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Well Water and Health

Frequently Asked Questions

As a private well water owner, it is up to you to test your water to ensure it is safe to use. Protect yourself and your family by testing your water regularly.

When should a well be tested?

All newly constructed private wells in North Carolina must be tested by the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health or a certified laboratory prior to establishing the well as a source of drinking water. These tests for bacterial and chemical contaminants should be conducted within 30 days of the well completion.

Well owners should check the wellhead once a year to make sure it is working properly and ensure that there are no cracks or openings where contaminants can get into your groundwater. Well water should be tested after repairs or replacements to any of the well components and after flooding events, since contaminants may enter your well when it is opened or if the wellhead is underwater.

How often should I test my well water?

Every Year Test for total and fecal coliform bacteria.
Every Two Years Test for heavy metals, nitrates, nitrites, lead, copper and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Every Five Years Test for pesticides. If you know of a particular pesticide that is applied in your area, test yearly.

Special situations that may require additional testing:

  • If you are pregnant or have an infant at home, you should test your water for nitrates. If you have nitrates in your well water, do not drink the water or use it to prepare baby formula. Use an alternative source of water instead. Boiling water does not remove nitrates.
  • If there are known problems with well water in your area,
  • If you have experienced problems near your well (i.e., flooding, land disturbances, and nearby waste disposal sites),
  • If you replace or repair any part of your well system,
  • If you notice a change in water quality (i.e., taste, color, odor).

What activities near my home can contaminate my well?

  • flooding;
  • surface run-off that carries pollutants through the soil and into underground water supplies (such as rainwater that washes off of parking lots and roadways);
  • agricultural activities;
  • erosion of mineral deposits;
  • decomposing waste;
  • construction activities;
  • toxic spills;
  • leaking storage tanks and landfills;
  • industrial discharges into surface waterways;
  • underground injection of waste products.

For Additional Information