Private Wells, Groundwater, and Public Water Supply Systems
This page was archived in September 2013; see home page for current site status
More than 90% of New York residents are served by a public water supply at home or elsewhere in their community such as at school or work (see data from NYS Dept. of Health). A public water supply (sometimes called a municipal water supply) connects many people to the same drinking water system, which collects water from rivers, lakes, reservoirs, springs, or groundwater. Tap water from a municipal drinking water treatment plant is regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and additional state environmental or health agencies. It is tested frequently for close to a hundred chemicals and characteristics. Your supplier must notify the community if there are problems with the water supply. If you have questions or concerns about your public drinking water supply, contact your local water treatment plant and request a copy of their latest test results, which they are required by law to provide to their customers. You should receive a consumer confidence report (CCR) annually, and some municipalities post them online. See the public water supply section below for more information and links to directories of water utilities. Cornell University's Ithaca campus has its own drinking water supply.
Most private water supplies rely on groundwater as the source for wells or springs. Just under 1.9 million New York residents use privately owned residential wells (data from National Ground Water Association). If you drink water from your own supply, it is your responsibility to maintain the condition of your well or spring on a regular basis and reduce or eliminate potential sources of pollution. Water treatment should not be a substitute for a properly designed, constructed, and maintained water supply. Preventing pollution is one of the most direct ways of reducing health risks from drinking water. Abandoned or unused wells should be closed properly so they cannot contaminate groundwater and nearby wells, or become a physical hazard.
Private water supplies should always be tested before a home is purchased and whenever a new water supply is being developed. Annual testing for certain contaminants is also recommended. Testing results should guide your decisions on whether you need a water treatment system, and if so, what kind. Laws requiring a well test before a real estate transaction have been passed in several eastern New York communities. For more information about drinking water testing and contaminants, also see the Drinking Water Testing and Contaminants page.
A septic system and a well must be separated to prevent dangerous contamination of the well. The septic system must also be properly maintained to prevent contaminants from leaching from the drainfield to the well recharge area. See the Septic Systems page for more information
It is important to keep in mind that no individual water treatment device removes every contaminant from drinking water. Depending on the severity of contamination, it may be necessary to replace your source of drinking water by developing an alternative water supply or purchasing bottled water. Some of these options can be costly and inconvenient, so it is important to have your water tested regularly and remain informed of community water quality issues and decisions. For more information about drinking water treatment methods and devices, also see the Drinking Water Treatment page.
Please note there is overlap among sections, for example, many articles discuss the different types of wells or how to protect wells by preventing groundwater pollution.
Wells - General Info and Maintenance
Groundwater Info General info about aquifers, the water table, and groundwater (also written ground water, ground-water).
Protection of Wells, Groundwater, and Watersheds Information on protecting your well from contamination, and some general information on larger-scale watershed and aquifer protection. Information on natural gas well drilling as it relates to surface and groundwater. Also see the section below on closing an unused well.
New York State Dept. of Health Regulations for Private Wells Links to the DOH site; includes information about siting, components, design, construction, and maintenance of private wells.
Well Construction; Loan Programs; Well and Plumbing Components Also see the NYS regulations above.
Closing a Well It is important to properly close off (decommission) unused wells for physical safety and to protect the surrounding groundwater and other wells from contamination. This section also has info on short-term (seasonal) closing and reopening of a well.
Well Disinfection by Shock Chlorination
Water Pressure and Supply Problems including Drought
Wells and Emergencies - Floods, Fire, Power Failure, etc.
Wells and Real Estate Transactions
Public Water Supply from Municipalities and Small Businesses Also links to the NYS Dept. of Health regulations for these systems.
U.S. Safe Drinking Water Act and Clean Water Act Also some information on watershed planning and pollution prevention
Links to other sites about wells, groundwater, and public water supply systems including a directory of NY well contractors
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my water come from a private well or from a public (municipal) supply?
If you get water from a municipal water treatment plant, or a smaller water provider such as an apartment complex, you should receive an annual Consumer Confidence Report from the water provider. Homeowners and some renters on public water will also receive a water bill from the utility.
If you are still unsure, go to the section on public water supplies below and search the EPA, NYSDOH, and AWWA directories for local water suppliers. You can contact them to find out whether they provide your drinking water.
