University of Georgia
Cooperative Extension
Maintaining Quality
Well Water
Prepared by:
Frank Hancock
Agriculture and Natural Resource Agent
Henry County
What's in Your Well Water?
Is My Water Safe to Drink?
How Did We Get Here?
Why We Are Here?
52% of wells tested were positive for
bacteria
48%
negative
Coliform
bacteria
42%
10%
ecoli
Environmental Health Samples
34% positive for coliform bacteria
Copper exceeds EPA
primary standards in 17%
of wells tested
Above EPA secondary standards
% of wells tested
iron
14%
manganese
13%
22%
copper
RAINFALL TOTALS BY YEAR
ATL
Jan Feb March April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Total
1996 8.26 3.82 6.42 2.91 2.12 1.70 2.14 4.66 4.32 0.89 3.22 4.14 44.60
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1997 5.65 7.93 2.18 4.28 3.36 3.91 4.71 1.32 4.83 5.12 3.34 5.05 51.68
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1998 5.83 7.10 6.25 5.12 1.23 3.58 2.93 5.54 4.45 0.26 1.97 1.90 46.16
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1999 5.34 1.97 3.32 1.14 4.42 5.83 3.43 1.26 4.19 2.41 3.34 2.21 38.86
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2000 4.89 1.26 3.63 2.63 1.86 1.11 2.70 4.03 4.93 0.88 5.02 2.62 35.56
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2001 2.77 3.61 9.08 3.30 3.31 6.69 2.54 1.03 2.19 0.79 0.87 2.22 38.40
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2002 5.35 2.54 5.49 1.83 3.52 2.81 2.59 0.77 6.39 5.94 5.36 5.23 47.82
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2003 2.00 3.51 7.08 3.44 9.94 7.34 5.35 3.48 2.41 1.49 4.17 2.69 52.90
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2004 2.84 4.60 1.04 2.80 2.58 5.99 2.20 3.63 13.65 2.19 7.26 4.82 53.60
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2005 2.57 5.58 7.49 4.36 1.98 2.91 14.63 8.28 0.07 1.98 2.91 3.67 56.43
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2006 5.10 5.50 2.93 2.48 2.86 5.80 1.31 8.66 3.31 3.04 4.39 3.08 48.46
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2007 3.95 2.63 1.31 1.79 2.05 3.66 1.85 3.48 1.19 1.83 1.06 4.35 29.15
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2008 2.61 4.76
30yravg 5.03 4.68 5.38 3.62 3.95 3.63 5.12 3.67 4.09 3.11 4.10 3.82 50.20
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Level Four Drought
Restrictions don’t Bother Me I Have
A Well.
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Stream flows are at an all time low.
The water table is likewise low.
Well users should be more diligent than
anyone to conserve water.
How Do We Use Water?
Water Changes During Drought
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Be aware of any changes in:
Odor
Color
Taste
If changes are noted have water tested.
Who is responsible for the quality of
your well water?
YOU!
Well House
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Protects Pump, Tank, and Electrical
Components. It is not a storage area.
No Pesticides
No Trash Piles
No Fertilizer
No Gasoline
No Lawnmowers
Tree Roots
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Can penetrate well casing
Provide a path for harmful bacteria to enter
the well.
Trees should not be planted close to the
well.
Buffer Zones
50’ Buffer
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Wood Piles
Rock Piles
Trash Piles
Septic Tank
100’ Buffers
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Field Lines
Chicken Coop
Dog Pen
Rabbit Cage
Cow Pasture
Manure Pile (250’)
Out House
250’
100’
100’ Buffers
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Fertilizer storage
Petroleum Products
Pesticide mixing Station
Streams
Termite treated structures
Don’t put anything
around your well
that you don’t want
to drink.
Insects
Chemicals/Trash
Cracked Top /Rat Droppings
Well Checklist
Well Head Protection is a Serious
Issue