The California Groundwater Association, or CGA, is urging all private well owners impacted by drought to have their systems inspected and water levels tested as we enter the summer months.

Drought impacts both the productivity of a water well and its water quality. Because of this, it is important that well owners take proper steps to ensure their systems are operating safely and efficiently as we continue to experience drought conditions across the country.

Well owners should consider taking the following steps:

• Have your water well inspected by a certified water well contractor. Wells that are not operating correctly will waste water and are more likely to completely fail during prolonged periods of drought. An inspection can help locate current and potential problems with a system before they become serious issues.
• Test your well water. There has been growing evidence that lower water tables, deeper wells, and extreme drought have led to higher levels of contaminants in groundwater. These contaminants can typically be easily identified and treated with a simple water quality test.
• Test your water levels. Declining water levels can impact not only the mechanics of your well but also water quality. A simple water level test can help determine what service may or may not be needed.
• Conserve water, fix leaks, and utilize water-efficient technology. By properly conserving water, fixing leaks, and utilizing more efficient water technology, you can help ensure your water levels remain healthy for you and your neighbors.
• Don’t delay! Due to ongoing drought, supply chain issues, and national labor shortages — well owners are seeing longer than usual wait times for service. If it has been more than a year since your last water well inspection, we urge well owners to reach out today to a certified contractor.

For more information on maintaining water wells during drought, you can visit www.wellowner.org/drought.

WellOwner.org is operated by NGWA with assistance from the Rural Community Assistance Partnership and offers tip sheets on well maintenance and a “Find A Contractor” page which allows the public to find water well contractors in their area.