title: Water quality and management of private drinking water wells in Pennsylvania.
abstract: Pennsylvania has over three million rural residents using private water wells for drinking water supplies but is one of the few states that lack statewide water well construction or management standards. The study described in this article aimed to determine the prevalence and causes of common health-based pollutants in water wells and evaluate the need for regulatory management along with voluntary educational programs. Water samples were collected throughout Pennsylvania by Master Well Owner Network volunteers trained by Penn State Extension. Approximately 40% of the 701 water wells sampled failed at least one health-based drinking water standard. The prevalence of most water quality problems was similar to past studies although both lead and nitrate-N were reduced over the last 20 years. The authors' study suggests that statewide water well construction standards along with routine water testing and educational programs to assist water well owners would result in improved drinking water quality for private well owners in Pennsylvania.
authors: The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, University Park, PA 16802, USA. brs@psu.edu
authors: Bryan R
authors: BR
authors: Swistock
authors: Stephanie
authors: S
authors: Clemens
authors: William E
authors: WE
authors: Sharpe
authors: Shawn
authors: S
authors: Rummel
mesh_terms: D002028:Building Codes; D060766:Drinking Water; D006801:Humans; D009566:Nitrates / Q000032:analysis; D010414:Pennsylvania; D015995:Prevalence; D011640:Public Policy; D012423:Rural Health; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis; D060753:Water Quality / Q000592:standards*; D014881:Water Supply / Q000592:standards; D060986:Water Wells
chemical_list: D060766:Drinking Water; D009566:Nitrates; D014873:Water Pollutants; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical