Private Wells

What are private water supplies (private wells), who regulates them, recommendations for testing, and more.

Arsenic occurs naturally in soil and bedrock in parts of Massachusetts. If you are in an area of concern, MassDEP recommends that you sample for arsenic. These questions and answers explain the health risks of arsenic and what you should do if you water has elevated arsenic levels.

Results of recent USGS investigation on the occurrence of arsenic and uranium in bedrock drinking water wells in Massachusetts and additional information for owners of private bedrock wells. March 2011.

This article is primarily for boards of health that do not have their own requirements for pumping tests but rely on the Department of Conservation & Recreation's Water Well Completion Report for estimates of well yield.

Recommended language for local boards of health to use in writing regulations for private wells. Updated October 2011.

Information presented in chart form to help determine whether your supply is a public or private facility.

Informational brochure from the US EPA and the Massachusetts Association of Health Boards, explaining how wells can get contaminated and testing procedures to be followed.

Disinfection procedures and other guidance if a private well has been contaminated by floodwater. February 13, 2008.

Potential risks from pasture runoff, and what horse owners can do to prevent contamination of water supplies, including recommended well setbacks from manure piles.

Informational brochure from the US EPA and the Massachusetts Association of Health Boards, explaining how wells can get contaminated and testing procedures to be followed.

Laboratories that MassDEP has approved for drinking water analysis. Also includes forms, policies and regulations.

Questions and answers for homeowners, boards of health, and licensed well drillers on choosing a lab for water testing.

While MassDEP does not regulate private wells or mandate testing for private water supplies, these are recommended guidelines for testing. Revised December 2008.

These devices - such as carbon filters, ion treatment, reverse osmosis systems, etc. - are installed locally, either at the water service connection of a building (point of entry) or right at the tap (point of use), to treat aesthetic issues such as taste or odor or to help meet drinking water standards. August 2007.

Fact sheet prepared by MassDEP's Northeast Regional Office on private wells in areas served by public water systems.

Disinfection procedures and other guidance if a private well has been contaminated by floodwater. February 13, 2008.

Discusses the role of Office of Research and Standards Drinking Water Guidelines and US EPA Health Advisory Levels when a contaminant is detected in drinking water. Decemeber 30, 2009.

An online service to help locate wells around the state.  Wells are mapped by town with information on how many wells are recorded in the database.  Search by location, well type, and other options, and view GIS maps of recorded well locations.

The website includes a calendar of events, news, training information, and more.

Although these fact sheets were written for New Hampshire, they include much generally useful information on drinking water topics relative to private wells and other areas of concern.

Fact sheets on a wide variety of subjects, such as treatment, contaminants, standards, and testing, from the Natural Resources & Environmental Conservation program of the UMass-Amherst Extension Service.

Information from US EPA on private wells. Like MassDEP, EPA does not regulate private water supplies, but provides information for consumers on health and safety issues associated with private supplies, including testing, treatment, proper maintenance, and information for real estate buyers and sellers.

This website provides access to GIS maps of private well locations by USGS quadrangles, along with links to related information on other sites. Note that GIS coverage is not statewide at this time; additional maps will be added as research is completed.