Private Drinking Water Sources & Considerations

A well draws on the groundwater beneath the surface. Nationally about 23 million households (10) drink from a private well. 

How do I know if I am on a public water system (PWS) or a private well?

Typically if you are on a public water system, there will be a meter in your yard or near the road where the water line intersects with the line delivering water to your house. The meter is inspected or read monthly by a technician to determine your usage, however, up-to-date meters are often read remotely and may no longer be visible to property owners/water customers. If you are unsure, check with your water district to see if your address is in their system. (1)

Usually if you have a well there will be some sort of physical evidence near or around your house/apartment. These signs can be: casing that is visible above ground, a circular ring in a  concrete slab, or patch on a basement floor. Other times there will be a “basement offset” (a small room off of the basement, sometimes under steps). (19)

I drink from a private well. Are there things to know and consider?

In some places, private wells are the best solution for household water. It does cost money and requires expertise and specialized equipment to drill a well and to maintain the pumps, but there are no ongoing costs for the water itself if that water does not require additional treatment. Some places are also not served by a public or private water system, and a private well is the only option (9). Water sources for wells can sometimes be sequestered from sources of common contaminants and may potentially be safe to drink. Because wells tap into groundwater there is a chance of unnoticed contamination. It is a good idea to have your well water tested annually for any contamination since private wells do not receive the same monitoring or treatments as public water systems. If your well is in good condition, it may not be an indicator that your water is good. It is good to be aware of possible contaminants and have your water tested annually. Wells should not be drilled near septic leaching fields because of possible leakage of contaminants into the well. See the pollutant section on types of contaminants that can be in your well. (19)

According to the Kentucky Division of Water, Groundwater Branch, Harlan County has areas of moderate and high sensitivity to groundwater pollution. Groundwater obtained from most drilled wells in this area is soft (little mineral content) but contains noticeable amounts of iron, except north of Pine Mountain where the water is moderately hard (water that is moderately high in mineral content). At low levels the presence of iron and some minerals, such as limestone and sulfur are not dangerous. These minerals might make the water taste or smell strong and can discolor sinks and pipes and create mineral deposits which are annoying but not unhealthy. At high levels iron can cause diabetes, hemochromatosis, stomach problems, nausea, and vomiting. It can also damage the liver, pancreas, and heart. However, the Environmental Protection Agency (5) says that high levels of iron in water aren’t actively dangerous and it’s unlikely to affect your health or make you sick. 

How do I take care of or test my well water?

It is recommended that you test or have someone test your well water yearly (11). If you suspect your well is contaminated (12) or just want to be safe, many county health departments will help you test for pollutants. If your county cannot help, you can have your water tested by a state certified laboratory. To find one in your area call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791, visit www.epa.gov/safewater/labs or reference this list (13) of certified laboratories in Kentucky. Another resource for well owners is the Wellcare® hotline (14) which provides free assistance with information on owning, using and caring for a well. Many testing services supply their own sample containers and instructions for safe and accurate testing. Testing services may sometimes send a trained technician to collect the sample. The cost of water testing depends on the type of test and the lab you use. Using a certified lab testing typically costs $20 to $150. Some labs charge a nominal fee for testing well water samples, while others charge $50-$500 or more, depending on the lab and the number and type of compounds tested. The cost of comprehensive water tests can range from $75-$250.

Health departments?

What if my well is "sunk" by coal mining or fracking?

Please see the section on Issues and Emergencies.

In-home filtration systems (15) are useful if you have a well or are concerned about the quality of the water provided by your PWS. Basically filtration is a process where liquids, gasses, and suspended solids are stuck to the surface or in the pores of an absorbent material such as charcoal or clay. Quality of filtration depends greatly on the amount, the size and the electron charge of the contaminant particles.

In-home filter types include microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis,

distillation and ultraviolet treatment. There are two places where in-home filtration systems can be used:

• Point of use water treatment systems typically treat water after it is at the tap. These are typically small units that you fill and then let filter over time. These are common in many households. Their effectiveness can vary greatly. 

• Point of entry water treatment systems typically treat the water as it enters the residence. These systems, also known as whole-house systems, are usually installed between the water meter and the tap. These are more expensive but require no manual filling.

These treatment systems can be used together for greater contaminant reduction. Some in-home point of entry systems can be expensive to install and maintain. This may not be a viable option for all.