Private Wells

If you get your water from a private source, such as a well or spring, you are responsible for ensuring that your drinking water is safe.

You are the regulator, inspector, maintenance manager, accountant and consumer.

The information here can help you with these responsibilities.

• Take the Personal Water Systems Check-Up
• Do It Yourself Drinking Well Assessment (pdf)

OSU Extension Service Publications

• 12 Simple Things You Can Do to Protect Your Well Water / Doce pasos sencillos para proteger su agua de pozo (OSU Extension Service)

• Keeping Your Well Water Well/Agua limpia en su Pozo (OSU Extension Service)

Well log

Locate a copy of your well log. This is the drilling report for your well.

Well logs provide information on geologic formations encountered in a well and list details concerning well design, construction and yields. The Water Resources Department (WRD) has drilling records of most water wells drilled in Oregon since 1955.

• If there is a copy of your well log, you can find it using the WRD's search program called GRID.
• You may also contact your local Watermaster for a copy of well logs and for help interpreting the information.
• Contact a well contractor licensed by the WRD if you need to have work done on your well. Browse the list for someone located near you.

OSU Extension Service information

Learn more about wells and groundwater on the OSU Extension website:

• Landscape Maintenance to Conserve Water (OSU Extension Service)
• Conserving Water in Your Yard and Garden (OSU Extension Service)

More information

Visit these additional websites for more information:

• Information for Private Well Owners (U.S. EPA)
• A Consumer's Guide to Water Well Construction, Maintenance, and Abandonment (Oregon Water Resources Deparment)
• Wellcare Hotline (Water Systems Council)
• Search DEQ's Water Quality Database about groundwater conditions in your area.