Private Well Water Treatment - How to Get Started and Helpful Resources
If you tested your private well and your water test results indicate that you have a problem, you may need to consider installation of a water treatment system. (Refer to our Educational Materials on Testing Recommendations for Private Wells and Semipublic Wells for information on what to test for.)
When shopping for water treatment equipment, be a good consumer and do your research. The State of Connecticut does not license home water treatment devices. It is important to check that the individual you hired holds the proper license to install a treatment system on your home private well plumbing system. The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (CT DCP) licenses plumbers and water conditioning contractors. CT DCP issues the following license types that include work related to water conditioning (treatment):
- P1 & P2 – all plumbing and piping work
- J1 & J2 – limited to domestic water pumps and water conditioning
For a full list of plumbing licenses and for information on the scope of work for each license type, please visit the CT DCP website.
The Connecticut Department of Public Health (CT DPH), Private Well Program does not maintain a list of in-state well water treatment contractors or products. You can search for a contractor by doing an internet search, by using the yellow pages or by word of mouth. It is recommended that you ensure that the treatment contractor you choose is knowledgeable and has the appropriate license(s) for the work that is being done. Ask for referrals and contact them to determine customer satisfaction. Contact the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Occupational & Professional Licensing Division at (860) 263-6000 or by email at dol.webhelp@ct.gov for more information on professional licenses.
Refer to Publication #19: Questions to Ask When Purchasing Water Treatment Equipment for Your Home for information regarding things to consider and questions to ask when you are making decisions related to purchasing water treatment equipment.
Some well water treatment systems are rated by a third-party organization such as the National Sanitation Foundation International (NSF). NSF is a non-profit organization that evaluates water treatment equipment to determine the validity of its product claims. Products that are NSF tested and certified will display the NSF listing mark on the product or in its advertising literature and can also be found on their website.
If you’d like information regarding a specific treatment type, please refer to the publications listed under the “Publications and Fact Sheets” on the CT DPH, Private Well Program website.
Other Helpful Resources:
National Sanitation Foundation (NSF): Contaminant Reduction Claims Guide
National Sanitation Foundation: Search for NSF Certified Drinking Water Treatment Units, Water Filters
National Groundwater Association (NGWA), WellOwner.org: Contractor Lookup
Water Quality Association (WQA): Find Water Treatment Providers
Connecticut Water Well Association: http://www.ctwwa.org/
United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA): Drinking Water Treatability Database https://iaspub.epa.gov/tdb/pages/general/home.do#content
For more information regarding private wells please contact:
CT Department of Public Health by phone: (860) 509-8401 or by email: DPH.PrivateWellProgram@ct.gov.
You can also visit our websites: DPH Private Well Program OR https://testyourwell.ct.gov/