How can I find my well?
Sometimes there is a visible well cap in the yard. This is the above-ground access and protective cover over your well. It should extend at least six inches above the ground to keep contaminants out. (insert photos). Our factsheet on wells and other publications linked below have diagrams of several types of wells. A metal detector may help find the well if there is metal in the cap or casing. You can also contact the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, your local health department (links below) or the contractor who drilled the well. Try to get a copy of the "well log" or "drilling report". If you are purchasing a home, try to get this information from the previous owners or the listing real estate agent.
Photos of oil and natural gas wells are provided on the NYS DEC website.
How often should I test my well? What tests should I have done?
You should test your water at least once per year for bacteria and nitrate. Depending on problems you observe in your well water (color, taste, odor, hardness, corrosion, etc.), and activities occuring in your area, you may want to test for additional contaminants and/or test more frequently. Tests for bacteria are often called "coliform", "fecal coliform", or "total coliform". Coliform bacteria are a sign that these and other types of bacteria are entering your well. While some coliform bacteria themselves may not cause disease, they can warn you of the presence of more harmful bacteria. High levels of nitrate (NO3-) and/or nitrite (NO2-) ions dissolved in water can cause health problems, particularly in children.
See the contaminants and testing page for details on bacteria, nitrates, and other contaminants. The U.S. EPA Private Well Water site has additional testing guidelines. See the next question for help finding a testing lab. Keep records of your test results.
Where do I find a lab to test my water?
Municipal water is frequently tested by the supplier. If you are on a public water supply, you should receive an annual Consumer Confidence Report. The New York State Department of Health provides contact information for municipal suppliers. For other states, try the AWWA directory. See the links in the public supply section below. Your water quality can be affected by the distribution system from the treatment plant, to your home, to your tap. For additional testing, you can pay for analyses as described below. Keep records of your test results.
To have your water tested in New York State, use a lab certified by the state Department of Health. See our Contaminants and Testing page for links to their list of laboratories and more details about water testing.
In other states, check with your County Health Department or County Cooperative Extension office. The U.S. EPA also provides links to testing certification lists by state.
My well tested positive for bacteria. How do I shock chlorinate my well?
Shock chlorination is a short-term treatment that uses bleach or similar chemicals to introduce high levels of chlorine to the water as a disinfectant. Shock chlorination is recommended whenever a well is new, repaired, or found to be contaminated with bacteria. After treatment, the chlorine is flushed out as water flows through the system. If bacteriological problems persist following shock chlorination, the well should be carefully inspected for avenues of contamination. Keep records of the whatever maintenance your perform on your well.
Skip to the shock chlorination section of this page for websites and publications with step-by-step instructions.
Wells - General Info and Maintenance
Private Household Water Supplies (CCE Water Treatment Notes #8, 1991)
CCE Slide Set, "Protect Your Home Well and Your Community Water Supply". PowerPoint presentation to be posted soon; also available as a set of the original slides to borrow (contact us for more information). The slide set provides a basic understanding of ground water, describes possible sources of pollution to a private water supply, and suggests ways in which homeowners may protect their drinking water from contamination.
