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Water Well Information for Home Owners

How safe is your well?

​​​​​​​​​​​​​Homeowners who use private wells or cisterns as their source of drinking water should have the water tested annually. Water quality in private wells is not regulated by the EPA or the state. Homeowners who use private wells or cisterns need to contact a certified lab to have the water tested for bacteria and other contaminants, such as nitrates.

The EPA does not regulate private wells for drinking water, but does offer helpful information. The CDC also offers guidance on maintenance, testing, treatment, and more.​​​

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Properly constructed and maintained water wells help ensure that safe, potable water is supplied. All work performed on a well must be performed by a Kentucky Certified Water Well Driller. Please consult the Well Driller Locator or Driller Directory for your nearest driller.

Private water well owners should be aware of land-use practices and potential sources of contamination adjacent to their wells, which could have an impact on groundwater quality. These may include the application of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers to crops and lawns, animal grazing and feeding operations, illegal dumps (such as in a sinkhole) and improperly constructed or maintained septic systems. In addition, some naturally occurring chemicals, such as iron and manganese, can degrade water quality. Technical Assistance is available for well owners on the best ways to maintain their well and provide advice on common water quality problems. Additionally, the cabinet's generic Groundwater Protection Plan for Private Water Well Owners contains many additional ways to protect your well and well water.

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If your well is located in a low-lying area prone to flooding, you should consider having a certified water well driller raise the well casing to at least 12 inches above the historic record flood level, properly sealing the wiring conduit, and providing casing bump protection if floating debris is a concern. Another option is to construct a new well at a location outside the flood-prone area.

If you live in an area that was recently flooded, your private water well may be at risk.

  • Do not drink or wash with your well water.
    You could get sick from contaminants washed into the well by the flood.

  • Do not turn on the well pump.
    There is a danger of electrical shock and damage to your well or pump if they were flooded.

  • Do contact a certified water well driller, your local health department and/or the Division of Water.
    These can help in dealing with the impacts of the flood on your water quality and well system.

  • Do have stored water available.
    An average family of four uses 400 gallons of water each day for all indoor purposes, from drinking to washing clothes, and preparing meals. For an emergency, it is recommended to store at least one gallon per person per day for at least three days, mainly to provide water for drinking and flushing toilets manually.

  • Do disinfect your water well.
    Disinfection is necessary to destroy unhealthy bacteria and microorganisms.

  • Do have your water supply well tested.
    Your well water should be tested by a certified drinking water laboratory for bacteria and other potential contaminants before resuming normal use.

More information on managing your flooded private domestic water supply well:

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Private water wells are an important source of water for domestic use, livestock and irrigation. Water quality and its effect on human health, livestock and crops is a major concern.

Construction, modification, and abandonment of wells in Kentucky must be done by a Kentucky Certified (Water) Well Driller.

In Kentucky, there are no permitting applications or fees for constructing or abandoning a water well required of the property owner. You can find a driller certified to drill water or monitoring wells on our Well Driller Locator or Driller Directory. Your certified water well driller will complete and submit the required documentation for your water well and supply you with a copy of these documents within sixty days of completing your well.

In 2015, the video Abandoned Wells: A Guide for Kentucky Landowners​ was created to discuss the regulation, direct viewers to the then-current web location of the Drillers Certification Program forms and information, and to show a driller properly plugging a well. The video is still relevant today, but please note that the web location of the Drillers Certification Program is now https://eec.ky.gov/Environmental-Protection/Water/GW/Pages/GWDrillers.aspx​

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Division of Compliance Assistance

Assists businesses and individuals in navigating environmental regulatory processes and works closely with landowners and municipalities to return brownfield areas to productive uses.

Division of Environmental Services

Regulates pesticide, herbicide and fungicide application and usage in Kentucky.

Division of Mine Reclamation and Enforcement​

Regulates groundwater issues related to surface and underground mining.

Division of Oil and Gas

Regulates oil and gas well construction to help protect groundwater and the environment.

Division of Waste Management, Hazardous Waste Branch

Regulates facilities that handle or generate hazardous waste.

Division of Waste Management, Solid Waste Branch​

Regulates current landfills, land application sites and closure of pre-law dumps.

Division of Waste Management, Superfund Branch

Regulates older, pre-law sites on both private and federal lands as well as cleanup from leaks and spills from aboveground petroleum storage tanks and petroleum pipelines.

Division of Waste Management, Underground Storage Tank Branch​

Regulates below-ground tanks and cleanup related to leaks from underground tanks

Division of Waste Management, Voluntary Cleanup Program

Assists property owners with the voluntary remediation of their on-site contamination.

Kentucky Geological Survey​

Maintains online searchable well and spring information databases as well as a searchable geologic and hydrologic publications database.

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Groundwater Data

Groundwater data collected across Kentucky are available through several viewers and databases. These resources provide access to ambient monitoring results, well records, and karst investigations allowing users to explore groundwater quality, location, and hydrogeologic conditions statewide. Whether you are a researcher, regulator, consultant, or member of the public, the viewers and portals below offer multiple ways to search, visualize, and download groundwater information to meet your needs.​

Ambient Groundwater Monitoring Network (GWMN) Viewer

  • The Kentucky Division of Water has systematically sampled ambient groundwater for more than 20 years through its statewide monitoring network.

  • Explore sampling locations and analytical results from the GWMN using an interactive map.

Kentucky Groundwater Data Repository

Kentucky Karst Dye Trace Database

  • Dye trace studies and maps provide groundwater flow information in karst terrane areas. Find downloadable dye trace maps and study data on the UKnowledge portal.

KYGovMaps Open Data Portal

  • Search the Open Data Portal using keywords "DOW," "groundwater," or "karst" for various downloadable GIS datasets and map services related to groundwater resources.

Well Record Information Map

  • This interactive map is maintained to provide well drillers with the location information they need to submit a well record to the Kentucky Division of Water. After clicking on a location of interest a pop-up window provides the quadrangle, county, region and elevation. The map is also useful for viewing the number of wells present within a site of interest.

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​For more information contact:

Adam Smith
Groundwater Section Supervisor
502-782-6453

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Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet
300 Sower Blvd
Frankfort, KY 40601    

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