Connecticut Private Well Guide

Private Wells in Connecticut

In Connecticut, roughly 23% of residents are served by private wells. Private wells are used when a home is not connected to a public water system (typically in rural areas).

Well Drilling Costs in Connecticut

The total cost to drill a new domestic well in CT varies widely with depth, geology, and components. Typical cost ranges are:

Timeline: From Decision to Drinking Water

A new well project typically takes several weeks to a few months from initial planning to potable water. Roughly 3-12 weeks (often 4-6 weeks) according to Daily Hand Tools.

In practice, drill scheduling and permitting often dominate the calendar. About 1-3 days of actual drilling are needed, but from permit to hookup can span "several weeks." Homeowners should budget 1-3 months before drinking water is fully certified safe.

Permits & Process

Step-by-Step Process

1. Consult a Licensed Driller: Contact a Connecticut-registered water well driller for a site review. They can advise on well depth and placement. (CT DCP requires drillers to hold a valid W-1 license.)
2. Apply for Local Health Permit: Nearly all towns require a well permit from the local health department. The homeowner (often with the driller's help) submits a site plan or plat showing proposed well location and pays the fee. Local health enforces setback rules (e.g., minimum 50-100 ft from septic systems).
3. Drilling and Construction: Once the permit is approved, the driller drills the well bore to the required depth, installs casing, and secures it with grout to prevent collapse. A cap or well seal is placed on top to keep contaminants out.
4. Initial Water Treatment: The new well is chlorinated (shock chlorination) and flushed to disinfect the system. A licensed electrician or the driller connects the pump and, if needed, a pressure tank.
5. Water Quality Testing: After disinfection, collect samples for required tests. By Connecticut regulation, all newly drilled wells must be tested at least once for basic potability parameters (e.g., total coliform bacteria, nitrate). The lab will report results to the homeowner and is mandated to report them to DPH and the local health director if the test is for a real estate transaction.
6. Final Approval: The local health authority reviews the test results and inspection findings. If the water meets Connecticut Action Levels for safety, the health department issues a clearance (often as part of a Certificate of Occupancy). If not, the well must be treated or further disinfected and retested.
7. Completion Reporting: Connecticut law requires the driller to file a Well Completion Report online with the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) and to provide copies to the local health department and homeowner. This report includes the site map, approved permit, GPS location, and construction details.

Permit Requirements (Driller vs Homeowner)

Inspections and Approvals

Connecticut does not perform state-level physical inspections of private wells after drilling; oversight is local:

• Local Health Director: Reviews the site and test results. Per CGS §19a-37 and state code, the health director can require additional tests if contamination is suspected. The health department effectively "approves" the well by allowing occupancy or drinking use after tests pass.
• DCP Reporting: There is no DCP physical inspection, but DCP enforces licensing: only a properly licensed driller may drill. The driller's completion report (uploaded to CT's eLicense system) triggers review and record-keeping by state regulators.
• Certificate of Occupancy: Most towns will not issue a home's certificate of occupancy (CO) until potable well water tests are approved. State law even allows the health department to withhold a CO if water quality is unsafe.

Water Quality

Required Testing (What, When, Who Pays)

Connecticut regulations require initial testing for new wells: the local health department or town must ensure that a newly constructed residential well is tested for basic safety parameters before it is used. Specifically, the Public Health Code (Sec. 19-13-B101) mandates testing of basic indicators (total coliform bacteria, nitrate/nitrite, and other general water quality metrics) for every new well.

Common Contaminants (CT Geology)

Connecticut's diverse geology and land use lead to certain common well-water issues:

Regional Problem Areas

• Historic Orchard Zones (Eastern CT): Studies found wells near former apple orchards (e.g., in Tolland/Windham counties) more likely to contain arsenic. Wells in these areas should be tested and, if high, treated or an alternate source used.
• Agricultural/Fertilized Regions: In productive farming towns, especially in NE Connecticut (Franklin, Thompson) or parts of Fairfield & Litchfield counties, expect nitrates. CT's geological survey and local health departments have noted elevated nitrates in these farm settings.
• Low-lying River Valleys: Some industrial or urban areas (e.g., along the Naugatuck or Farmington Rivers) have higher risk of volatile organics from historical industry; local groundwater mapping may indicate areas of chlorinated solvents or gasoline byproducts.