Private Drinking Water Wells (U.S. EPA)
Basic information including different types of wells
FAQ
Groundwater contamination and human health
What you can do
Glossary
Drinking Water from Household Wells (U.S. EPA, 2002, available by sections online or as .pdf)
Wells - types of wells, cross-section diagram (wellcare, Water Systems Council, 2003)
Dynamic Well Diagram (Water Systems Council)
Well Maintenance (Water Systems Council)
Wells and How They Work (The Groundwater Foundation)
How To Keep Your Water Well (NSFC Pipeline Magazine, 2002)
Annual Checkup (wellowner.org from NGWA)
Homeowner's Checklist (wellowner.org from NGWA)
Is your drinking water safe? Decision tool with guidance for consumers, with separate questionnaires for public and private water supplies. (Healthy Homes Partnership / Univ. of Wisconsin Extension)
Drinking Water - Should You Be Concerned?, part of Help Yourself To a Healthy Home - Protect Your Children's Health (Healthy Homes Partnership / Univ. of Wisconsin Extension)
Private Water Systems Handbook- 1979, 72pp., available from NRAES for $10.00 - see link for details
Groundwater Info
What is Groundwater? (1988, NYS Water Resources Institute at Cornell, print copies available from us)
Aquifers (1990, NYS WRI at Cornell, print copies also available from us)
Groundwater: What It Is and How to Protect It (1985, CCE Groundwater Fact Sheet, print copies also available from us)
The Nature of Water: Groundwater (Environment Canada)
Ground Water (Water Systems Council)
Tug Hill Aquifer: A Guide for Decision-Makers (1990, NYS WRI at Cornell)
Ground water facts (National Ground Water Association)
What is Ground Water? (USGS, 1993)
Water Science for Schools - Earth's Water - Ground Water (USGS)
Ground-Water General Interest Publication (USGS, 1999)
FAQ about the Hydrology of Ground Water (USGS MD/DE/DC)
What is groundwater? (The Groundwater Foundation)
Groundwater Basics (The Groundwater Foundation, 2007)
Groundwater Glossary (The Groundwater Foundation)
Understanding Ground Water (wellowner.org from NGWA)
What is a Water Table? (American Ground Water Trust)
The ABCs of Aquifers (American Ground Water Trust)
Springs As Water Sources (American Ground Water Trust)
Groundwater and the Rural Homeowner (USGS, 1994, many diagrams and photos)
Sustainability of Ground-Water Resources (USGS, 1999, large document, many diagrams about groundwater movement and quality)
Ground Water and Surface Water A Single Resource (USGS, 1998, large document, many diagrams of groundwater movement)
Ground- and Surface-Water Terminology (Ohio State Extension)
The Importance of Ground Water in the Great Lakes Region (USGS, 2000)
Ground-water Resources for the Future: Atlantic Coastal Zone (USGS, 2000, includes discussion of saltwater intrusion)
Pesticides and Groundwater: A Guide for the Pesticide User (1989, CCE Groundwater Fact Sheet, print copies also available from us)
Pesticides in the Nation's Streams and Ground Water, 1992-2001 (USGS 2006; full report, press releases, and summaries)
How Soil Properties Affect Groundwater Vulnerability to Pesticide Contamination (Oregon State University)
Understanding Pesticide Persistence and Mobility for Groundwater and Surface Water Protection (Oregon State University)
Pesticides (wellcare, from Water Systems Council)
Protection of Wells, Groundwater, and Watersheds
Also see other sections on this page (many of the general groundwater articles and well/plumbing construction articles cover pollution prevention too)
Groundwater Contamination (U.S. EPA - quick summary)
Groundwater Contamination (1988, NYS WRI at Cornell, print copies also available from us)
Wellhead Protection: An Overview (1990, CCE Groundwater Fact Sheet, print copies also available from us)
Twelve Simple Things You Can Do to Protect Your Well Water (Oregon State Univ. Extension, 2006)
Tips for Protecting Your Drinking Water Supply (Massachusetts Dept. of Environmental Protection)
Protecting Your Wellhead (Water Systems Council)
Protecting Your Groundwater Source (National Drinking Water Clearinghouse, 2006) - includes info about well construction
Sources of Groundwater Contamination (The Groundwater Foundation)
Assessing the Vulnerability of Public-Supply Wells to Contamination from Urban, Agricultural, and Natural Sources (USGS, 2006)
Studies by the U.S. Geological Survey on Sources, Transport, and Fate of Agricultural Chemicals (USGS, 2004)
USGS Nitrate Study Shows Water Supply Threatened from Residential Septic Systems (2007)
Best Management Practices for Wellhead Protection (University of Idaho Cooperative Extension)
Help Protect Your Drinking Water from Contamination - Household Hazards (AWWA Pacific Northwest, 2002)
Groundwater Remediation - Saving the Source (National Drinking Water Clearinghouse, 2003)
Citizen's Guide to Ground-Water Protection (U.S. EPA, 1999)
Safe Fuel Use Around the Home (CCE Water Treatment Notes #13, 2001)
Underground Fuel / Heating Oil Storage (CCE Water Bulletin, 2003)
You Dump It, You Drink It - posters and teaching materials about proper storage and recycling of used motor oil (US EPA)
ProtectDrinkingWater.Org - coalition of many groups, link to many publications and general information about source water protection
New York State Department of Health Regulations (Private Wells)
The New York State laws that regulate wells and other private water supplies are contained in:
Title 10 - Health Rules and Regulations:
Part 5 - Drinking Water Supplies:
SubPart 5-2 - Water Well Construction
Appendix 5-B: Standards for Water Wells, Statutory Authority: Public Health Law 206(18) -
Sections of this document are listed below.
