Helping Well Owners Understand their Risks and Well Vulnerability

In 2015, an assessment tool to evaluate private well risk and vulnerability was developed as part of a national program of outreach and education to private well owners. The 8-page assessment allows a professional to determine how well construction, site conditions, land use, geology, and other factors might impact water quality and the risk of well contamination of a well. The RCAP Private well staff around the country have completed over 2400 of these assessments, all at the request of well owners in their areas. We have also trained over 1000 environmental health professionals on how to use the assessment tool in their local areas. Recently, the Private Well Class program developed a guide that explains all of the elements included in the assessment. The guide is meant to help those who are not as knowledgeable about certain topics, like backflow devices, or septic systems, so they can use the assessment tool to help well owners in their areas. The guide will be described, as well as the tools available to you to provide guidance to the well owners you serve.