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Action Workflow

Private Well Water Action Plan

CDC and EPA-inspired well testing action plan: what to test, when to test, and what to do after abnormal results.

Well Testing Guide

Deep guide for panel selection and interpretation.

After Flood Checklist

Immediate post-flood testing sequence.

Treatment Matrix

Match abnormal results to treatment mechanism.

Private wells are not regulated like public utilities. Use this as a simple action checklist.

Generate my well-water action plan

Step 1: Baseline annual panel

Test at least once each year for:

  • Total coliform and E. coli
  • Nitrate/nitrite
  • pH and hardness
  • Region-specific metals (arsenic, manganese, iron)

Reference: Well water testing guide

Step 2: Trigger-based testing

Run immediate testing if any of these happen:

  • Flooding near the well
  • Well cap damage or plumbing repairs
  • New taste, odor, or color change
  • Household infant, pregnancy, or immune vulnerability

Related playbooks:

Step 3: Decide treatment path from results

Result pattern First treatment direction
Bacteria positive Disinfection workflow and root-cause fix
Nitrate elevated Reverse osmosis or distillation for drinking/cooking
Arsenic elevated NSF 58 RO or adsorptive media validated for arsenic
Iron/manganese aesthetic and staining Oxidation/filtration plus point-of-use drinking treatment as needed

Step 4: Re-test after treatment changes

Any new treatment system should be validated by follow-up testing to confirm removal performance.

Authoritative references

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should private well owners test water?
At minimum once per year for core indicators, plus event-based testing after flooding, repairs, or sudden taste/odor changes.
What are high-priority contaminants for private wells?
Coliform/E. coli, nitrates, and region-specific metals (such as arsenic or manganese) are common first priorities.