• Oakland County Sanitary Code, Article II
• Drinking Water Supply Program: Well Protection and Education Code (Article X)

• New Well Permit (Private & Type III - vacant land): $260
• Replacement Well Permit (Private & Type III): $238
• Augmentation Well: $313
• Irrigation Well: $250
• Well Abandonment: $0
• Additional Wells (at same site/project): $41
• Type II Water Supply Permits (Non-Community): $138
• GeoThermal Well ($41 for each additional well beyond the 1st well): $250
• Type II Water Supply Plan Review (Non-Community): $250
• Type I, II, III Sample Collection (when mandated/delinquent): $63
• Re-Inspection (beyond 1st follow-up): $25
• Permit Modification Fee (changes to permit after issuance): $90

What is groundwater?

Groundwater, which accounts for 30 percent of the world's fresh water, occurs below the ground (where it is filtered naturally as it passes through layers of the earth). Groundwater is stored in aquifers - layers of soil, sand, and rocks. We get groundwater by drilling wells and pumping it to the surface. More than 13 million U.S. households depend on individual wells for drinking water.

How does groundwater become contaminated?

Groundwater contamination can come from natural sources, but typically is the result of human activity. Contaminants may reach the groundwater from activities on the surface (such as spills, releases, and agriculture operations), or from below the surface but above the water table (such as septic systems or leaking petroleum storage systems). Contaminated groundwater results in poor water quality and can cause potential health problems. Substances that occur naturally in rocks or soil can pose a threat to health if consumed in excessive quantities, such as iron, manganese, arsenic, chlorides, fluorides, sulfates, or radionuclides. Water quality monitoring has an important role in identifying breaches in the water system that may threaten the safety and health of the consumers.

Regulating groundwater contamination

State and local regulations require specific isolation distances to sources of contamination. An isolation distance can vary depending on well type; public wells have greater isolation requirements than private wells. If you suspect your well could be impacted by contamination sources, please contact a Public Health Sanitarian at 248-858-1312 to discuss sources in your area.

Sampling groundwater

A private well should be sampled annually for bacteria and nitrates, and sampled every few years for arsenic. Public wells are tested more often and for many other potential contaminants and must follow their specific regulatory schedule. The Oakland County Health Division lab offers testing for bacteria, partial chemistry (nitrate, nitrite, chloride, fluoride, sulfate), arsenic, lead, and copper. Additional tests can be found at the State Drinking Water Lab. To find a private lab, visit the Certified Drinking Water Laboratories or EPA-Certified State Drinking Water Test Laboratories webpages.

For more information

Your licensed well contractor, health department, cooperative extension service, and state environmental or natural resource agency can provide you with more information about groundwater in your area.

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Well water problems can have a range of causes. Many well owners know the importance of periodic maintenance and repairs but miss minor issues and thus fail to consult their water well contractor in a timely manner.

The well is pumping air

This is one of the most common well water problems and is caused by air trapped in the high points of the water supply system. To force the trapped air out, turn on every faucet in your house and run for 10 minutes. This should force water bubbles out of your water pipes. If this doesn't work, you may have a low water table or a damaged well pump drop pipe. If the pipes become cracked or broken, they allow air to be sucked in. These problems will require you to contact a professional well pump installer or water well contractor.

The well is pumping sand or sediment

There are generally two explanations for your well pumping sand. One could be that the well screen has degraded and is allowing sand or silt to enter the pump. Another could be that the water level has dropped and your pump is sucking in sand and sediment. Well pumps are typically installed at least 10-20 feet from the bottom of the well; however, when the pump turns on the water level can drop to a lower level. If the pump is down near the bottom of the well, sand and sediment can be sucked in and can fill up the bottom of the well, quickly wearing out the pump. Contact a professional to resolve this problem.

Low water pressure or no water

There are several well problems that can cause low water pressure or no water at all.

• A failing well pump
• A check valve that is stuck
• A partially closed or bad gate/ball valve
• A leaking or failing pressure tank

There are some basic troubleshooting steps you can take.

