Resources for Water Well, Spring, and Cistern Owners

Millions of rural residents throughout Pennsylvania use a private water well, spring, or cistern for their drinking water. There are no statewide regulations on these household water supplies so their management is the voluntary responsibility of the homeowner. Management of these water supplies, including proper design, location, construction, testing, and treatment, can be challenging. Penn State Extension has created dozens of short articles, videos, and courses to assist with some of the most common management issues.

Understanding Drinking Water and Groundwater

Most private water supplies access water stored under the ground or "groundwater." Groundwater can be difficult to understand because it is not visible. Some private water supply owners also utilize alternative water supplies like bottled water or springs. 

• A Quick Guide to Groundwater in Pennsylvania
• Groundwater Basics
• The Water We Drink
• Understanding Bottled Water
• Roadside Springs
• Are Roadside Springs Safe? (short video)

Planning for a Well, Spring, or Cistern

Before you develop a private water supply or buy a home with a well, spring, or cistern, it can be helpful to determine your water quantity needs, learn how water wells should be located, and determine what to do if you have a low-yielding well. It is also important to understand water supply records and where to find online information about your water supply or your regional groundwater resource. 

• Water System Planning - Estimating Water Needs
• Using Low Yielding Wells
• Before You Drill a Well
• Drilling a New Well (general information brochure)
• Water Well Location by Fracture Trace Mapping

Well, Spring, and Cistern Construction

A critical step to ensuring good drinking water quality is to properly design and construct wells, springs, and cisterns to protect them from contamination.    

• Spring Development and Protection
• Sanitary Water Well Construction
• Protecting Your Water Well (short video)

• Rainwater Cisterns: Design, Construction, and Treatment

Water Testing and Interpretation

Water testing is useful to determine if drinking water is safe and free of tastes, stains, and odors. Various sources of information are available to help you determine what type of water tests are appropriate, how to choose which parameters to test, and how to interpret test results.  

• Testing Your Drinking Water
• How to Interpret a Water Analysis Report 
• Interpreting Your Water Test Report (short video) 
• Common Water Problems and Solutions
• Drinking Water Interpretation Tool (DWIT)
• Common Drinking Water Test Parameters Related to Natural Gas Drilling
• Chain of Custody Water Testing
• How to Use the Penn State Drinking Water Test Kit (short video)

Specific Water Contaminants

Water testing often creates questions about the sources, prevalence, and treatment of common or emerging water quality parameters. It is important to learn about any contaminants in your water to determine the best solution to the problem.  

• Testing and Treating PFAS Chemicals in Pennsylvania Water Wells
• Coliform Bacteria
• Solving Bacteria Problems in Wells and Springs (short video)
• Lead in Drinking Water
• Nitrates in Drinking Water 
• Corrosive Water Problems
• Hydrogen Sulfide (Rotten Egg Odor) in Pennsylvania Groundwater Wells
• Removal of Arsenic from Wells in Pennsylvania 
• Reducing Radon in Drinking Water
• Removing Giardia Cysts from Drinking Water 
• Iron and Manganese in Private Water Systems
• Methane Gas and Its Removal from Wells in Pennsylvania

Solving Water Problems

When water problems occur, there are often numerous solutions. Water treatment is an option for any water pollutant, but some may also be controlled through maintenance and wellhead protection. There are also important steps to follow when buying water treatment equipment and determining how to pay for repairs.

• Common Drinking Water Problems and Solutions
• Solving Drinking Water Problems (short video)
• Water Well Maintenance and Rehabilitation
• Funding for Private Well and Septic System Repairs
• Roadside Dumps and Water Quality
• Water Softening
• Water Softening (short video)
• Shock Chlorination of Wells and Springs
• Tips for Buying Water Treatment Equipment
• Private Water System Management (general information brochure)
• Best Management Practices for Private Water Systems (general information brochure)

Water Conservation

Water is a limited resource, especially during droughts. Water conservation practices can be used to reduce water use inside and outside the home. Water conservation is also an important strategy when managing water supplies during droughts.

• Managing Your Well During Drought
• Water Conservation – How Much Water and Money Could You Save?
• Household Water Conservation
• Benefits from Water Conservation (short video)
• Why Conserve Water? (short video)
• Saving Water Outside the Home (short video)
• Saving Water in the Home (short video)
• How to Store Water for Drinking and Cooking
• Saving Water in an Emergency

Online Course

If you are interested in a comprehensive, online course that includes most of the material referenced above, Penn State Extension developed Private Wells and Water System Management. This four-hour course combines text, short videos, and narrated presentations into five chapters on construction, testing, management, and treatment of private drinking water supplies.