Georgia Private Well Owners: Testing, Upkeep and When to Call a Pro

If your Georgia home runs on a private well, the well and its pump are your responsibility. This guide summarizes what University of Georgia (UGA) Extension says well owners should know, and how a good pump supplier or well contractor fits into the picture.

Who is responsible for a private well?

According to the UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences, about 1.7 million Georgians rely on private wells for drinking water. Private wells are not regulated under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, so the owner is responsible for making sure the water is safe. The same source notes that many contaminants cannot be detected by taste, smell or appearance. A lab test is the only reliable way to know.

What to test, and how often

UGA Extension's advice, as reported in its Field Report:

Every year: a comprehensive test. UGA Extension recommends the W2 expanded household water test, which measures nitrates, hardness, alkalinity, fluoride, minerals and other indicators.
Every year: a bacteria test.
Extra tests: when a well first goes into service, after flooding, and whenever the water changes noticeably.
Retest if a result shows elevated contaminants, to rule out a sampling or handling error.
Find the source: compare a sample from the wellhead with one from inside the house. That helps show whether the problem is in the groundwater or in the plumbing.

Common concerns named in the article include bacteria, elevated nitrates, and naturally occurring iron and manganese. Hard water, staining and sulfur odors are other typical complaints. Arsenic and radon occur in parts of Georgia, but not every well has them, so testing is the only way to check.

Your pump system and what it has to do with water quality

Water quality and pump health are linked in practice. A system that short-cycles, loses pressure or pulls sediment is a sign that something needs attention, but it is not a diagnosis. Only a lab test and an inspection by a licensed well contractor can tell you the cause. The UGA article does not give pump-specific technical guidance, so this guide does not either. Treat the points below as prompts for a conversation with a professional.

Worth mentioning to a contractor or supplier:

Any change in pressure, flow, taste, color or odor.
Whether the pump runs more often than it used to.
Sediment or staining at fixtures.
The age and type of the pump and pressure tank, if you know them.

Routine wellhead care

UGA's article recommends that owners:

Inspect the wellhead regularly and confirm the cap or seal is secure and the casing is undamaged.
Keep chemicals, fuel and animal waste away from the well.
Make sure surface water drains away from the casing.
Inspect the system after major storms, and after flooding inspect the well and test the water before drinking it.

Drought, storms and power cuts

The article notes that drought can reduce supply and concentrate minerals, while heavy rain and flooding raise the risk of bacteria entering a well. Most private wells need electricity to pump water, so an outage usually means no running water. It advises keeping an emergency water supply, with at least 1 gallon of drinking water per person per day until the well is confirmed safe.

If outages are a concern, ask a licensed electrician about backup power options. Do not connect a generator to your home wiring yourself.

Who can help

The UGA article lists three kinds of help:

Your county UGA Extension agent. They can supply sampling bottles, help choose the right test, guide you through collecting and submitting a sample, and help interpret results. Offices are listed at extension.uga.edu.
UGA Agricultural and Environmental Services Laboratories (AESL), which analyzes private well samples from homeowners across Georgia.
A licensed well contractor, who addresses problems once the source is identified. The article says treatment systems or repairs often fix issues, and that drilling a new well is usually a last resort.

Questions to ask a pump or well supplier

Is your installer licensed for well work?
What do you recommend based on my lab results, not just my symptoms?
What are the options between repair, treatment and replacement, and what does each involve?
What does the warranty cover, and who services the pump later?
How do you handle emergency calls after storms?

Common mistakes

Never testing, because the water looks and tastes fine.
Buying treatment equipment before getting a lab result.
Skipping the retest after an unexpected result.
Forgetting to test after a flood.
Letting chemicals or fuel sit near the wellhead.

What this guide does not cover

This article does not cover Georgia well construction, permitting or licensing rules, or any state health standards. Not verified: any specific Georgia Environmental Protection Division requirements for private wells. Check with the state and your county before drilling or modifying a well.

[AD_SLOT]

Request a quote

Tell us your location, how the water behaves, and any lab results you have. We will pass your request to well and pump suppliers who can help.

[QUOTE_BUTTON]

General information only. Not legal, health or engineering advice. Have a licensed well contractor and a certified lab confirm any decision about your well.