A private well is a small water utility that you run. Most of the work is simple and seasonal; a few tasks need a licensed professional. This checklist combines guidance from the National Ground Water Association (NGWA), EPA, the CDC and Penn State Extension. Print it and keep it with your well records.
What should you do for your well every year?
- Test the water for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids and pH, plus local concerns. CDC: Guidelines for Testing Well Water See private well water testing.
- Book a professional checkup. NGWA recommends an annual well maintenance check including a bacterial test. NGWA (Wellowner.org): Homeowner's Maintenance Checklist
- Spring look-over. The CDC suggests checking the well every spring for mechanical problems.
What does an annual well inspection include?
NGWA describes an annual checkup that includes: NGWA (Wellowner.org): Annual Water Well Inspection [NGWA-ANNUAL source note]
| Item | What is checked |
|---|---|
| Flow test | System output, with the water level before and during pumping where possible |
| Pump motor | Performance, amp load, grounding and line voltage |
| Pressure system | Pressure tank and pressure switch contacts |
| Equipment | Sanitary condition and local code compliance |
| Water test | Coliform bacteria, nitrates and anything of local concern |
| Report | A concise written report delivered to you |
Penn State Extension takes a different interval, suggesting a contractor inspection every ten years alongside annual water testing. Penn State Extension: Water Well Maintenance and Rehabilitation Whatever interval you choose, don't skip the yearly water test. [PSU-REHAB source note]
What water well maintenance can owners do themselves?
From NGWA's homeowner checklist and EPA guidance: NGWA (Wellowner.org): Homeowner's Maintenance Checklist EPA: Protect Your Home's Water [NGWA-CHECKLIST source note] [EPA-PROTECT source note]
- Well cap in good repair and securely attached
- Casing free of cracks, corrosion or damage
- Surface seal not settling or cracked
- Well top at least a foot above ground, soil sloped away for drainage
- Paint, fertilizer, pesticides, motor oil and fuel kept far from the well
- Hoses kept out of chemical tanks and mixing containers to prevent backsiphonage
- Care taken when mowing or working near the well
- Snow, leaves and debris kept away from the wellhead
- Required distances maintained from buildings, septic systems and chemical storage
- Fuel tanks, above and below ground, checked for leaks
What are the warning signs of a well problem?
Note any change in the well, its surroundings or the water. Penn State Extension lists decreased pumping rate, decreased water level, decreased specific capacity and increased sand or sediment as signs of trouble. Penn State Extension: Water Well Maintenance and Rehabilitation See signs your well is running dry. [PSU-REHAB source note]
Seasonal well care
| Season | Task |
|---|---|
| Spring | Water test; look over the cap, casing and grading after winter; CDC suggests a spring mechanical check |
| Summer | Watch for pressure or flow changes in dry spells; conserve during drought |
| Fall | Clear leaves and debris from around the wellhead; check that the cap is secure before winter |
| Winter | Keep snow piles and de-icing chemicals away from the wellhead; protect exposed pipes from freezing |
Source for the spring check: CDC: Guidelines for Testing Well Water. Keep the casing visible and accessible all year so a contractor can reach it. For pump and tank planning, see planning a pump for a new well. [CDC-TEST source note]
Keep the records
Store construction reports, maintenance records and water test results in a safe place, and record disinfection or sediment removal. These records show trends, help any contractor diagnose problems, and matter when you sell the property.
After a flood
Stay away from the pump while it is flooded to avoid electric shock, don't drink or wash with the water, and have a contractor clean and disinfect the well before turning the pump back on. EPA: Protect Your Home's Water Then test the water. [EPA-PROTECT source note]
Owner vs. professional: who does what
| Task | Owner | Licensed professional |
|---|---|---|
| Annual water sample | Collect with lab bottles | Lab analyzes |
| Cap, casing and grading check | Look and note problems | Repair casing, seals and caps |
| Pressure and flow changes | Notice and record | Diagnose pump, switch, tank or well |
| Disinfection | Only by official instructions, if at all | Recommended, especially after repairs or floods |
| Yield and water level test | — | Measures static level, drawdown and recovery |
| Electrical and pump work | — | Always |
NGWA's checklist recommends using licensed or certified water well professionals when a well is built, a pump is installed or the system is serviced. NGWA (Wellowner.org): Homeowner's Maintenance Checklist If anything looks wrong, start with signs your well is running dry or the test results guide. [NGWA-CHECKLIST source note]
Plan for the long term
Pumps, tanks and wells wear out on different schedules; see how long water wells last. Any well you stop using must be properly decommissioned by a qualified contractor.
Common questions
How often should a well be inspected?
NGWA recommends that wells be evaluated annually by a licensed or certified water well professional. Penn State Extension suggests a contractor inspection about every ten years alongside yearly water testing. Annual water testing is recommended by both.
What can I check myself?
The cap and its seal, the casing for cracks or corrosion, the height of the casing above ground, drainage around the wellhead, anything stored near the well, and changes in water pressure, flow, taste, color or smell.
Should I shock chlorinate my well every year?
Routine shock chlorination isn't part of the CDC or EPA annual recommendations. Disinfection is typically done when a test shows bacteria, after repairs or flooding, or as a contractor advises, then followed by a retest.
What records should I keep?
The well log or construction report, yield test results, pump and tank installation details, every water test, and records of repairs, disinfection or sediment removal.
How much does an annual well inspection cost?
It varies by region and scope, so ask for an itemized quote that lists the flow test, electrical checks, pressure tank check, water tests and written report. Comparing scope matters more than comparing prices.
Sources & claim context
Citations mark where guidance is grounded. They are general resources dated on retrieval, not guarantees for any property, project, price, licensure, permit or yield. No expert, attorney or reviewer signoff is claimed by this site.
EPA: Private Wells · EPA · accessed 2026-10-10
https://www.epa.gov/privatewells
Does not specify local testing/permit rules or guarantee safety
CDC: Guidelines for Testing Well Water · CDC · accessed 2026-10-10
https://www.cdc.gov/drinking-water/safety/guidelines-for-testing-well-water.html
General guidance; local health departments may recommend more tests
EPA: Protect Your Home's Water · EPA · accessed 2026-10-10
https://www.epa.gov/privatewells/protect-your-homes-water
No setback distances or local rules; owners responsible for private wells
Penn State Extension: Water Well Maintenance and Rehabilitation · Penn State Extension · accessed 2026-10-10
https://extension.psu.edu/water-well-maintenance-and-rehabilitation
Inspection-interval advice differs from NGWA annual recommendation
NGWA (Wellowner.org): Homeowner's Maintenance Checklist · NGWA · accessed 2026-10-10
https://wellowner.org/resources/water-well-maintenance/homeowners-well-maintenance-checklist/
Industry guidance; local code governs construction
NGWA (Wellowner.org): Annual Water Well Inspection · NGWA · accessed 2026-10-10
https://wellowner.org/resources/water-well-maintenance/annual-inspection/
Does not state cost; scope varies by contractor
Claims are grounded in the dated source notes above; project-specific price, yield, licensure and permit answers require site-specific and local verification.