Potable Water Program – Salt Investigations
One teaspoon of salt can permanently pollute 5 gallons of water
DEEP is actively investigating multiple complaints across the state for sodium chloride (salt) impacts in private drinking water wells. Frequently, when homeowners file a complaint of salt impacts to their private drinking well, they often mention a salty taste to their water and/or corrosion to their plumbing and household appliances. For more information on sources of salt to the environment, impacts to human health and the environment, and other information please review our Road Salt: More than Just a Grain of Salt story map and our Road Salt FAQs.
DEEP Remediation Salt Investigation Policy
As DEEP continues to receive complaints from residents regarding salt-polluted wells it is necessary for the Department to create a consistent approach to investigate salt impacts to private wells. Below is a description of the policy DEEP will utilize for salt impact investigations moving forward.
Before Filing Formal Complaint
If a homeowner is concerned that their private well may be impacted by salt, the well should be inspected by the homeowner and the well water quality should be tested to provide current data for review.
Well Water Testing
Well owners are responsible for testing their water quality. Both the CT Department of Public Health (DPH) and the US EPA recommend private well owners check their water quality on an annual basis for basic indicators. Please note that DEEP does not have regulatory jurisdiction over the construction and/or maintenance of all water supply wells.
When testing a well for potential salt impacts, use a state certified laboratory and have the water tested for basic indicators, including sodium and chloride. The list of basic indicators recommended by the CT DPH can be found on the DPH Private Well Testing webpage, in Table 2. Well owners should collect water from before and after any treatment system in their home. Collecting both samples will help indicate the raw water quality (before treatment) and the final drinking water quality (after treatment).
If concerned about potential salt impacts, well owners should test their wells in the spring or in the fall. In March and April, snow-melt and thawing soil can flush accumulated winter road salt into groundwater. As a result, this can be the time of year when wells are most vulnerable to salt contamination, but research has demonstrated that chloride concentrations can also increase when the water table is low in the fall.
Review Test Results
Check the sodium and chloride concentrations to determine if they are above the guidance level for sodium (100 mg/L) and the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for chloride (250 mg/L). See the DPH Sodium & Chloride in Well Water: Health Considerations Fact Sheet for additional information. The DPH What You Need to Know About Chemical Contaminants in Private Wells Fact Sheet contains information on how to review your test results.
Inspect Well
Well owners/users should regularly inspect their wells for structural integrity making sure the well is watertight from outside influences, the casing is not visibly corroded, and, if buried in a pit, the pit does not fill with water during rain events or when snow melts (Best Management Practice Checklist).
Filing a Complaint
Once a well owner/user has tested their well at least once within the past year and the report indicates chloride >250 mg/L, and/or sodium >100 mg/L they have several options for filing a complaint.
The location of the property will determine which entity will investigate the sources of salt impacting the well.
State Roads or State Salt Storage Facility
If the property is located adjacent to a state road or salt storage facility, you may file a formal complaint directly with the CT DOT Environmental Compliance Section without filing a complaint with DEEP or you may file a complaint with DEEP using the DEEP complaint form with attached lab results. DEEP may then ask you for permission to refer the complaint to Michael Bedson and Jason Coite of the CT DOT Environmental Compliance Section.
Town and State Road
If the property is located at an intersection of a State and a Town Road, please submit a complaint to DEEP using the DEEP complaint form including your recent water test results. DEEP will notify the Town and CT DOT of the complaint and apportion responsibility between both parties.
Submitting a Complaint to DEEP Remediation
Email the completed form and a copy of your recent water test results to DEEP.PotableWater@ct.gov or mail the form to:
CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Bureau of Water Protection and Land Reuse
DEEP Remediation Division Potable Water Program, 2nd Floor
79 Elm Street
Hartford, CT 06106-5127
Investigation Steps
DEEP Coordination with Private Well Owner
Once DEEP Remediation staff receive a complete complaint package, staff may follow-up with questions regarding any treatment systems (such as water softeners) present at the home and any known salt uses on the property (such as use of ice melt on walkways and private driveways). Once DEEP Remediation staff have collected enough background information, they will need to evaluate which parties need to be included in the investigation process.
Depending on the parties involved, DEEP staff may coordinate a site visit with a well owner/user to evaluate the environmental conditions in the area and to collect a confirmation sample.
Due to the complexity of salt impacts, the investigation and resolution of these impacts can require significant time, resources, and patience.
Contact Information
For further information please contact the DEEP Potable Water Program at DEEP.PotableWater@ct.gov.
Content last updated August 29, 2023