AN ACT PROTECTING DRINKING WATER QUALITY IN PRIVATE WELLS
Senate Bill Sponsored by Senator Eldridge. House Bill Sponsored by Representative Blais and Representative Kilcoyne.
ABOUT THE LEGISLATION
An Act Protecting Drinking Water Quality in Private Wells (bill numbers S.585/H.900) aims to provide protections for households who rely on private wells for their drinking water. This bill would enable the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) to develop a set of health-based regulations which would provide statewide water quality standards for private drinking water wells.
The legislation would grant MassDEP clear authority to establish standards and define testing requirements for new and existing wells to ensure effective implementation. Upon sale of a home, a private well used for drinking water would have to pass a test for the transaction to be completed (similar to the state’s Title 5 septic system regulations).
In addition, the state would make resources available to assist eligible homeowners with the cost of well water upgrades.
WHAT THIS LEGISLATION WILL AND WILL NOT DO
THIS ACT WILL:
- Authorize MassDEP to develop health-based regulations to ensure private well water is safe to consume.
- Grant MassDEP clear authority to establish standards and define testing requirements for new and existing wells to ensure effective implementation.
- Upon the sale of a home, a private well used for drinking water would require disclosure of testing results – similar to the state’s Title 5 septic system regulations, which are widely accepted as essential protections for environmental and public health.
- The state would make resources available to assist eligible homeowners with the cost of well water upgrades.
THIS ACT WILL NOT:
- Impose an undue burden on homeowners. There will be efforts to proactively educate homeowners, address lab testing capacity, and develop strategies to mitigate paperwork for homeowners and health agents.