many other contaminants
pose a long-term or chronic threat to your
health. That is, a little bit on a regular basis
over a long period of time could cause
health problems.
   EPA drinking water regulations for
public water systems aim to protect
people from both short and long term
health hazards. The maximum allowable
 amounts of contaminants in treated water
 are based on a lifetime of protection.
 Public water systems are required to
 routinely monitor their water prior to
 delivery to ensure that it meets established
 standards.
    The individual well owner, however,
 must rely on proper interpretation and
 explanation of lab results in relationship to
 federal or state drinking water standards
 to know if the water is safe. In some cases,
 the laboratory will provide a very helpful
 explanation. Otherwise, the well owner
  will have to rely on others.

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   The following sources may be able to
help:
• The state water well contractor licens-
   ing agency can help you understand
   the significance of the laboratory
   results, and will also provide informa-
   tion on proper well construction and
   protection of your water supply. The
   agency is usually located in the state
   capital (or other major city) and is often
   part of the department of health or
   environmental protection. Check the
   "government pages" of your local
   phone book or call the American
   Ground Water Trust at (614) 761-2215
   for the licensing agency phone number.
 •  The local health department may help
   you understand the results, and might
   also provide information about any
   present or potential concerns it has
   regarding contamination of drinking
   water in your area, as well as offer
   suggestions about how to protect the
   well against contamination.
 •  The state drinking water program can
   explain how your lab results compare
   to the standards established for the
   state's public water systems. State
   programs are usually located in the
   state capital (or another major city) and
   are often part of the department of
   health or environmental regulation.
   Consult the blue "government pages"
   in your local phone book for the proper
   address and phone number.
The U.S. Environmental Protection
 Agency operates a toll-free, nation-
 wide information service—the Safe
 Drinking Water Hotline (see last
 page). The Hotline can help by
 explaining the federal regulations
 that apply to public water systems,
 and further, by comparing the
 "numbers" in your lab report to the
 established federal standards. In
 addition, the Hotline can provide
 copies of the federal drinking water
 regulations, which contain a list of
 contaminants monitored by public
 water systems; provide copies of
 health advisories that have been
 prepared for specific drinking water
 contaminants; locate your state
 drinking water program; and
 identify your state laboratory
 certification officer to get a list of
 approved labs.

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Well Construction and
Maintenance
   Proper well construction and
continued maintenance of the system
are essential to the provision ot an
SS^ water supV *«*
well contractor licensing agency,
health department or local water
system professional should be able to
provide information on well construe-
 tion.
   Many homeowners tend to forget the
 value of proper maintenance until
 problems reach crisis levels that
 demand immediate and often drastic
 action. Maintaining a well mvoWes early
 detection and correction of problems
 that could reduce well P***™?08'..
 Ke\p up-to-date records of well mstaUa-
  tion!repairs, pumping tests  and water
  testo. Such well records can he p identify
  Sges in the supply, contamination of
  ?te water source, or deterioration of the
  water system. If you encounter prob-
  lems, have a local expert check your
   well construction and maintenance
   records to determine if your well is
   within acceptable standards.
      And, importantly, protect your own
   well area, by proper storage and
   Tsposal of household and lawn care
   chemicals and wastes; careful applica-
   tion of fertilizers and pesticides; sound
   agricultural practices to reduce erosion
   and prevent surface runoff; routine
   checks of underground storage tanks
   that hold home heating oil or gasoline,
   and adequate protection from the
    wastes of livestock, pets, and wildlife.
Consult the Local Experts
  Valuable sources of information,
ad^,and assistance can befound dose
to home. Following is a list of these local
experts":
 • The local health department can help
   you in many ways, as mentioned
   above Within the health department, a
   registered sanitarian is likely to be the
   most experienced and knowledgeable
   £rson to identify and correct problems
   with private wells.
  . Local professional water well contrac-
    i°i are also knowledgeable about well
    Sing and familiar with the particu ar
    eeology and water conditions in your
    Sea. Look in the yellow pages of your
    phone book or contact your state water
    well contractor licensing agency. Call
    the National Water Well Association
    * (614 761-1711 to identify NWWA
     certified water well contractors in your
     area.
                                           Source: National Rural Water Association
   10

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• The nearest public water system may
  explain what they consider common
  threats to their supply of water and
  may assist you with sampling, analysis,
  and interpretation of tests done on your
  water. Consult the local health depart-
  ment or the phone book for the name
  and address of the closest system.
• Local or county planning commissions
  may provide information about past
  and present land use in your area.
• Local County Extension agents may
  have information about local land use,
  including agriculture and forestry
  practices, and may also provide
   information about water testing.
 • The U.S. Soil Conservation Service and
   the U.S. Geological Survey—both in
   the blue pages of your local phone
   book—may provide information about
   local soils and the hydrogeological
   nature of the area < i.e., where the local
   water supply is located, how it is
   recharged or replenished, and how
   readily it can become contaminated).
 • Your local public library may also
   have records and maps that can
   provide this information, including the
   occurrence of radon.
 • Nearby colleges and universities have
   research facilities that can provide a
   wealth of knowledge and expertise, as
   well as a possible place for testing.
Remedy Problems Immediately

   If you determine that your well water
is contaminated, remedy the problem as
soon as possible. In some cases, you
may need to disinfect the water source,
have a new well drilled, replumb or
repair your system, or possibly consider
hooking into a nearby community water
system (if one is available). If you have a
new well drilled or connect to a commu-
nity water system, the abandoned well
should be properly decommissioned.
Consult "local experts" for assistance.

   You might also consider the installa-
tion and use of an appropriate water
treatment device. Information about
treatment devices can be obtained from
the following:
    Water Quality Association
    P.O. Box 606
    Lisle, IL 60532

    National Sanitation Foundation
    P.O. Box 1468
    Ann Arbor, MI 48106

    Public Information Center
    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
    401 M Street, SW
    Washington, DC 20460


    Please note: different types of home
 water treatment devices are designed to
 remove different types of contami-
 nants—no one device does it all; further,
 it is essential that home treatment
 devices are strictly maintained by the
 user to assure their continued effective-
 ness. For more information, obtain a
  copy of EPA's pamphlet, "Home Water
  Treatment Units."
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