Rule Updates for Private Drinking Water Wells

Early last year, the Wake County Human Services Board adopted revised regulations for private wells that provide drinking water. The new rules require wells serving new construction in the eastern half of Wake County be tested for gross alpha activity – which is a proxy for uranium and radium. The changes came following extensive research of local groundwater and discussion with stakeholders

We expect 20% of new wells in this half of the county – about 40 wells per year – to require treatment for uranium to be installed before Certificate of Occupancy can be issued. It will take longer to approve wells with these issues, and Wake County will work with applicants to resolve these problems as efficiently as possible.

For more information, call Wake County Environmental Services customer support at 919-856-7400.

Tips for Builders Installing Private Wells

If you're building homes on private wells in the eastern half of the county, take these steps to make the process as smooth as possible:

If you already have a well permit, read it to see if gross alpha testing is required.
If you're planning a construction project that will use a private well, check our interactive map to see if it's in the area that requires additional testing.
If you frequently build homes with private wells in eastern Wake County, establish a relationship with a subcontractor who knows how to treat water for uranium contamination.
To avoid delays, get your well in the ground and request the wellhead inspection as soon as possible in the building process.

Wake County Water Quality | wakegov.com/water