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Notice to Readers: Ground Water Awareness Week --- March 9--15, 2008
Approximately 40%--45% of persons in the United States depend on ground water for their drinking water supply
(1--3), and approximately 15% use their own private wells
(2). Each year, the National Ground Water Association
sponsors Ground Water Awareness Week to stress the
importance of protecting ground water and to focus attention on annual
private well maintenance and water testing
(4). This year, Ground Water Awareness Week is March 9--15.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requirements that protect public drinking-water systems do not apply
to privately owned wells (2). Owners of private wells are responsible for ensuring that their well water is safe
from contaminants of health concern. Certain contaminants, such as arsenic and radon, can occur naturally in
the environment, and their concentration in well water depends highly on the geology of the land around the well
(5--8). Other contaminants, such as nitrate, are the result of pollutants from local land use (e.g., application of
agricultural fertilizer and runoff from animal feedlots) and problems with nearby wastewater systems.
Private wells should be checked and tested every year for mechanical problems, cleanliness, and the presence of
certain contaminants, such as coliform bacteria, nitrates and nitrites, and any other contaminants of local concern, such
as arsenic and radon (9--10). A water well systems professional can take steps to ensure delivery of high-quality
water from an existing well or, if needed, locate and construct a new well in a safer area.
Well water should be tested more frequently if recurrent incidents of gastrointestinal illness have occurred
among household members or a change in the taste, odor, or
appearance of the well water has been observed.
Additional information about Ground Water Awareness Week, well maintenance, and water testing is available at
http://www.wellowner.org and
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/healthywater/privatewell.htm.
References
US Census Bureau. Annual estimates of the population for the United States, regions, and states and for Puerto Rico: April 1, 2000 to July 1,
2007 (NST-EST2007-01). Washington, DC: US Census Bureau; 2008. Available at
http://www.census.gov/popest/states/NST-ann-est.html.
National Ground Water Association. National Ground Water Awareness Week: March 9--15, 2008. Westerville, OH: National Ground
Water Association; 2008. Available at
http://www.ngwa.org/public/awarenessweek/index.aspx.
National Ground Water Association. Schedule your annual water well check up. Westerville, OH: National Ground Water Association;
2008. Available at http://www.wellowner.org/awellmaintenance/annualcheckup.shtml.
Use of trade names and commercial sources is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services.References to non-CDC sites on the Internet are
provided as a service to MMWR readers and do not constitute or imply
endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services. CDC is not responsible for the content
of pages found at these sites. URL addresses listed in MMWR were current as of
the date of publication.
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