Consider this scenario: a family outside Waynesboro has been drinking from their private well for twelve years without ever testing it. The water tastes fine, looks clear, and no one has been sick. Then their neighbor’s well tests positive for coliform bacteria and elevated nitrates. The family has their own well tested. The results show total coliform bacteria present and nitrate levels approaching the EPA maximum contaminant level of 10 mg/L as nitrogen.
This situation is not unusual. A University of Georgia study of more than 26,000 private well samples found that wells in Georgia’s Coastal Plain, the region that includes Burke County, had significantly higher rates of nitrate contamination than other parts of the state. A separate UGA analysis found that 31% of tested Georgia private wells showed coliform contamination.
The water in the Waynesboro family’s case tasted exactly the same before and after they knew. Most well water contaminants have no taste, odor, or color. Testing is the only way to know.
Why Private Wells Are Different
Public water systems serving 25 or more people are regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act and monitored by the EPA and state agencies. Municipal water is tested regularly for dozens of contaminants, and results are published in annual Consumer Confidence Reports.
Private wells are not covered by the Safe Drinking Water Act. No federal agency monitors private well water quality. No state agency requires testing. If a household owns a private well, water quality is the owner’s responsibility entirely. According to the EPA, approximately 23 million households in the United States rely on private wells. In rural areas of the CSRA, including Burke, Jefferson, Glascock, Warren, and Washington counties, private wells are common.
What to Test For
The CDC and EPA recommend that private well owners test for specific contaminants on a regular schedule. The most important tests for households in the Augusta area and surrounding communities include the following.
Bacteria: Total Coliform and E. coli
Total coliform bacteria are a broad group of organisms found in soil and in the intestines of animals. Their presence in well water indicates that surface water or sewage is entering the well, which means disease-causing organisms may also be present. E. coli is a specific type of coliform that indicates fecal contamination. Coliform testing should be performed at least once per year and after any flooding event, major rainfall, change in water appearance or taste, or work on the well or plumbing.
Nitrate and Nitrite
Nitrates enter groundwater from fertilizer application, septic systems, and animal waste. The EPA maximum contaminant level for nitrate is 10 milligrams per liter (as nitrogen). The primary health concern with nitrate in drinking water is infant methemoglobinemia, sometimes called blue baby syndrome, which can be life-threatening. Rural households near agricultural land or with aging septic systems are at elevated risk. Annual testing is recommended, with additional testing during drought or after heavy rain events.
Arsenic
Arsenic is a naturally occurring element that leaches from certain rocks and soils into groundwater. The EPA maximum contaminant level for arsenic is 10 micrograms per liter. Some areas of Georgia have naturally higher arsenic potential. Testing every three to five years is generally sufficient unless results indicate a change.
pH, Hardness, and Iron
pH, hardness, and iron are general water chemistry indicators. While not primary health concerns at typical levels, they affect taste, appliance longevity, and plumbing performance. Orange staining in sinks and laundry, scale buildup, or a metallic taste often signal that these parameters are outside normal ranges. Testing these helps interpret other results and provides a complete picture of water chemistry.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Households near agricultural operations, old landfills, industrial facilities, or abandoned fuel storage tanks should test periodically for volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOC contamination from leaking underground storage tanks or industrial sites can reach groundwater and persist for years.
When to Test
Standard guidance from the CDC and EPA calls for annual testing of private wells. Certain situations call for additional or more frequent testing:
- After flooding, which can introduce surface contaminants directly into the well
- After a drought cycle, when falling water tables can concentrate contaminants and alter subsurface flow paths
- When a neighbor’s well tests positive for a contaminant that may affect the area broadly
- When there is any change in taste, odor, color, or staining
- When infants, pregnant women, or immunocompromised individuals are in the household
- When a new well is drilled or an existing well is repaired or serviced
What Results Mean and Next Steps
Well water testing produces results compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels and secondary standards. When results exceed those levels, treatment options depend on the specific contaminant. Common approaches include UV disinfection for bacterial contamination, reverse osmosis for a broad range of dissolved contaminants, ion exchange for nitrate, and aeration or oxidation systems for iron, manganese, and hydrogen sulfide.
A water treatment professional designs a system around the specific test results rather than a generic whole-house approach. EnviroPro 360 provides the testing and documentation side of that process: collecting samples, using certified labs, and delivering results in a clear report that the household and any treatment specialist can use to guide next steps.
Private Well Testing in the Augusta Area
EnviroPro 360 provides well water testing for private well owners in the CSRA, including Augusta, Waynesboro, Grovetown, Evans, and surrounding rural communities in Burke, Jefferson, and Columbia counties. Sample collection follows established protocols, and analysis is performed through accredited laboratories. Results are delivered with a written report explaining findings and any relevant regulatory thresholds.
If the household relies on a private well and testing is overdue, or if there is any concern about recent water quality changes, scheduling a test is the most direct step available. To arrange private well water testing in the Augusta region, contact EnviroPro 360.
