Things to know about your private well:

A private water supply provides for human consumption and consists of a system that has less than fifteen service connections and either (1) serves less than twenty-five individuals or (2) serves an average of twenty five or more individuals daily for less than sixty days of the year. The term "private well" is typically used for a well that provides drinking water for a single family residence. 

In regards as to when you should test your well water, MassDEP recommends that before purchase, prospective homebuyers test the water in a home with a private well. Once you've purchased the home, the interval between water quality tests can generally be in terms of years if the well is properly constructed and located in a safe area. However some conditions may prompt more frequent testing:

* Heavily developed areas with land uses that handle hazardous chemicals

* Recent well construction activities or repairs. MassDEP recommends taking a bacterial test after any well repair, pump 
   or plumbing modification, but only after disinfection and substantial flushing of the water system

* Contaminant concentrations above state or federal standards found in earlier testing

* Noticeable variations in quality, such as a water quality change after a heavy rain, extended drought or an unexplained
   change in a previously trouble-free well (i.e. funny taste, cloudy appearance, etc



A GUIDE TO WATER QUALITY TESTING FOR PRIVATE WELLS - Click here for information

UNDERSTANDING MY LABORATORY RESULTS - Click here for information

ARSENIC IN PRIVATE WELL WATER - Click here for information

POINT OF ENTRY AND POINT OF USE HOME WATER TREATMENT DEVICES - Click here for information

PEPPERELL WELL REGULATIONS - Click here for information