Private Drinking Water Wells

Private Ground Water Well Fast Facts

  • Over 15 million U.S. households rely on private, household wells for drinking water 

  • All private wells use ground water. If polluted ground water is consumed, it could cause illness. Ground water pollution can be caused by seepage through landfills, failed septic tanks, underground fuel tanks, fertilizers and pesticides, and runoff from urban areas.

  • It is important that private ground water wells are checked regularly to ensure that the water is safe for drinking.

  • Typically, private water systems that serve no more than 25 people at least 60 days of the year and have no more than 15 service connections are not regulated by the EPA.

Tara Kakaty