Private Water Supplies

Private Water Systems Program

Under the Private Water Systems Program, Registered Sanitarians evaluate and sample private water systems, which include wells, cisterns, springs, ponds, and hauled water storage tanks. The Board of Health issues permits for the development of new private water systems and for the alteration of existing systems. These systems are inspected and sampled as part of the approval process.

A point of sale inspection is also offered.  As part of this inspection, the private water system is sampled for the presence of Total Coliform Bacteria.  We also sample non-community transient water systems, such as those found in food service operations, food establishments, schools, pools, and manufactured home parks that are not accessible to a municipal water supply.  A link to an Application For Private Water Sampling has been provided.

The Board of Health continues to be active in the private water program on a statewide level and in the promotion of statewide legislation that strengthens our role in the protection of our water supplies.

The number of homes in Cuyahoga County that have access to municipal water continues to rise. For example, over the past few years, virtually all of the residents in the Village of Gates Mills have had city water made available to them. The extension of municipal water lines has also recently occurred in portions of many other communities.

An important, but sometimes forgotten issue associated with municipal water line connections, is proper private water system abandonment. Unused wells that are not properly sealed after homes have connected to a municipal water line can create numerous public health and safety concerns along with serving as a potential contamination source to the aquifer.

The first step in properly abandoning a private water system is to contact the local health department. The Cuyahoga County Board of Health can provide sealing information and legal requirements to the homeowner. As of January 1, 2000, a permit is required in the State of Ohio to seal a private water system.

The Cuyahoga County Board of Health has been active in increasing the public awareness of proper private water system abandonment. Seminars have been held in communities impacted by municipal water line extensions. In addition to providing education on proper abandonment, we are attempting to locate and secure funding sources (i.e. grant monies, low interest loans, etc.) that could help reduce the homeowner’s cost associated with properly abandoning a private water system. 

Contact Carl Preusser at 216-201-2001 ext. 1265 for additional information on the private water program.  Detailed Private Water System program information is also available at the Ohio Department of Health website.  Detailed information about well logs (type, location, depth, etc.) can be found at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources website listed below. 

Links

Private Water Brochure

How to Disinfect a Water Well

Ohio Department of Health - Private Water System Program

Ohio Private Water System Rules - Ohio Admin. Code Chapter 3701-28

Application For Private Water Sampling

Private Water System Abandonment Fact Sheet

Ohio Department of Natural Resources - Well logs