FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

This legislation does not specify details about contaminants, testing requirements, and reporting. MassDEP would develop the regulations, likely with input from drinking water experts, stakeholders, and the general public.

Currently, MassDEP can only issue recommendations for private wells, and only local Boards of Health (BOH) have the authority to establish regulations, many of which are outdated or nonexistent. MassDEP released model BOH regulations for private wells in 2018 but have not been widely adopted. This legislation would be the first step in achieving uniform statewide private well regulations to protect public health.

No. There will be efforts to educate homeowners and identify financial assistance for eligible homeowners.

The cost of remediating a private well will vary depending on various factors. Between 2021 and 2022, RCAP Solutions conducted nearly 500 private well water tests across Massachusetts. Two-thirds of well owners who decided to repair their wells within a year of the test did so for less than $500. No wells in our study incurred more than $5,000 in repairs.

Empower yourself as a private well owner by testing your well water following MassDEP established Private Well Guidelines and entering those results into the tool, “Be Well Informed”.  This proactive step puts you in control, allowing you to follow the guidance for any necessary remediation.

YES! The Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project (SERCAP)’s Individual Household Well & Septic Loan products, which are underwritten by USDA Rural Development, provide low-interest (1%) loans to eligible Low-to-Moderate Income (LMI) homeowners for the repair or replacement of an individual household well or septic system.

SERCAP has partnered with RCAP Solutions to make this program available to homeowners in RCAP Solutions’ service area; Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In addition, the program is offered in SERCAP’s service area; Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.

Click here for more information about the program, including the online application.

From 2020 to 2022, RCAP Solutions conducted 502 water quality tests across several Massachusetts towns which had a high concentration of private wells. We discovered that approximately 32% of wells had levels of contaminants exceeding state health standards and/or suggesting potential health risks. Click here to view a complete summary of our findings.

In addition, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection’s recent Private Wells PFAS Sampling Program found that approximately 5% of wells had levels of PFAS exceeding state health standards.

Massachusetts Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) are a set of guidance levels for various contaminants that could potentially be found in drinking water. These levels are based on U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) federal standards for drinking water, though MassDEP has adopted more stringent standards in some cases.

There are several potential health problems that can occur if contaminated water is consumed. In addition, contaminants may impact the aesthetic of drinking water (e.g., taste, color, odor) or a home’s infrastructure.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of thousands of synthetic chemicals used to make products resistant to water, heat, and stains. Often referred to as “forever chemicals”, there is growing concern that PFAS in drinking water can have negative health impacts.

The ongoing MassDEP PFAS Private Well Testing Program has found that ~5% of private wells tested across Massachusetts have PFAS exceeding state health standards.

Residents who live in municipalities with public water systems or with local private well regulations are more likely to have access to safe drinking water than residents who don’t.

Many people who discover contaminants in their wells resort to drinking bottled water, which is expensive. Plastic also harms the environment; 80% of plastic water bottles used in the United States end up in landfills.

Several other states (including Oregon, Rhode Island, and New Jersey) have sensible, health-based regulations for private wells. These states require private well water to be tested for contaminants upon sale or transfer of a home. In addition, property owners must disclose the results of the well water test prior to the sale or transfer. Let’s add Massachusetts, with its 500,000 private wells, to the list!

We encourage Coalition members to submit written testimony and to make phone calls to legislators, post on social media (using the hashtag #WhatsInYourWellWater), and include information about these efforts on your blog and in your newsletter. Visit the “Join the Coalition and Stay Involved” page for pre-written content and graphics. In addition, Coalition members may be asked to provide written or oral testimony when a hearing for the proposed legislation is scheduled. We will send updates via email as these hearings are scheduled.

Yes. We host several virtual meetings and in-person events. Coalition members will be invited to attend and participate in these events as much as possible. We also ask that Coalition members share invitations to these events with their networks.

Yes. This Coalition is a collaboration between many individuals and organizations. If you have a connection with a legislator, advocacy group, or the like, you may be asked to help foster a relationship with us.

Yes. By joining the Coalition you agree to allow RCAP Solutions and The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts publish your name and/or organization’s name publicly on our website and on other marketing materials. However, you have the option to not be listed.

Yes. At any time if you feel Coalition membership is not for you, please email Jenna Day to be removed from the Coalition. We will then remove you from our list of members.