Private Drinking Water Wells

EPA estimates that more than 23 million households rely on private wells for drinking water in the United States (August 2021). EPA does not regulate private wells nor does it provide recommended criteria or standards for individual wells. EPA offers information regarding the importance of testing private wells and guidance on technologies that may be used to treat or remove any contaminants.

Private well owners are responsible for the safety of their water. This website educates well owners on wells, groundwater, and information on protecting their health. This website also provides links to other federal and non-profit websites that host additional educational materials and resources to help private well owners.

In 2021, EPA released estimates of the density of private wells be census blocks, which can be found in DWMAPS or using EPA's Interactive Private Domestic Well Map.