Treatment Options for Common Issues

• Arsenic: Point-of-entry filtration with adsorptive media (e.g., ferric oxide or alumina) or point-of-use reverse-osmosis (RO) at the kitchen tap (or throughout house) are effective. (RO systems also remove nitrates.)
• Nitrates: RO or specialized anion-exchange resins at the kitchen tap. These systems require regenerant/maintenance. If nitrates are extreme, bottled water or blending with a low-nitrate source may be necessary for drinking.
• Hard Water (Scale): Water softeners (ion-exchange salt based) remove calcium/magnesium. A cheaper option is acid neutralizer (calcite filter) if hardness is mild.
• Iron/Manganese: Greensand filters or oxidizing filters (aeration + filter media) can remove moderate iron/manganese. Water softeners also reduce soluble iron.
• Coliform Bacteria: Drill pumping the well and shocking with concentrated bleach (chlorination) is the DIY remedy. Installing a continuous chlorinator or UV disinfection system ensures ongoing protection. Periodic water testing confirms continued bacteria-free status.

In all cases, choose systems certified for your target contaminant. After installation, test water before and after the treatment unit to verify effectiveness.

Maintenance & Problems

Routine Maintenance

Connecticut has no legal maintenance schedule for private wells; owners must proactively manage their systems. Recommended practices include:

• Annual Visual Inspection: Check the wellhead and casing yearly. Ensure the cap is intact and watertight, bolts and gaskets are secure, and the casing stands at least 6" above grade with ground sloping away to divert runoff.
• Water Testing: Even without a mandate, test drinking water at least once per year for bacteria and nitrate, or after any treatment or disinfection. Maintain a log of test results for trend monitoring.
• System Checks: Listen for unusual pump sounds, and note any changes in flow or pressure. Test the pressure tank monthly. Clean or replace any sediment filters periodically. If using a chlorinator or UV system, service lamps/heads as directed.
• Record Keeping: Keep all well records (driller's completion report, permit, water tests, service receipts) in a safe place. This history helps troubleshoot future problems and is valuable when selling the home.
• Professional Inspection: Have a licensed well professional inspect the system every 5-10 years. They can diagnose hard-to-see issues (e.g., pump condition, tank pre-charge) and recommend maintenance before failures.

Warning Signs of Well Problems

Professional Help vs DIY

Connecticut guidelines emphasize using licensed experts: "If your well pump or system requires repair or maintenance be sure to use an appropriately licensed contractor."

Find a Licensed Driller

Only a licensed (W-1) contractor may legally drill residential wells in CT.

Finding a Licensed Well Driller

• State Roster Listing: The CT Department of Consumer Protection maintains rosters of licensed well drillers (by town of residence) on its website. DPH's Private Well page also links to the "Registered Well Driller's Rosters."
• Online License Lookup: Use the DCP eLicense portal (under "License Lookup") to search for water supply driller licenses by name or town.
• Recommendations: You can also consult your local health department or licensed plumbers; any reputable driller should willingly provide their DCP license number (verify it starts with "W-1"). The DPH checklist explicitly advises using a "registered well driller" for drilling or abandonment.

Always verify the driller's license is current before hiring.

Resources & Contacts

Certified Water Testing Labs

Water must be tested in state-certified laboratories. Connecticut DPH's Environmental Laboratory Certification Program publishes lists of approved labs. To confirm a lab's certification, call DPH ELCP at (860) 509-7389 or refer to the DPH "List of Approved Labs" pages.

Frequently Asked Questions