drinking water overview
Drinking water comes from public or domestic sources. Public sources include Group A systems (serving more than 15 connections) or Group B systems (serving fewer than 15 connections and fewer than 25 people per day). Group A and Group B systems are regulated through Washington State Department of Health. A domestic source is a single well serving up to 2 residential connections and regulated through the Washington State Department of Ecology. A domestic well is exempt from establishing a water right, but is not exempt from ensuring safe, legal access to groundwater and withdraw regulation. If you are establishing a new drinking water source, visit our Land Development page to ensure you are pursuing the correct source for your project.
The EPA identifies contaminants regulated in public drinking water to protect public health. These contaminant standards are required by the Safe Drinking Water Act. To view public drinking water standards, visit the EPA's website. If you are on a public water supply, contact your water operator for the most recent Consumer Confidence Reports. Water quality standards for domestic wells are still of concern, but regulation is limited. In Whitman County, when establishing a new development, testing for Nitrate and Total Coliform are required for Land Development reviews.
The EPA identifies contaminants regulated in public drinking water to protect public health. These contaminant standards are required by the Safe Drinking Water Act. To view public drinking water standards, visit the EPA's website. If you are on a public water supply, contact your water operator for the most recent Consumer Confidence Reports. Water quality standards for domestic wells are still of concern, but regulation is limited. In Whitman County, when establishing a new development, testing for Nitrate and Total Coliform are required for Land Development reviews.
domestic wells
drillLooking to establish a domestic well on your property? Visit the Department of Ecology for well construction and licensing. Visit our Land Development page for information about how your well construction ties to your review process. Contact us to discuss the setbacks associated with septic systems. Here is additional Private Well Information.
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testTesting of domestic wells is required under Land Development Review processes. Ongoing testing of domestic wells is encouraged for property owners, even when not required. Nitrate and Total Coliform are the contaminants of concern in Whitman County. Submit your tests to a certified water testing laboratory. Once results are received, send us a copy for review.
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disinfectIf your water tests results for Nitrate or Total Coliform exceed state standards, it is recommended you disinfect your well and retest. General well disinfection can vary based on the contaminant and surrounding area. Basic "shocking" techniques are often used before retesting for total coliform. Be sure to follow proper protocols when sampling your drinking water.
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