Percentage of phone calls fielded where technical assistance was provided to educate private well owners on testing their private well.
Current Value
19
Definition
Story Behind the Curve
These data are current as of February 2019.
Partners
Local Health Departments - distribute educational materials developed by DPH to local residents with private well questions.
Public - Homeowners with private wells that are seeking information on what to test for, when to test, and how frequently to test.
Department of Public Health Private Well Program - In conjunction with the Deparment of Public Health Environmental and Occupational Health Assessment program, both programs develop and distribute educational material to the public on private well testing. The Private Well Program provides technical assistance to private well owners on understanding test results and best available treatment technologies for treatment of arsenic.
Department of Public Health Environmental and Occupational Health Assessment Program - In conjunction with the Deparment of Public Health Private Well Program, both programs develop and distribute educational material to the public on private well testing. Perform assessments of the risks to human health posed by exposure to arsenic and develops recommendations and educational materials for reducing potentially harmful exposures. The Environmental and Occupational Health Assessment Program performs assessments of the risks to human health posed by exposure to contaminants and develops recommendations and educational materials for reducing potentially harmful exposures.
What Works
Homeowners with private wells typically do not perform routine testing of their wells; therefore the water quality most homeowners are consuming is unknown. The United States Environmental Protection Agency and Connecticut Department of Public Health recommend private wells be tested at least annual for basic indicators. More information on private well testing in Connecticut can be found in Private Well Publication #24: http://www.ct.gov/dph/lib/dph/environmental_health/eoha/pdf/24_residential_drinking_water_well_testing.pdf
Action Plan
The Department of Public Health provides educational information to the general public to increase the awareness of the importance of private well testing so they are knowledgeable of the water quality they are drinking.