- 5-B.1 Application and Definitions
- 5-B.2 Water Well Location and Protection
- 5-B.3 Water Well Construction
- 5-B.4 Well Yield and Water Flow
- 5-B.5 Water Well Pumps: Construction, Installation, Repair and Maintenance
- 5-B.6 Water Well Capping and Abandonment
- 5-B.7 Separability
- Table 1 Required Minimum Separation Distances to Protect Water Wells From Contamination
- Table 2 Standards for Well Casing, Grouting, Diameter, and Screens
Supplemental Information (Fact Sheets 1-4, 2006):
Use of "Additional Measures" in Water Well Siting and Construction
Water Storage
Recommended Residential Water Quality Testing
Decommissioning Abandoned Wells
For a directory of NY well drillers, see the links section below
Well Construction; Loan Programs; Well and Plumbing Components
Also see the section for New York State regulations and guidelines and the links to the New York State Dept. of Health and Dept. of Environmental Conservation contacts for information - including the NYS DEC directory of well drillers.
Private Household Water Supplies (CCE Water Treatment Notes #8, 1991)
Home Repair Loan Fund from Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP)
USDA Rural Development Program offers some grants and loans to rural homeowners. Please see Local contact information or a general description of the program.
Private Drinking Water Wells (U.S. EPA) - Basic information including different types of wells
Types of Wells (wellowner.org from NGWA)
Well Definitions (National Ground Water Association)
Having a Well Drilled (National Ground Water Association)
Drilling a New Well (Penn State University)
Before You Drill a Well (Penn State University)
Planning for a Water Well (wellowner.org from NGWA)
Selecting a Well Contractor (wellcare, Water Systems Council)
Finding a Contractor (wellowner.org from NGWA)
Service Contract for Well Owners (American Ground Water Trust)
Well Logs (National Ground Water Association)
How Wells are Drilled (American Ground Water Trust)
Well Construction (National Ground Water Association)
Well System Materials (National Ground Water Association)
Determining the Depth of a Well (wellcare, Water Systems Council)
Determining the Yield of a Well (wellcare, Water Systems Council)
How Deep Should My Well Be? (American Ground Water Trust)
Wellhead = Pitless Adapter + Cap + Casing
Pitless Adapter (wellcare, Water Systems Council)
Well Cap (wellcare, Water Systems Council)
Well Caps (National Ground Water Association)
Well Caps (American Ground Water Trust)
Casing (wellcare, Water Systems Council)
Well Casing - Steel or Plastic (American Ground Water Trust)
Protecting Wells with Sanitary Well Caps and Grouting (Penn State Cooperative Extension, 2006)
The Importance of Sealing a Well Casing (American Ground Water Trust)
Well Screens (American Ground Water Trust)
Valves (wellcare, Water Systems Council)
Pump (wellcare, Water Systems Council)
Sizing a Well Pump (wellcare, Water Systems Council)
Equipment Used in Wells (mostly about pumps, American Ground Water Trust)
Electrical Generators & Water Pumps (American Ground Water Trust)
The Potential for Drinking Water Contamination from Submersible Well Pumps (Wisconsin DNR)
Tank (wellcare, Water Systems Council)
Sizing a Pressure Tank (wellcare, Water Systems Council)
How Old is Your Water (National Drinking Water Clearinghouse, 2004) - discusses water quality problems caused by water storage
How Wells are Designed (American Ground Water Trust)
Preventing Well Contamination (focus on components and proper construction, National Drinking Water Clearinghouse, 2003)
(problems with) Do-It-Yourself Water Wells (American Ground Water Trust)
Water Well Rehabilitation (National Ground Water Association)
Backflow Protection for Private Water Systems (Oregon State Univ. Extension, 1998)
Cross Connections Can Create Health Hazards (2002, from AWWA Pacific Northwest)
Lawn Irrigation Systems and Backflow Prevention (2001, from AWWA Pacific Northwest)
Health Aspects of Plumbing (2006 WHO Publication)
Dare you drink from a garden hose? (Consumer Reports 2003, partly a question of lead contamination)
Closing a Well
Decommissioning Abandoned Wells (NYS Dept. of Health Regulations)
