Environmental Health Services

Private Well Owner Resources

A Guide for Private Domestic Well Owners 

How to Maintain Your Well Video 

Well Owners Checklist 

Testing Your Water Well
Some unhealthy water contaminants, such as bacteria, heavy metals, nitrates, radon, and many chemicals, can only be found by laboratory testing. A water testing laboratory can test your well water. The laboratory will supply the sampling bottles and can help you sample your own well.

• Water Testing Guidance
• Local water treatment and testing providers
• Example of a laboratory report and analysis
• Free Drinking Water Testing for the Central Coast

More Resources

• Declaration to Maintain an Inactive Well- California Well Standards Bulletin 74-90, Section 21, states that an inactive water well is considered “abandoned” if it has not been used for a period of one year and must be destroyed by a licensed C-57 water well contractor unless the owner demonstrates their intention to use the well again.  Residents wishing to maintain an inactive well must complete the Declaration to Maintain an Inactive Well form and return it to Environmental Health.
• List of Licensed Potable Water Haulers
• Private Water System Disinfection
• Information about obtaining a water well construction permit. 
• Information about obtaining a well destruction permit. 
• Obtain information on how to qualify as a well driller in San Luis Obispo County.
• Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment (GAMA) Program is California's comprehensive groundwater quality monitoring program that was created by the State Water Resources Control Board. GAMA provides extensive information for private well owners.
  • The GeoTracker GAMA groundwater information system integrates and displays water quality data from various sources on an interactive Google-based map. Analytical tools and reporting features may have information about water quality and pollutants found in your area, such as nitrates and naturally occurring arsenic and hexavalent chromium.
• EPA: Private Drinking Water Wells website includes lots of basic information including how contaminated water can affect human health.
  • EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline (toll free) 1 (800) 426-4791
• Private Well Class offers classes, webinars and a resource library for private well owners.
• Water Systems Council provides information sheets on every aspect of well care.
  • Download the Well Owner's Manual
  • Well Care Hotline (888) 395-1033
• WellOwner.org provides basic well information plus information about water quality and quantity, testing, treatment, and classes.
• Water Well Recovery Post Disaster
• PFAS In San Luis Obispo County

Reference

Well Program (Construction, Destruction, and Maintenance)

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