Private Well Basics
Over 500,000 Massachusetts residents rely on private wells for drinking water because public water is unavailable to them.
When to Use a Private Well
By Massachusetts statutory definition, a private water supply is one with fewer than 15 connections and serving <25 people (or <60 days). A private well is used when no public water supply serves the property.
If a municipal water main becomes accessible to your property, local ordinances may require hookup (towns often have local bylaws about hooking to available mains). Otherwise, new construction outside a water district or far from mains will need a well.
Current Well Drilling Costs
A complete private well system in Massachusetts typically costs $6,000–$15,000 or more, depending on depth, geology, and equipment choices.
Private well projects vary widely in cost. Drilling alone often runs $15–$25 per foot, with full-system installation averaging $25–$65/ft. Industry data suggests MA well projects typically cost roughly $5.5k–$11k including drilling, casing and pump, with an average of ~$5,500 (range $3k–$24.5k) depending on depth.
Timeline: From Decision to Drinking Water
The process typically takes weeks to a few months. In practice, expect 2–8 weeks from the decision to drill until the well is approved and providing drinking water.
Permits & Process
Step-by-Step Process
Only drillers certified by MassDEP may install wells.
- Check MassDEP's certified driller list
- Contact Drinking Water Program: 617-292-5770
Driller or homeowner submits Well Construction Permit application.
- Scaled site plan showing well location
- MA well driller license number
- Permit fee (varies by town, e.g., Reading MA: $100)
Once permit is issued, driller prepares site and drills according to BOH siting rules (setbacks from septic, tanks, etc.).
- Well is cased and developed (often "hydro-fractured")
- All work per 310 CMR 46.00
Driller disinfects well and conducts yield test. Homeowner arranges water samples (coliform bacteria, nitrate).
- Driller files Well Completion Report with MassDEP and BOH
- Lab results must meet drinking water standards
Setback Requirements
Title 5 (310 CMR 15.211(2)) mandates minimum distances:
- 50 ft from septic tank or pump chamber
- 100 ft from leaching field
- Additional local setbacks may apply (e.g., 100–200 ft from manure pits or fuel tanks)
Who Does What?
Driller Handles:
- Licensing verification
- Permit application (typically)
- Drilling, casing, and sealing
- Initial disinfection
- Filing Well Completion Report
Homeowner Handles:
- Property information
- Abutter notifications
- Payment of fees
- Water testing coordination
- Record keeping
Water Quality
Recommended Testing Schedule
- At completion: Total coliform bacteria, nitrate, arsenic (if in bedrock areas)
- Annually: Bacteria and nitrate
- Every 5–10 years: Comprehensive check including metals (arsenic, uranium), pH, water chemistry
- Before purchase: Full testing
- After any event: Pump repair, heavy rain, flooding
The homeowner pays for all private well testing. However, some counties like Barnstable offer free screening programs.
Common Massachusetts Water Quality Issues
Arsenic & Uranium
Common in bedrock wells in central MA and Merrimack Valley. Over 13% of bedrock wells exceeded arsenic standards. Test annually if in these regions.
Nitrate
Often elevated near agricultural areas, septic fields, or manure. Rural and farm areas (Western and Central MA) see this issue.
Radon
MA bedrock contains uranium, so many wells have radon (a gas originating from rock). Radon dissolves in water and off-gasses into indoor air during use.
PFAS & VOCs
Increasing in some private wells from firefighting foam, landfill/industrial sources. Cape Cod and landfill areas have been highlighted. Nantucket requires PFAS testing at property transfer.
Iron/Manganese/Hardness
"Rusty" water and scale are common due to dissolved minerals. Water softeners or oxidation/filtration units are typical solutions.
Bacteria
Common in any groundwater if well casing/development isn't perfect or if nearby septic leaks. Test after any pump work and shock-chlorinate as needed.
Treatment Options
- Bacteria: Shock-chlorinate well with bleach and retest. Continuous disinfection (UV or chlorinator) can be installed.
- Nitrate/Nitrite: Removal typically requires distillation, reverse osmosis (RO), or ion exchange (nitrate-selective resin).
- Arsenic: Point-of-use RO, activated alumina or iron-based adsorptive filters, anion-exchange systems.Median costs ~$1,200 for point-of-use, ~$3,000 for whole-house.
- Radon: Whole-house aeration towers or granular activated carbon (GAC) filters.
- Iron/Manganese/Hardness: Water softeners or oxidation/filtration units.
- PFAS/VOCs: Granular activated carbon filters (point-of-entry) or reverse osmosis (point-of-use).
Maintenance & Troubleshooting
Annual Maintenance Checklist
- Test water for bacteria and nitrates
- Inspect wellhead cap and pitless adapter for leaks
- Check pressure tank and reset pressure controls
- Sanitize well (shock chlorination)
- Inspect area around well for new contamination sources
Routine maintenance "helps protect water quality" and "prolong useful life of the well".
Warning Signs of Well Problems
- Cloudiness or sediment
- Rusty color or bad taste/odor (metallic, sulfur)
- Drop in water pressure or flow
- Unusual noises from pump
- Sudden changes after storm or construction
- Persistent coliform bacteria (indicates surface infiltration)
Find a Certified Driller
Massachusetts law requires a MassDEP-certified water well driller for all well drilling work.
Search Certified Drillers in Massachusetts
Find Drillers Near You →How to Verify a Driller
- Ask for their MassDEP certification number
- Verify on MassDEP's certified driller list
- Contact MassDEP Drinking Water Program (617-292-5770) for confirmation
- Get 2-3 written quotes
- Ask for references from recent jobs
Resources & Contacts
Key Regulatory References
- 310 CMR 46.00 – Certification of Well Drillers
- 310 CMR 15.211 – Minimum Setback Distances (Title 5)
- MGL c.21G §20 – Local well permits authorized
- Private Well Form Templates – MassDEP templates for local BOHs
Testing Resources
- MassDEP Certified Laboratories Search – Find certified labs for water testing
- Barnstable County Free Well Testing – Free PFAS, VOCs, bacteria, nitrates for Cape Cod wells (508-786-2297)
Frequently Asked Questions
Are You a Certified Driller?
Check out our compliance reference for Massachusetts drilling regulations, forms, and requirements.
Massachusetts Driller Compliance Guide →