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- Current Groundwater News
- Groundwater Basics
- Groundwater Management
- Groundwater Classification
- Groundwater in Texas
- Monitoring and Data
- Agricultural Resources
- Resources for Small Communities
- National Groundwater Awareness Week in Texas
- Groundwater White Papers
- Groundwater Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Private Wells
Private wells do not serve public water supply systems and are largely unregulated. For domestic water well owners there are no federal or state requirements for monitoring drinking water quality as there are for public water supply systems. Likewise, there are no “right to know” reports informing well owners of the quality of their drinking water and no requirements for treatment. Proper well practices are crucial to protecting water quality and well longevity.
- EPA's Publication Drinking Water from Household Wells
- EPA's Private Drinking Water Wells Page gives information on testing private wells, protecting private well water and homeowner guides for private drinking water wells.
- The Water Systems Council offers a number of information sheets on subjects ranging from water well components to buying a home with a well.
- The Texas Well Owner Network (TWON) program is for Texas residents who depend on household wells for their drinking water needs.
- The Private Well Class provides free online training to private water well owners across the nation.
- National Ground Water Association Well Owners Guide
- Asociación Nacional De Aguas Subterráneas Guía para Propietarios de Pozos
John W. Smith (AgriLife Extension), Private Water Well Screening Event, Granbury, Texas, June 2009; photo courtesy of Marty Vahlenkamp (AgriLife Extension)
Well Maintenance
- Tex*A*Syst "Reducing Contamination by Improving Wellhead Management and Conditions"
- Wellowner.org provides information regarding Water Well Maintenance.
- TCEQ's Disinfecting Your Private Well (PDF. Help with PDF.)
- How To Disinfect A Private Well System; additional translations are also available (PDF. Help with PDF.)
Testing Private Wells
- TCEQ's How to Sample for Bacteriological Contaminants in Your Private Well Water (PDF. Help with PDF.)
- TCEQ's List of Accredited Laboratories Available for Microbial Testing
- EPA's Private Drinking Water Wells Page
- Center for Disease Control's Private Well Resources
- If a well is located in a groundwater district, sometimes the district can provide testing services or resources. See the Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts for information.
- Wellowner.org provides information regarding Water Quality & Quantity and testing.
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service on-line Bookstore offers a number of publications on drinking water contamination (e.g., lead, arsenic, copper, nitrates, radionuclides, etc.), as well as introductory fact sheets such as "Solving Water Quality Problems in the Home" (L-5450) and "What's In My Water?" (E-176). Hard copies or free electronic downloads of these publications are available after setting up an account.
Industrial Wells
- Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) regulates oil and gas industry wells.