Sealing Unused Wells (National Ground Water Association)
Closing a Well (Water Systems Council)
Closing an Abandoned Well (Water Systems Council)
How to Safely Seal Old Wells (American Ground Water Trust)
How to "open up and close down" a summer home well (American Ground Water Trust)
Well Disinfection by Shock Chlorination
Emergency Disinfection of Drinking Water (U.S. EPA, 2006)
Private Well Water - What to Do After the Flood (US EPA, 2005)
Chlorination of Drinking Water (CCE Water Treatment Notes #5, 2005)
Disinfecting Private Wells (National Drinking Water Clearinghouse, 2005)
Disinfecting Your Well (Water Systems Council, 2007)
Water Well Disinfection Procedure (American Ground Water Trust)
Shock Disinfection of Water Systems (Tompkins Co, NY, Dept. of Health, 2001)
Water Pressure and Supply Problems including Drought
Water Efficiency (includes info about well yield and drought) (National Ground Water Association, 2001)
What To Do if the Well Runs Dry (Water Systems Council)
Coping with Low Water Levels (Water Systems Council)
Water Pressure (National Ground Water Association)
Water Levels in Wells (American Ground Water Trust)
Water Pressure Problems (American Ground Water Trust)
Water Conservation (Water Systems Council)
Using Low-Yielding Wells (Penn State Cooperative Extension, 2005)
Managing Your Well During a Drought (Penn State Cooperative Extension, 2005)
Household Water Conservation (Penn State Extension, 2004)
Water Conservation—How Much Water and Money Can You Save? (Penn State Extension, 2005)
Wells and Emergencies - Floods, Fire, Power Failure, etc.
Also see our Emergency page for more information about responding to these events, the well disinfection section on this page, and The New York Extension Disaster Education Network (NY EDEN).
Private Well Water - What to Do After the Flood (US EPA, 2005)
Managing a Flooded Well (Water Systems Council)
Flood Preparedness and Recovery (New York State Department of Health)
Private Wells After the Fire (Arizona Department of Environmental Quality)
Wells and Fire Protection (Water Systems Council)
Conserving Water Around the Home - Managing During Critical Shortages (Oregon State Univ. Extension, 1990)
Wells: What to Do When Power Fails (Water Systems Council)
Wells and Real Estate Transactions
What Every Realtor Should Know About Private Drinking Water Wells (U.S. EPA Region 1 & USDA-CSREES Water Quality Program New England, 2005)
Buying a Home with a Well (Water Systems Council)
Buying or Selling a Home with a Well (Water Systems Council)
Inspecting A Well (Water Systems Council)
Sharing A Well (Water Systems Council)
A Shared Well Agreement (Water Systems Council)
Do you own the water in your well? (American Ground Water Trust)
Groundwater and the Rural Homeowner (USGS, 1994, many diagrams and photos)
Public Water Supply from Municipalities and Small Businesses
Directories of public water suppliers
Public Water Supply contact information (New York State Dept. of Health)
Local Drinking Water Information (U.S. EPA)
Locate Your Local Water Utility (American Water Works Association)
Water On Tap - What you need to know (U.S. EPA, 2003, also in Spanish and Chinese)
It's Your Drinking Water: Get to Know It and Protect It (U.S. EPA, 1999)
NYS Dept. of Health Drinking Water Protection Program - Regulations for Public Water Systems
The New York State laws that regulate public water systems are contained in:
Title 10 - Health Rules and Regulations:
Part 5 - Drinking Water Supplies:
Subpart 5-1 - Public Water Systems, plus related AppendicesAnnual Water Quality Reports for public water systems
2007 State of New York Public Water Supply Annual Compliance Report (NYS Dept of Health)
Maximum Contaminant Levels for Public Water Supplies (NYS Dept. of Health)
Rural Well Water or Public Water Supply (American Ground Water Trust)
Water Quality in Distribution Systems (National Drinking Water Clearinghouse, 2002)
Is your drinking water safe? Decision tool with guidance for consumers, with separate questionnaires for public and private water supplies. (Healthy Homes Partnership / Univ. of Wisconsin Extension)
Drinking Water - Should You Be Concerned?, part of Help Yourself To a Healthy Home - Protect Your Children's Health (Healthy Homes Partnership / Univ. of Wisconsin Extension)
