Risk Assessments - Home and Farm Environmental Assessments

Drinking Water Wells
The issue: If you own a private well, you are responsible for insuring the drinking water is safe to drink. Keeping your well water free of contaminants is a top priority - for your family's health, for economic reasons, and for the environment. This assessment unit covers well location, well maintenance and construction, water testing, and unused wells.

To see if you should obtain and complete one of these voluntary and confidential risk assessment packets, answer the following questions.

YES	NO		Risk Screening Questions
		1	Is your well downhill from any pollution source?
		2	Is your well less than 100 feet from any pollution source? (E.G. Drainfield, barn, manure pile etc.)
		3	Is your soil texture coarse, sandy, or gravelly?
		4	Is your water table less than 20 feet down?
		5	Is your well over 20 years old?
		6	Do you have a dug well on your property?
		7	Does your well casing lie below the surface or in a pit or basement?
		8	Are there holes or cracks in the casing?
		9	Can you hear or see any evidence of running water around the casing?
		10	Do you lack backflow protection on your water faucets or hoses?
		11	Was the last time your well was inspected over 20 years ago (or never)?
		12	Has it been more than 12 months since your well was tested for bacteria or nitrates?
		13	Are there unused (abandoned) wells on your property?
		14	Does your well lack a cap?

Answering yes to any of the questions indicates a potential risk to ground and surface water quality may exist on your property. If you answer yes to any of the questions, contact the Home*A*Syst/Farm*A*Syst office to obtain a complete assessment package on this topic at:

Chris Koehler, Extension Agent
WSU Cooperative Extension
Spokane County
222 North Havana
Spokane, Washington 99202-4799
509-477-2169 office
509-477-2087 fax
e-mail: Chris Koehler

For more information on this issue, contact your local WSU Cooperative Extension office locations or Conservation District.