Why assess the quality of water from domestic wells?
Domestic wells are an important source of water supply in the United States. They supply 15 percent of the U.S. population, or more than 43 million people with drinking water. These wells are the primary source of drinking water in many rural areas. Although a key component of our National water supply, domestic wells are not regulated by the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act nor, in most cases, by State or local laws after the wells are installed. The lack of regular monitoring of domestic wells makes assessments such as the present study important tools for understanding the potential health effects of contaminants in this drinking-water supply source.
