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Water sourced from private wells is not regulated, treated, or monitored by public health officials. As a well owner, it is your responsibility to make sure your private well water is safe.
Boulder County Public Health (BCPH) supports well owners by providing resources and guidance to help ensure that your well water meets safety standards. Regular testing, maintenance, and proper management of your well are essential to protect your health and the health of those who rely on it.
The Colorado Division of Water Resources is the state agency responsible for permitting and regulating the construction of wells in Colorado. For more information about well permitting and construction, visit:
Private well stewardship is the practice of actively managing and maintaining your well to ensure the safety of your drinking water supply. Well stewardship practices involve routine water quality testing, regular well maintenance, and taking the necessary steps to treat water if contaminants are detected.
The following resources are intended to educate and support well owners in the proper management and stewardship of their wells.
Routine water quality testing is one of the most essential actions you can take to ensure your well water is safe. Many possible contaminants are odorless, tasteless, and invisible to the human eye. The only way to make sure your well water is free of harmful contaminants is through routine water quality testing. Annual testing helps identify potential risks early, thereby protecting the health of you and your household.
The Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) recommends baseline water quality testing for wells with no previous testing history, including for:
After obtaining an initial baseline, it is recommended that you test annually for a minimum of coliform bacteria, nitrates, and nitrites. You may also consider specific conditions or nearby land use activities as reasons to conduct contaminant-specific testing.
See the table below for some possible recommendations:
| Conditions or Nearby Activities | Test for: |
|---|---|
| Recurring gastro-intestinal illness | Coliform bacteria |
| Household plumbing or service lines that contain lead | pH, lead, copper |
| Radon in indoor air or region is radon rich | Radon |
| Corrosion of pipes, plumbing | Corrosion, pH, lead |
| Nearby areas of intensive agriculture | Nitrate, nitrite, pesticides, coliform bacteria |
| Coal or other mining operations nearby | Metals, pH, corrosion |
| Gas drilling operations nearby | Chloride, sodium, barium, strontium |
| Dump, junkyard, landfill, factory, gas station, or dry-cleaning operation nearby | Volatile organic compounds, total dissolved solids, pH, sulfate, chloride metals |
| Odor of gasoline or fuel oil, and near a gas station or buried fuel tanks | Volatile organic compounds |
| Objectionable taste or smell | Hydrogen sulfide, corrosion, metals |
| Stained plumbing fixtures, laundry | Iron, copper, manganese |
| Salty taste and seawater, or a heavily salted roadway nearby | Chloride, total dissolved solids, sodium |
| Scaly residues, soaps don't lather | Manganese, iron |
| Water appears cloudy, frothy, or colored | Color, detergents |
Well owners in Colorado have various options available for drinking water testing. The State Public Health Laboratory offers testing services. Additionally, the state provides a list of private laboratories certified to test drinking water. Please note that not all labs offer the same testing services, and testing fees may apply.
If contamination exceeds EPA guidelines, take action to address the quality of your drinking water.
