Anything that we do on the land surface has the potential to impact our groundwater and well water; how carefully we perform those activities will ultimately determine whether the drinking water is contaminated.
General practices to protect your drinking water and well include the following: a) periodically inspect exposed parts of the well for such problems as cracked, corroded, or damaged well casing, broken or missing well cap, or settling and cracking of surface seals; b) slope the area around the well to drain surface runoff away from the well; c) install a well cap or sanitary seal to prevent unauthorized use of or entry into the well; d) have the well tested once a year for coliform bacteria, nitrates and other constituents of concern; e) keep accurate records of any well maintenance, such as disinfection, sediment removal or other special treatment; f) hire a certified well driller for any new well construction or modifications; g) have a certified professional properly fill and seal any unused wells on a property; h) avoid mixing or using pesticides, fertilizers, degreasers, fuels, and other potential pollutants near the well; i) do not dispose of wastes in dry wells or in unused wells; j) do not cut off the well casing below the land surface; k) pump and inspect septic systems as often as recommended by your local health department; and l) never dispose of hazardous materials in a septic system.
See the EPA website for more information on what you can do to protect your drinking water supply: http://www.epa.gov/safewater/privatewells/whatyoucando.html
