Drinking Water Wells
Nearly one-fourth of all North Carolinians - over 2 million people - drink groundwater from private wells. Some of these wells are located close to known sources of groundwater contamination, but until legislative action this year, there has been no way to notify nearby residents. Additionally, though existing state law sets standards only for safe well construction, only 35 (out of 100) counties currently have a program to permit and monitor well construction, and many of these programs are inadequate and inconsistent.
This public health disaster received substantial media attention earlier this year. The Raleigh News & Observer documented health-threatening contamination in its March 26, 2006 report “Clean Wells Left to Chance,” including toxic waste, arsenic and fertilizers in families’ drinking water wells.
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The 2006 General Assembly took two major steps forward to address these issues and protect the public from contaminated well water.
The budet passed for 2006-07 includes funding to notify well users near known "hotspots' of groundwater contamination and to assist them in testing their well water to make sure it is safe. The funds can also be used to provide emergency drinking water to families if their well is contaminated.
Secondly, the legislature passed H2873, Safe Drinking Water/Private Wells (SL 2006-202) , which will require county health departments to inspect and permit new wells to ensure compliance with well construction standards. This will ensure that wells are dug in an appropriate location and are designed and repaired properly. Furthermore, once the new well is installed, the water will be tested to ensure that it is safe. Testing will be conducted on a number of contaminants, including arsenic, lead, flouride and bacterial pollutants. The law requires all 100 counties to have well permitting and testing programs in place by July 2008; the 2006-07 budget includes funding to help counties implement this program.
Links
Clean Water for North Carolina website.
"Clean Wells Left to Chance," Raleigh News & Observer article, March, 2006.
