Promoting private well safety during source water protection week

DES MOINES — The Iowa Source Water Protection Program and the Iowa Source Water Agricultural Collaborative are partnering with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services for Source Water Protection Week Sept. 28 through Oct. 4.

The organizations hope to raise awareness about the importance of protecting Iowa’s drinking water and the resources available to private well owners through the Private Well Grants Program.

Safe drinking water is essential for healthy families and strong communities. While public water systems are regularly tested and regulated, thousands of Iowans rely on private wells as their main source of drinking water.

Unlike public systems, these wells are not subject to routine monitoring, which means the responsibility for ensuring water quality falls directly on the well owner. Without regular testing and proper maintenance wells can be vulnerable to contamination, potentially putting households at risk.

The Private Well Grants Program was created to help ease the financial burden of maintaining and protecting private wells. The program provides funding to assist well owners with the cost of testing their water for bacteria, nitrate and other potential contaminants.

It also offers support for repairing or reconstructing wells that are no longer in good condition, helping ensure that they remain a safe and reliable source of water.

The program also provides assistance for closing abandoned or unused wells. These wells, if left open, can act as direct channels for pollutants to enter groundwater, threatening not only individual households but other communities that may be using that aquifer.

Protecting Iowa’s drinking water sources requires both statewide efforts and individual action. When private well owners take proactive steps to test, maintain or properly close wells, they contribute to a healthier environment and stronger water security for their communities and the state as a whole.

Private well owners who want to learn more about the Private Well Grants Program can learn more at iowasourcewater.org or by contacting their county sanitarians.