Wells may experience many issues, and some are fairly common. This page is to provide technical assistance to those experiencing one of the following problems with their well:
- The well was flooded
- Bacteria in the water need to be treated (chlorination)
- The well is old, and the casing might be breaking down
- There is sediment in my water,
- We need help understanding our test results and what to do about them
My well was flooded
If your well has been flooded, there is a risk of electrical shock and damage to your well or pump, and flood waters may have contaminated your well.
If your well has been flooded, Wake County recommends that you do not drink the water from your well until the well has been disinfected and tested for coliform bacteria.
It is best to have a registered well contractor inspect and disinfect the well following a flood event (see "Find a well contractor" below).
If it is not possible to have a registered well contractor inspect and disinfect the well; follow the guidance in this document issued by the Environmental Protection Agency.
You can find additional information regarding well disinfection and well water testing at the links below.
If you have questions please feel free to contact any of our staff.
My well is contaminated with bacteria
If your well is contaminated with bacteria it should be disinfected. Your can do this yourself following the instructions provided here, or you can hire a contractor to do it for you (see "Find a well contractor" below).
My water has a lot more sediment than it used to
You should talk to a registered well contractor. See the link below.
My well is old and I wonder if the casing is ok
You should talk to a registered well contractor. See the link below.
Do I need to abandon my old well?
Wake County Environmental Services encourages any property owner with a well that is no longer in use to properly plug it to protect water quality and to prevent injuries or worse.
If you have taken an old well out of service and don't have a specific plan for how you will use it in the future, it is best to go ahead and plug the well now to prevent future problems.
A homeowner may legally abandon a well on their own property, but the process is often more complex than most homeowners expect. We encourage you to hire a certified well contractor so that your well abandonment can be done efficiently and without complications. A certified well contractor will be experienced and equipped to handle complications that often arise in plugging a well. See the link below.
Regardless of who does the work, state rules governing well abandonment must be followed to protect water quality and ensure a safe abandonment. To ensure safety and protection of water quality, well abandonment requires a permit from Wake County and an inspection by the county during the abandonment process. There is no cost for the permit or inspection.
I need help understanding our test results and what to do about them
Refer to the Understanding Test Results page
Find a well contractor
All persons, firms or corporations engaging in well contractor activities involving wells for irrigation, private or semi-public domestic use, as well as for geothermal heat exchange injection wells in Wake County shall register annually with the Department as per Section III of the Regulations Governing Well Construction and Groundwater Protection In Wake County.
For a list of well contractors registered in Wake County, click here.