Groundwater group urges owners of water wells to prepare for drought by getting their systems inspected

Map by University of Nebraska-Lincoln, adapted by The Rural Blog; for details, click here.

Private water well owners should prepare for extreme drought, the National Ground Water Association urged recently. 

Drought reduces a well's productivity and the quality of its water, so owners should have their systems inspected and water levels tested as soon as possible. NGWA recommends these steps:

• Have your water well inspected by a certified water well contractor. Wells that are not operating correctly will waste water and are more likely to completely fail during prolonged periods of drought. An inspection can help locate current and potential problems with a system before they become serious issues.
• Test your well water. There has been growing evidence that lower water tables, deeper wells, and extreme drought have led to higher levels of contaminants in groundwater. These contaminants can typically be easily identified and treated with a simple water quality test.
• Test your water levels. Declining water levels can impact not only the mechanics of your well but also water quality. A simple water level test can help determine what service may or may not be needed.
• Conserve water, fix leaks, and utilize water-efficient technology. By properly conserving water, fixing leaks, and utilizing more efficient water technology, you can help ensure your water levels remain healthy for you and your neighbors.
• Don’t delay. Due to ongoing drought, supply chain issues, and national labor shortages, well owners are seeing longer than usual wait times for service. If it has been more than a year since your last water well inspection, we urge well owners to reach out today to a certified contractor.

Well owners can find more information about drought at WellOwner.org, which is operated by the NGWA with support from the Rural Community Assistance Partnership and the Environmental Protection Agency.