Sip Happens: Is Your Private Well Water Actually Safe?

Water. It’s easy to take for granted. I turn on the faucet and there it is. I can’t remember the last time I wondered about the safety of the water I used for drinking, cooking, cleaning, or bathing in my house. Luckily for me, I am served by a public water system. That means it is monitored by my town to ensure it is safe. But for about 30% of Clinton County residents, it is up to them to regularly test their water for safety. That is because they rely on a private well system for the water they use each day. So what tests need to be done and how often? That’s where this month’s expert comes in.

Tim Simonette is a Principal Public Health Sanitarian with over 23 years of experience in the Drinking Water Program at CCHD. He supervises staff that conduct routine inspections at regulated facilities and oversees the Public Water System Program.

Tim, what parts of Clinton County are served by public water systems and what does that mean for them?

Most of the central population hubs in Clinton County are served by public water systems such as the City of Plattsburgh, a big portion of the Town of Plattsburgh, Champlain Village, Dannemora Village, and Rouses Point. Many other systems exist in the towns of Peru, Chazy, Ausable, Beekmantown, Saranac, Champlain, Dannemora, and Black Brook.  There are also several mobile home parks that have their own public water supplies.

Being served by public water means the water provided to your home or business is regulated to ensure a safe and reliable supply of drinking water. It is routinely tested by trained individuals within your town to meet both Federal and New York State standards. 

What does someone with a private well need to do to maintain their well and how often do they need to do it?

The first thing to do is to know where your well is located on your property and make sure any sources of possible contamination are kept as far away from it as possible. Once you find where your well is located, look for things nearby that might contaminate your water supply. Things like unused chemicals or fertilizers, used motor or fuel oils, and animal waste are common contaminants that should be kept away from your well. You should also determine the type of well you have. Is it drilled, a shallow dug well, or a spring? A drilled well should have a metal casing that extends above grade to prevent flooding and a tight fitting well cap. It is a good idea to check the status of your well at least once a year to make sure it is in good shape, has a good fitting cap, and that it is protected from flooding.

If I am a private well owner, what do I need to test my water for? And how often?

No matter what type of well you may have, you should have it tested once a year for total coliform bacteria and E.coli.  You should use a NYS ELAP certified laboratory for all water testing. This is the same test that all public water systems are required to collect routinely to ensure the water is of a good sanitary quality. This test will give you a good idea of the quality of your well water. If it’s positive for total coliform bacteria or E.coli, you may need to shock disinfect your well and re-sample. Hopefully after that you’ll get satisfactory results. 

We recommend testing your well at least once a year and springtime is often a good time to test. This is because of the snow melt, and a higher water table can lead to contamination of wells. If you have a child in your home under the age of six months, we also recommend that you collect a Nitrate sample.

What if someone is looking to update or install a new well? What should they be considering?

CCHD doesn’t regulate private wells, but there are some things to consider when installing a new well or upgrading an existing one. First, you want to make sure your well is in a good location. If you have a septic system, the well must be at least 100 feet away from the leach field. You also don’t want the well in a low-lying area of the property that can be prone to flooding and you want it to be somewhere that is easily accessible for ease of maintenance.  Lastly try to keep the well as far away from any other sources of contamination such as fuel oil tanks, animal yards, and surface water bodies such as rivers, lakes, etc. Hiring a professional NYS DEC registered well driller is the best way to ensure you are getting a high quality well, in a safe location for your family.

Top 3 things to remember.

1. All water systems, public or private, require monitoring to ensure water is safe for use.
2. Know what kind of water system you rely on. If you have a private well, make sure you are doing the proper testing. 
3. CCHD doesn’t regulate private wells. But they can provide support and answer questions. Call 518-565-4870.