Well water safety is entirely up to the homeowner to regulate, as the Environment Protection Agency (EPA), does not regulate private drinking wells. Contaminated well water could present a host of problems for homeowners, including physical illness if consumed.
The EPA recommends that well heads be kept the following distances:
- Livestock yards, silos, septic tanks and fields, leach fields = 50 ft. from well head
- Manure stacks = 250 ft. from well head
- Petroleum tanks, liquid tight manure storage, pesticide and fertilizer storage and handling = 100 ft. from well head
- Ground water contamination can be caused by seepage through landfills, failed septic tanks, underground storage tanks, fertilizers and pesticides, runoff from urban areas and more.
You can keep your well safe by:
- Regularly maintaining your well and keeping up to date and accurate records of repairs, tests and installations
- Being careful about storage and disposal of household and lawn care chemicals and waste
- Regularly check underground storage tanks that house oil, gasoline or diesel
- Keeping your well protected from waste from livestock, pets and wildlife
