Key points
- If your well water contains harmful germs or chemicals, do not drink it until it is treated to remove the germs or chemicals.
- Contact your health department or a well water contractor to help you decide the best treatment option for your water.
Why it's important
Well water containing harmful germs or chemicals can make you sick. Treating your well water to remove the germs or chemicals can make it safe to drink.
Steps to take
Treating well water
Consider treating your well water if you want to:
- Remove specific germs or chemicals
- Take extra precautions against diseases spread through water because you or someone you live with has a weakened immune system
- Improve the taste of your water
Contact your health department or a well water contractor to help you determine the best treatment option for your water. You can find out if your well water contains harmful germs or chemicals by testing it.
Home water treatment systems
You may consider a home water treatment system to remove germs or chemicals from your well water. These systems usually treat water by filtering it, distilling it, or disinfecting it. No single treatment type will protect against all problems.
If you decide to get a home water treatment system, first check to make sure the system removes the type of germ or chemical you are concerned about.
Emergency situations
If your well is contaminated
If your well is contaminated, treat the water to remove the harmful germs or chemicals. Then, test the water to make sure the treatment worked before drinking or using it.
Contaminated with germs
If you cannot use bottled water or another safe source of water while you are having your well water treated, boil your well water before drinking it. Boiling water kills germs in water. Follow boil water advisory guidelines to reduce your chance of getting sick from germs in the water.
Contaminated with chemicals
If your well water is contaminated with chemicals, do not drink or use the water for any purpose. Swallowing, touching, or having other contact with water contaminated with chemicals could be dangerous. Wait to use the water until it has been treated to remove the chemicals. Boiling will not remove chemicals from water.