• First, check your circuit breaker to make sure there is no power going to the well. Then reset your pressure tank, checking for any signs of a pipe leak or break.
• Iron bacteria are microorganisms that use iron as an energy source to survive. It is not hazardous to health, but in some cases they can cause well problems, especially if your water is high in iron. Iron bacteria produces slime/biofilm, which can clog pump intakes, well screens, filters, and water pipes. Testing for iron bacteria requires a specific test, as a standard water sample for detecting coliform bacteria is not adequate. To remove iron bacteria build-up, your well should be treated with a special solution designed to remove iron bacteria, slime, and scale. In addition to chemical treatment, flushing and hot water has also been effective in reducing iron bacteria.
• Water pressure issues can sometimes be corrected by adjusting the pressure switch to raise the pressure. This can be done only when the well pump and well are designed to operate at a higher pressure. If the pressure switch is adjusted, the air pressure inside the tank must be adjusted as well. If the bladder inside the tank is damaged and leaking, your tank will become waterlogged and water pressure will decrease. Contact a professional pump installer or water well contractor to have your well or pressure tank serviced.

Electricity bills have rapidly increased

Higher than usual electric bills can indicate a worn-out or clogged pump. Over time, pumps become blocked with sand or bacteria, which causes them to work harder than usual. It draws more power which can result in increasingly higher electric bills. If your pump is working fine, there is a possibility that your check valve has gone bad, allowing water from the pressure tank to flow back into your well. When the pressure switch senses pressure drop, it turns the pump on again. The on and off cycle occurs every few minutes, causing your pump to run almost 24 hours a day resulting in a higher electric bill. A pressure tank can also become waterlogged. When the internal bladder fails and water fills the air space around the bladder inside the tank, the tank is waterlogged. This can also cause the pump to turn on and off rapidly, leading to a higher electric bill. A waterlogged tank will need to be replaced.

A change in water quality

Drinking untreated groundwater is different than drinking water from a public water supply. Naturally occurring minerals can affect the taste, odor, and appearance of well water. Hardness, iron, chloride, tannins, manganese, sulfates, and hydrogen sulfide are compounds that can affect the visual quality of the water, but most do not cause adverse health problems if they are monitored. If your water's taste, odor, or appearance is unpleasant, you may want to consider purchasing a water treatment unit. A reputable water treatment specialist can diagnose and treat the problem. Sudden water quality changes (taste, odor, appearance, or sand pumping, etc.) may signal a serious problem. If you notice a sudden change in water quality, this can indicate that something has happened to your well, casing, pump, pump screen, or drop pipe. If your well water quality changes suddenly, it is recommended to get your water tested. If you notice a considerable drop in your water quality, water pressure, or see sand, reach out to your water well contractor or a licensed pump installer.

Loud noises

When your well pump makes loud noises, there's a good chance that you have a worn or damaged pump system that needs to be serviced or replaced as soon as possible. Contact a well contractor or a licensed pump installer.

Dissolved gases or bubbles in the water

Some groundwater tables do contain various types of gas. These gases may include carbon dioxide, methane, hydrogen sulfide, or other gases, and they may be dissolved within the water. Some of these gases can be harmful and cause health problems. If this is an ongoing problem, the well can be treated to eliminate these gases using aeration and degassing systems. A professional well or pump contractor must investigate and repair this problem.

For more information

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - Drinking Water & Well Testing
• Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) - Iron Bacteria in Wells
• To find a well drilling contractor near you, use the contractor lookup tool.
• For other questions or concerns, contact the Oakland County Health Division.

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Abandoned wells can be a tremendous liability for a well owner

There are reports every year of children and pets falling into abandoned wells. They pose a health concern by acting as conduits for contaminants to move from the surface, through the earth's protective formations, into the deeper aquifers; drinking water contamination has been caused by abandoned wells. They also threaten the environment - due to deteriorated well casing or open, uncased boreholes that allow movement of water between previously separated aquifers - degrading water quality. Abandoned wells have also been used for illegal waste dumping. 

When a well is abandoned, it should be plugged (filled up with an impervious material) rather than capped, to prevent contamination of the freshwater aquifer by unknown material from the surface that may contain illness causing bacteria and viruses. This includes dry holes, wells that are being replaced by a new well, wells that no longer produce water, or any other case where a well is no longer being used. 

An abandoned well shall include:

• A well that is permanently discontinued.
• A well which is in such disrepair that its continued use for the purpose of obtaining groundwater is impractical.
• A well that has been left uncompleted.
• A well that is a threat to groundwater resources.
• A well that may be a health or safety hazard.

Who is responsible for plugging abandoned wells?

The well owner or property owner is responsible for making sure any abandoned well on their property is properly plugged.

Who can plug a well?

Only registered well drillers can plug wells - not pump installers.

For more information

Visit one of the links below or contact the Oakland County Health Division.

• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - Private Drinking Water Wells
• Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) - Abandoned Water Wells

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