Unfiltered Truth: Why Your Private Well Water Might Not Be as Safe as You Think
- drterriwenner
- 7 days ago
- 4 min read
Have you ever stopped to think about the many ways we use water every day? We drink water, wash with it, clean our dishes, silverware, and cookware with it, and often use it for recipes. Some food and drinks require consumers to "just add water" to be able to ingest it; for example, baby formula, instant oatmeal, and the classic comfort food, ramen noodles. Once you take the time to think about how we use water, the next logical step is to think about where it come from. Water that comes from the "tap" generally comes from either a public water supply or a private well.
Private Well Considerations
The majority of individuals living in the United States obtain their drinking water from a public regulated source. In these cases, governmental authorities monitor the safety of the water coming into homes and businesses. But what if you have a private well as your primary water source? Well, local authorities do get involved with new construction and water tests are usually a part of the home inspection process during the sale of a home. But beyond that, it falls upon the home owner to initiate testing and the purchase of any water conditioning equipment.
If a home owner has their water tested upon purchasing a home, they may think they're good to go permanently. But when you take a look at what could change the quality of your water, you might want to think again. These changes can come from naturally occurring sources or human behavior. Here is a list of common water contamination sources.
Microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
Nitrate and nitrite often from fertilizers, and both human or animal waste.
Heavy metals from deteriorating plumbing systems or manufacturing plants in the area
Organic chemicals from improper disposal of household items (paints, medications, & solvents) or groundwater runoff which is influenced by flooding, spillage & wastewater.
Radionucleides such as uranium and radium which can be released into the environment from milling & mining companies.
Fluoride from natural underground sources. While fluoride has some benefits, an excess consumption from an unregulated source can be harmful.
Testing Your Private Well Water
Not knowing if something has contaminated your private well or not can leave a homeowner wondering if the water is safe to drink. The best bet is to follow guidelines from the CDC, which includes annual testing for all households and additional testing under certain conditions. More frequent testing is encouraged in the following situations
You discover that there are problems with well water for others in your area.
There are problems near your well, such as flooding or nearby waste disposal sites.
You replace or repair any part of your well system.
You notice a change in your water's such as the taste, color, or smell being different.
Someone in your home becomes pregnant or a child starts living in your home.
The Environmental Protection Agencies in each state can connect consumers with credible testing sites. In some states, free or inexpensive testing is available. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Safe Drinking Water Hotline is 1-800-426-4791, the primary national number for concerns about drinking water quality and safety.
Retail Store Water Pitcher Options
If you head into your local or online retail store, you are sure to see some drinking water pitchers that are designed to filter or enhance your water to make them safer and more pleasant to drink. Since new products are always coming to market, it's important to do your own research and determine what the filter is designed to do, how much it costs, and how frequently the filter or other parts need to be replaced. It's important to keep in mind that all products are not equal and they may not be effective in filtering out what is most important to you and your family. Every filter may not be able to make your family's drinking water safe.
Reference List
American Academy of Pediatrics (2025). Well water safety and testing: AAP policy explained. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/all-around/Pages/Where-We-Stand-Testing-of-Well-Water.aspx
Babuji, P., Thirumalaisamy, S., Duraisamy, K., & Periyasamy, G. (2023). Human health risks due to exposure to water pollution: A review. Water, 15(14), 2532. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15142532
Collier, S. A., Deng, L., Adam, E. A., Benedict, K. M., Beshearse, E. M., Blackstock, A. J., ... & Beach, M. J. (2021). Estimate of burden and direct healthcare cost of infectious waterborne disease in the United States. Emerging infectious diseases, 27(1), 140. doi: 10.3201/eid2701.190676. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/27/1/19-0676_article
United States Environmental Protection Agency (2025). Potential well contaminants and their impact. https://www.epa.gov/privatewells/potential-well-water-contaminants-and-their-impacts
Woolf, A. D., Stierman, B. D., Barnett, E. D., Byron, L. G., Council on environmental health and climate change, & committee on infectious diseases (2023). Drinking water from private wells and risks to children. Pediatrics, 151(2), e2022060644. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2022-060644
Consumer Friendly Website
12 Best Water Filter Pitchers, Tested and Reviewed by Jamie Ueda – March 19, 2025
Centers for Disease Control. Guidelines for Testing Well Water. July 21, 2024.
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