A private well can provide clean, safe drinking water for decades when it is properly maintained. Unlike municipal water systems, private wells are not regulated or monitored by any government agency. The safety of your water is entirely your responsibility. With regular testing, routine inspections, and a few simple maintenance habits, most well water problems are either preventable or caught early before they become serious.

Annual Well Water Testing

Annual testing is the single most important thing a well owner can do. Most dangerous contaminants in well water have no taste, odor, or color. You cannot tell by looking at your water whether it contains bacteria, arsenic, lead, nitrates, radon, or other harmful substances. The only way to know is to test.

At minimum, test annually for:

  • Total coliform bacteria and E. coli
  • Nitrates
  • pH
  • Total dissolved solids
  • Any contaminants known to be present in your local area or geology

Test outside your normal annual schedule when:

  • You are buying or selling a home with a private well
  • Your water changes in taste, color, odor, or appearance
  • Your well has been flooded or overrun by surface water
  • Plumbing repairs, filtration installation, or well work has been performed
  • A nearby septic system has been serviced or is within 50 feet of your well
  • A seasonal or vacation property is being reopened after extended non-use — stagnant water allows bacteria to accumulate even in a structurally sound well
  • Illness has occurred in the household
  • Nearby industrial, agricultural, or construction activity has taken place
  • Your home is near a lake, wetland, or other large body of water where aquifer contamination risk is higher

Well Disinfection

Bacteria are the most common contaminant found in private wells and also among the most treatable. Chlorination using an EPA recommended disinfection agent eliminates most microbial contamination effectively. Always follow up any well disinfection with a bacteria test to confirm the treatment was successful. If bacteria return shortly after disinfection, a structural issue with the well casing or cap is likely allowing recontamination and further investigation is needed.

Wells near lakes or large wetlands may experience recurring bacterial contamination due to aquifer influence from the surrounding water body. In these cases disinfection alone may not be a sufficient long term solution and filtration should be considered.

Well Cap and Wellhead Inspection

Your well cap is the first line of defense against surface water, insects, rodents, and debris entering your well. Inspect it visually at least once per season.

  • The cap should sit at least 12 inches above ground level, with 18 inches preferred. A cap at or below ground level is a contamination risk from surface runoff
  • Check for physical damage, cracks, or looseness
  • Confirm the cap is firmly attached and the seal has not shrunk or deteriorated
  • If there is a vent, verify it is screened and facing downward
  • Clear debris and vegetation from around the wellhead
  • Check the conduit fittings where electrical wiring enters the casing for gaps or damage, a common entry point for insects

If your cap requires full removal for routine well disinfection, consider upgrading to ETR’s Premium Well Cap which features a built-in disinfection port allowing chlorination without removing the cap entirely.

Professional Well Inspection

A visual wellhead check is something any homeowner can do. A proper well inspection requires a professional with a downhole underwater video camera. A professional inspection can identify:

  • Cracks or holes in the casing
  • Insect or rodent infestation inside the well
  • Leaking casing joints
  • Inadequate casing depth exposing the well to contaminated upper aquifer layers
  • Evidence of road salt contamination in wells near heavily salted roads, a common and overlooked problem in northern states that causes elevated calcium levels, pipe corrosion, and appliance damage

We recommend a professional inspection any time you purchase a property with a well, when recurring water quality issues cannot be explained by surface level causes, or when you have not had the inside of your well inspected in more than five years.

Where Should Your Well Be Located?

If you are drilling a new well or evaluating an existing one, location matters significantly. Avoid placing or accepting a well:

  • In a driveway or high traffic area
  • In or below ground level in a cellar or pit
  • Near septic systems or leach fields
  • Adjacent to swampy areas, wetlands, or lakes where aquifer contamination risk is elevated
  • Beneath heavy tree cover or dense vegetation
  • Near roads that receive heavy road salt application, particularly in northern states where road salt infiltrates groundwater and causes long term water quality and plumbing issues

The ideal well location is open, accessible, elevated above surrounding grade, and as far as practically possible from potential contamination sources.

Keeping Well Records

Your well is a long term asset and complete records protect its value. Keep a permanent file that includes:

  • All water test results with dates
  • Disinfection dates and methods used
  • Inspection reports and findings
  • Repairs and modifications with dates and contractor information
  • Original construction records including well depth, casing height and depth, pump model and serial number, yield, and geologic layers penetrated

These records are invaluable when troubleshooting water quality issues, selling your home, or evaluating whether a well problem is structural or environmental in nature.

Questions About Your Well?

Our water quality experts are available by phone to answer questions about well maintenance, testing, and water quality at no charge. Give us a call at 800-344-9977.