EPA regulates public water systems; it does not have the authority to regulate private drinking water wells. Approximately 15 percent of Americans rely on their own private drinking water supplies, and these supplies are not subject to EPA standards, although some state and local governments do set rules to protect users of these wells. Unlike public drinking water systems serving many people, they do not have experts regularly checking the water’s source and its quality before it is sent to the tap. These households must take special precautions to ensure the protection and maintenance of their drinking water supplies.
See archived page: “What You Can Do”
See current EPA page on private wells:
“…Check the paper or call your local planning or zoning commission for announcements about hearings or zoning appeals on development or industrial projects that could possibly affect your water.
Attend these hearings, ask questions about how your water source is being protected, and don’t be satisfied with general answers. Make statements like “If you build this landfill, (just an example) what will you do to ensure that my water will be protected.” See how quickly they answer and provide specifics about what plans have been made to specifically address that issue.”
See: Identify potential sources of contamination in your community
Report Environmental Violations to the US EPA online here: Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO)
See: Dark Side of a Natural Gas Boom
See: Natural Gas Firms Cited for “Significant Non-Compliance With Auburn Sewer Use Law”
See: Leaking Underground Storage Tanks
See: New York State Assembly Passes Moratorium on Hydrofracking | Governor Vetoes Bill
See: Fracking and the Environment: Natural Gas Drilling, Hydraulic Fracturing and Water Contamination
