Wells
A well is a hole drilled into the ground to access water contained in an aquifer—underground layers of rock and soil with water filling the pores. Historically, water was retrieved from wells using simple buckets on ropes. Today, modern pipes and pumps pull water out of the ground and up to the surface, where it is then available as a water source for homes and businesses.
Aquifers are recharged very slowly—decades to centuries. Water from rain and melting snow slowly drips down into the ground through the pores and cracks in the rocks and soil, gradually refilling the aquifer. Thus, if an area experiences no rain for a few weeks, wells will not immediately run dry. However, water is being pulled from many aquifers at a much faster rate than the rate of recharge—an ever-increasing challenge in light of drought conditions and changing climate.
Is well water safe to drink? Testing well water annually is the best way to keep people, pets, and livestock safe. Some pollutants are odorless and tasteless and are not removed by boiling water. Pollutants like bacteria, arsenic and nitrate are found at elevated levels in 10-30% of private wells in Iowa (Iowa Department of Public Health). Iowa’s Grants-to-Counties program provides free or low-cost annual testing of private wells. Contact your county’s Environmental Health Specialist, within the county public health department, to schedule a time to have your home well water tested!
Video Resources
Enhanced Learning Activities
Edible Aquifers (Grades 3-8)
Groundwater Jeopardy (Grades 9-12)
Additional Resources
A Closer Look: Drinking Water – Source to Tap – Iowa State University | Conservation Learning Group
Private Well Stewardship Program – Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
Iowa’s Groundwater Basics – Iowa Department of Natural Resources