Planning for Private Water Supplies in your Community

Unfortunately, most homeowners don't think about their well water until a problem arises such as bad taste, stained fixtures or unpleasant smell. Some of the most important water pollutants like bacteria and nitrates have health implications and don't exhibit any taste or smells in the water.

About 45% of the approximately 1 million wells in Pennsylvania have been never been properly tested by a state-accredited water testing lab. In addition, about 84% of them lack sanitary construction recommended to keep them safe from contamination.

Local governments can help ensure that residents on private water systems are drinking clean and safe water by adopting a well water ordinance. This would require property owners to obtain a permit when drilling a well to ensure compliance with the local government regulations.

The ordinance should require that wells be constructed by a state licensed well driller in accordance with Water Well Drillers License Act. It should also require that the well driller or homeowner provide the local government with a copy of the well completion report that is submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Homeowners should also test their water for coliform bacteria every 12-14 months and for pH, total dissolved solids, nitrates and other pollutants associated with adjacent land uses every 3 years. The water can look safe to drink, however coliform bacteria, nitrates, lead, arsenic and pesticides that have health risks don't exhibit any signs that are present in your drinking water.

Symptoms of the water can often be used to decide other contaminants to include in routine water testing. Orange-red stains and black stains are indications of iron and manganese while blue-green stains indicated copper may be present. A salty taste can be caused by chlorides while a gray-white sediment might indicated hard water. Homeowners should look around the vicinity of their well and see what land uses could be causing pollution. Agricultural area could contribute nitrates and coliform bacteria in the groundwater while perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane (PFOS) might be a concern if the well is near a military base, airport, landfill or industrial facility.

Local education also makes a difference for private well owners. Local governments can use their websites, newsletters, social media and community events to educate residents and provide positive changes. These efforts should stress the importance of maintaining private wells and the need for regular water testing.

Penn State Extension's Master Well Owner Network volunteers can also provide outreach assistance to private well owners by conducting presentations, talking to private well owners and manning displays at events to provide research-based education.