Guides for well owners
How to test, treat and look after a private well, in plain language: testing, shock chlorination, floods, buying a house with a well and more.
- How to test your well waterWhat to test a private well for every year, what to test once, when to test right away, and how to get a sample to a certified lab without wasting it.
- How to read a well water test reportWhat mg/L, µg/L, ND and the less-than sign mean on a well water lab report, how to compare each result to the EPA limit, and what to do next.
- Buying a house with a well, what to check before you closeWhat to ask for, what to test and what to inspect when you buy a house with a private well, so you know about water problems before you sign.
- How to shock chlorinate a wellStep-by-step shock chlorination for a private well after a positive bacteria test, flooding or repairs, with how much bleach to use for your well size.
- How to choose a water treatment system for your wellWhich home treatment removes which well water problem, what it costs, what certification to look for, and why you should test before you buy anything.
- What to do with your well after a floodIf flood water reached your private well, here's what to do before you turn the pump back on, how to disinfect the well, and when to test the water again.
- Well maintenance checklist for homeownersA yearly checklist for a private well: what to look at yourself, what a well contractor should check, what to test, and which records to keep on hand.
- How to choose a certified lab for well water testingHow to find a state certified lab for your private well, what to ask before you order, and why a lab's certification has to cover each test you want.
- Private well vs. city water, what changes for youHow private well water differs from city water: who tests it, who fixes problems, what it costs, and what a well owner needs to do every year.
- How deep is my well? Finding your well recordHow to find out how deep your private well is, where to find the driller's well log, and what the depth tells you about the risks to your water.