Private Drinking Water Wells

If you’re getting ready to build a private drinking water well on your property, or replace, repair or abandon an existing well, the following information may be helpful.

  1. Does the state have funds or grants available for the construction, replacement or repair of a private drinking water well?  No, the state does not have such funds available, even during a drought or disaster.  The property owner is typically responsible for paying for the construction, replacement or repair of private drinking water wells.


  2. Who do I contact first if I want to construct, replace, repair or abandon a private drinking water well?  Contact the health department that serves the county where your property is located.  The environmental health staff can help you get started.  Check this Web site for a listing of county health departments:  http://www.deh.enr.state.nc.us/ehs/images/ehsdir2000.PDF. You will have to contact a certified well contractor to do the job.  For a list of certified well contractors, go to the following Web site:   http://www.ncwelldriller.org/FindaCertifiedWellContractor.htm   If you want more information about selecting a well driller, check the following Web site:  http://www.ncwelldriller.org/documents/SelectWellContractor_rev2008-1.pdf


  3. How much will it cost for a well permit?  The cost varies by county.  Check the following Web site for each county’s well permit costs:  http://www.ncwelldriller.org/documents/CountyWellPermitCost_rev10-9-08.doc


  4. How do I become a certified well contractor?  A Well Contractors Certification Commission handles this task.  For more information about becoming a certified well contractor, check the following Web site:  http://www.ncwelldriller.org/


  5. How do I find out if my well water is safe to drink?  The local health department will obtain water samples from your newly constructed well within 30 days after it issues a certification of completion.  The samples will be tested for total coliform bacteria and fecal coliform bacteria (if needed) by a certified laboratory.  The samples will also be tested for Arsenic, Barium, Cadmium, Chromium, Copper, Fluoride, Lead, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Mercury, Nitrate, Nitrite, Selenium, Silver, Sodium, Zinc , and pH.  NOTE:  Required water samples will not be collected from wells that are not constructed and located in accordance with state rules.  For more information about private drinking water well sampling, go to the following Web site:  http://www.deh.enr.state.nc.us/osww_new/new1//privwells.htm


  6. If my well sampling shows that my well water is contaminated, where can I get more information about the contaminants and their potential health effects?  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has a Web site that provides this information:  http://www.epa.gov/safewater/contaminants/index.html.  If you have additional questions, you may want to talk to a toxicologist in the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.  Call (919) 707-5000. 

For more information about private drinking water wells, how to select a well driller, disinfecting your well, check the following two Web sites:

http://www.deh.enr.state.nc.us/osww_new/new1//privwells.htm and http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/agw.html