Sanitary Water Well Construction

Pennsylvania is one of only a few states that do not have mandatory statewide construction standards for private water wells. While some local regulations do exist in a few townships and boroughs, there are no statewide requirements. As a result, some important components of a properly constructed drinking water well are often not installed in an effort to reduce the cost of the well to the homeowner. The most important features missing from most private wells are a sanitary well cap and a grout seal. These components are required by most states because they help protect groundwater by sealing the well from potential surface contamination.

Standard Well Caps

Most existing and new wells in Pennsylvania have a standard well cap. Standard well caps usually have horizontal bolts around the side of the cap that loosely hold the cap onto the top of the casing. The small airspace between the well cap and the casing can allow for insects, small mammals, or surface water to enter the well.

A standard well cap similar to those found on most Pennsylvania wells (note the bolts around the outside of the well cap).

Sanitary Well Caps

A "sanitary" well cap (sometimes referred to as a "vermin-proof" well cap) looks similar to a standard well cap but usually has bolts that run vertically from the top of the well cap.

A sanitary well cap installed on a well casing. Note the bolts on the top rather than around the sides of the cap. Photo: Bryan Swistock.

A sanitary well cap showing the rubber gasket, hole for electrical conduit, and screen holes for ventilation.

Most sanitary well caps include an airtight rubber gasket seal to prevent insects, small mammals, or surface water from entering the well and a small, screened vent to allow for air exchange. These can be purchased from and installed by a well driller or by a homeowner with some basic knowledge of electrical wiring.

What Is a Grout Seal?

Grout is usually neat cement (no aggregate) that is pumped into the space between the drilled hole and the casing--called the annular space.

Cross-section of a well casing showing the grout that seals the annular space around the casing.

Bentonite, a clay material that expands when wet, is also often used for grouting a well. The grout is pumped into the annular space starting from the bottom of the casing using a tremie pipe until it appears at the surface of the ground. Grout is usually not used on private wells in Pennsylvania unless it is required by local ordinances or requested by the homeowner.

Well drillers use a tremie pipe to pump grout into the well. Note that the grout is now appearing at the surface of the ground around the well casing. (Photo by Dr. Todd Giddings).

Can an Existing Well Be Grouted?

In general, it is not possible to grout an existing well. In rare cases, it may be possible to install a smaller diameter casing inside the old casing and grout between the casings. Another method used on existing wells is to pour a concrete slab around the existing well casing. However, these concrete slabs often crack and provide minimal protection from surface contamination. The best protection for an existing well is to make sure that the ground surface slopes away from the well casing in all directions to direct surface water away from the wellhead area.

Bacterial Contamination

Sanitary well caps and grout seal are primarily installed to prevent surface contamination, especially bacterial contamination. Bacterial contamination is a common problem that occurs in about 50 percent of the private water wells in Pennsylvania. Drinking water is typically tested for total coliform bacteria, which includes many different species of bacteria, some of which can cause illnesses or diseases. For this reason, all drinking-water supplies should be free of coliform bacteria. For more information, see the Penn State Extension's information about Coliform Bacteria.

Bacterial contamination of groundwater wells can occur from both above and below the surface. Pollution of entire groundwater aquifers affecting many wells may occur from failing septic systems or animal wastes. Similarly, individual wells may be contaminated from the surface if contamination sources are near the wellhead. Surface contamination of individual wells is usually caused by surface water flowing down the outside of a well casing through the annular space and/or from a loose-fitting or absent well cap that allows insects, animals, or surface water to enter the well directly. Sanitary well caps and a grout seal can help prevent this type of contamination from occurring.

Do a Grout Seal and Sanitary Cap Prevent Contamination?

A 2002 study by the U.S. Geological Survey of more than 100 private wells in Pennsylvania studied the importance of grout in preventing bacterial contamination. This study found that ungrouted wells were three times more likely to be contaminated with E. coli bacteria compared to grouted wells. This same study, however, found that coliform bacteria were still quite common in grouted wells. Since the wells used in this study did not have sanitary well caps, the authors theorized that coliform bacteria were entering the well from the well cap area. This was supported by their visual assessment that found nearly 50 percent had obvious insect infestations under the well cap. Insects were found inside the well cap, on the wiring or plumbing, or inside the casing. Another study by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources found that insects could be a source of coliform bacteria in wells.

A 2005 study by Penn State documented the effect of installing a sanitary well cap on existing water wells. Sixteen private wells that contained coliform bacteria were disinfected with chlorine and fitted with a sanitary well cap. Of these wells, 44 percent did not contain coliform bacteria one month later and 19 percent did not contain bacteria after one year. The sanitary well caps were most successful in eliminating bacteria from wells that previously contained small numbers of coliform bacteria (< 3 colonies per 100 mL of water), compared to those that had more gross contamination. This Penn State study also looked at bacterial contamination in new wells that were constructed with a sanitary well cap and a grout seal. Only 29 percent of these new wells contained coliform bacteria, suggesting that proper well construction practices can reduce but not completely eliminate bacterial contamination. Wells drilled into aquifers that are contaminated by animal wastes, septic systems, or surface water can contain coliform bacteria regardless of well-construction practices.

What About Costs?

Sanitary well caps and a grout seal are generally not used regularly on private wells due to the added cost. Sanitary well caps typically cost $50-$75 compared to $20 to $30 for a standard well cap. A sanitary well cap can be installed by a homeowner with some basic knowledge of electrical wiring, or the cap can be installed by a well driller. In the recent Penn State study, the average cost for disinfection and installation of a sanitary well cap by a well driller was about $100 per well. Grouting of a new well typically adds $500 to $1,000 to the cost of the well. The cost of grouting will depend on the well depth, diameter, and type of bedrock in the area.

What Else Can You Do to Help Protect Your Water Supply?

Contamination related to an inadequate well cap or missing grout seal would most likely result in the presence of coliform bacteria in your well water. Thus, the first step in proper management of an existing private well is an annual test for total coliform bacteria. This test can be arranged through a local certified laboratory or your regional Department of Environmental Protection office. If your well tests positive for coliform bacteria, a sanitary well cap may help solve the problem, especially if your well contains small numbers of bacteria. Even if your well is currently free of bacteria, a sanitary well cap will help ensure that it does not become contaminated in the future by insects or other contaminants around the wellhead. Sanitary well caps can usually be purchased from a local water well contractor or even through online sources. If you purchase one yourself, be sure it will fit the diameter of your existing well casing.  Consult Wellowner.org to find a local water well contractor certified by the National Ground Water Association. The contractor can also be hired to disinfect the well and install the sanitary well cap if you desire. The existing well cap should be removed and any obvious insects, nests, or small mammals should be removed from inside the well casing.

If you are having a new well drilled or you are deepening an existing well, you should request that the well be grouted to prevent surface contamination. If you have an existing grouted or ungrouted well, make sure the ground surface is sloped away from the casing in all directions to direct surface water away from the well.

The immediate area around the well is the wellhead protection area. In this case, the road area, ditch and front yard of this home all fall into that area.

With a private water system, it is always a good practice to establish a wellhead protection area of 100 feet around your well and limit any potentially polluting activities in this area. This includes spraying pesticides, dumping chemicals, fertilizer use, animal waste areas, or any activities that could compact the ground. This area around your well is where activities on the surface are most likely to impact your groundwater supply.  Also, be mindful of any activities that are taking place off your property but still within sight of your water supply. Water testing before and after any land use changes nearby can also help monitor your water supply.