Policy Options for Protecting North Carolina Communities Served by Private Wells

Over 2.4 million residents of North Carolina rely on private wells for their drinking water, representing the largest number of households served by wells in the United States. Although the federal Safe Drinking Water Act requires public water systems to test and maintain water quality, it does not include similar protections for private wells. Absent state or municipal-level regulations, communities served by private wells are responsible for all testing, maintenance, and treatment of their drinking water. Most private wells in NC have not been tested. Commonly cited barriers to private well testing include cost, inconvenience, mistrust of testing companies, and optimism bias. Moreover, while local health departments in NC may provide well testing, costs vary widely across the state’s 100 counties. Some people who rely on private wells, including pregnant individuals and children, may be particularly vulnerable to the adverse health effects of drinking water contamination. To address these issues, the NC Well Water Working Group developed recommendations in this whitepaper to provide a roadmap for protecting water quality and advancing health protective measures for NC communities served by private wells. The following strategies are recommended to better protect private wells users: 1) increase the availability of free well tests; 2) provide additional financial support for treatment; and 3) improve transparency during real-estate transfers. All North Carolinians should have access to clean drinking water. With changes recommended in this white paper, NC can close policy gaps that contribute to health inequities across the state.