DrinkTap.org (American Water Works Association)
Consumer Confidence Reports (American Water Works Association)
Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) - search by location - provides a list of violoations in municipal water systems, and smaller systems such as schools, restaurants, mobile home parks, and apartment complexes (US EPA)
Diagram of Water Treatment Process - Bolton Point, Lansing NY, draws water from Cayuga Lake
Disinfection (National Drinking Water Clearinghouse, 1996)
My Water's Fluoride (US CDC, search for fluoridation data for public water supply systems)
To Fluoridate or Not (National Drinking Water Clearinghouse, 2004) - public water supplies
Water Quality in Airplanes (CCE Water Bulletin, 2005)
U.S. Safe Drinking Water Act and Clean Water Act
Safety of Public Water Systems (U.S. Code Title 42 Chapter 6A Subchapter XII) via Cornell Law School website or via Federal Goverment Printing Office
Understanding the Safe Drinking Water Act (US EPA, 2004)
Water Quality Standards under the Clean Water Act (U.S. EPA, for water bodies, generally different than drinking water)
Drinking Water Costs and Federal Funding (US EPA, 2004)
Drinking Water Monitoring, Compliance, and Enforcement - general overview (US EPA, 2004)
An Introduction to Water Quality Monitoring (U.S. EPA, for water bodies, not just drinking water)
Protecting Drinking Water Sources (U.S. EPA, 2004)
Clean Water Act (U.S. EPA)
Water Science (U.S. EPA, Technical and Regulatory Information)
Consider the Source: A Pocket Guide to Protecting Your Drinking Water (U.S. EPA, 2002)
The Multiple Barrier Approach to Public Health Protection (U.S. EPA, 2006)
Links to other sites about wells, groundwater, and public water supply systems
Government
New York State Department of Health - Drinking Water Protection Program - regulates municipal supplies, well construction, and standards for bottled and bulk water; certifies labs. See the sections on private well regulations and public supply regulations above.
Public Water Supply contact information
NYSDOH certifies environmental analysis labs. Commercial labs accept samples from the public (sorted by county, look for "potable water" testing).
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
Division of Water -- Bureau of Water Resoures Management
Directory of Registered Water Well Contractors - search in neighboring counties too
Well Water Information - search for records of water wells drilled by location; the registration number corresponds to the well contractor who drilled the well
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Ground Water & Drinking Water
For the Safe Drinking Water Hotline click here or call 1-800-426-4791
Private Drinking Water Wells web site
U.S. Geologic Survey (USGS) - Water Among its many responsibilities, USGS monitors stream and groundwater levels, collects and analyzes environmental water samples, and cooperates with other federal and state agencies.
Extension
National Environmental Services Center, based at West Virginia University
National Drinking Water Clearinghouse - funded by the USDA Rural Utilities Service
On Tap Magazine (many of these articles are linked above and on other pages)
Tech Briefs (many of these articles are linked above and on other pages)
Pennsylvania State University
Drinking Water Publications and Resources - many useful publications
Master Well Owner Network - useful links, publications, and FAQ
Home*A*Syst - An Environmental Risk-Assessment Guide for the Home - program of many extension systems, based at Univ. of Wisconsin
View Table of Contents and Order a Home*A*Syst Manual (1997, from NRAES)
Kansas Home*A*Syst Manual (Kansas State University, 1999, chapter 3 is on wells)
Other Organizations
wellcare® Hotline - or call 1-888-395-1033
wellcare® Information Sheets (some linked above and on other pages of this site)
National Ground Water Association
Groundwater Info (many of these articles are linked above and on other pages)
American Waterworks Association (AWWA) - represents municipal water systems
Empire State Well Drillers Association
drinking-water.org - extensive information about the global water supply