Test Your Well: Protect Your Family's Water

A copy of Test Your Well: Protect Your Family's Water in English and Spanish is available in PDF.

Take steps to make sure the water from your private well is suitable for drinking, preparing food and all household uses.

Germs and chemicals can enter your drinking water from runoff and natural changes in the water that serves your well. The use of contaminated water for drinking, preparing food and making ice can make you, your family and your pets sick. Babies, children, pregnant people, older adults and people with health conditions are most at risk of health effects from consuming contaminated water.

Regularly Test Your Water

Testing your drinking water is the only way to make sure that your water remains suitable for household uses. Test your water at the tap at least once a year for bacteria and every 3-5 years for the other contaminants listed to the right. The best time to test your water is in the late spring or early summer. Your lab will provide instructions and bottles. Find a certified lab. Contact your health department for advice.

Testing Schedule

Test For	Why	How Often
E. coli & coliform bacteria	indicate fecal contamination that can cause symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting	Each year
Lead	harmful to many organs and systems in the body and most harmful to developing babies and young children	Every 3-5 years
Nitrate & Nitrite	most harmful to babies; associated with infant blood problems	Every 3-5 years
Arsenic	long-term exposure is associated with nerve and liver damage, cancer, high blood pressure and damage to blood vessels of the heart and brain	Every 3-5 years
Sodium	concern for individuals on restricted sodium diets due to high blood pressure or other medical issues	Every 3-5 years
Iron & Manganese	cause rust or black staining of fixtures or clothes	Every 3-5 years
Turbidity	(cloudy water) interferes with chlorine and UV-light disinfection	Every 3-5 years
pH	causes lead and copper pipe corrosion and metallic-bitter taste	Every 3-5 years
Hardness	causes mineral and soap deposits on fixtures; reduces detergent efficiency	Every 3-5 years
Alkalinity	interferes with chlorine disinfection and causes metallic-bitter taste	Every 3-5 years

Also Consider Testing If ...

• You notice changes in how your water looks, smells or tastes.
• There are changes in your household/family, such as pregnancy, new babies or changes in someone’s overall health.
• You or your health care provider suspect your drinking water could be causing symptoms such as diarrhea or vomiting
• You have made repairs to your well, pipes or home structure or have changed your drinking water system.
• You notice changes in land use, such as construction or farming, that could cause runoff to enter your well.
• You have concerns about local contaminants, such as radon or those from nearby industrial or waste sites.
• Your well was recently flooded or damaged by extreme weather.
• The well runs dry or the amount of water flowing from your fixtures changes.

Contaminants in Your Water?

Stop using your water and use bottled water for drinking, preparing food or making ice if water tests show contaminants in your well water or if you suspect your well could be contaminated.

Follow these steps from Restoring Your Private Well:

• Check the well and area around the well for damage.
• Repair and flush your well.
• Disinfect your well water to address biological contamination.
• Test your water to assure suitable quality for all household uses.
• Contact your area health department for help.

Inspect & Maintain Your Well and Water System

Have a DEC registered well contractor inspect your well at least once a year to stay ahead of maintenance issues. Regular inspections help prevent contaminants from getting into your tap water from a poorly maintained well.

Use the Well Maintenance diagram to keep an eye out for problems. If you suspect issues and need help, contact a professional. Stop using your tap water for drinking, preparing food and making ice, and switch to bottled until your water is tested and the problem is addressed.

Inspect & Pump Out Your Septic System

Have a DEC-permitted waste transporter inspect and pump out your septic system every 2 to 3 years to avoid potential well contamination from a failing septic system. Learn more at Septic System Operation and Maintenance.

Maintain Water Treatment Equipment

If you have water treatment systems, follow manufacturer recommendations for maintenance and testing and work with a water treatment professional to develop a plan to evaluate and maintain you system. Systems that are not regularly maintained can result in failure of water treatment and loss of water pressure.

Avoid Electric Shock Risk: Before Making Any Repairs

• Shut off power to the pump and water system.
• Examine for broken wire insulation or missing wire nuts and repair as necessary.
• Wear waterproof, rubber soled shoes or boots.