WATER TESTING - CONNECTICUT

PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY

• Connecticut residents whose water comes from a municipal or private water company, and who wonder if their water is safe to drink, should call their water company to see how to proceed. Some water supply companies will perform routine tests on water samples for possible contaminants; some will do a test upon request of a local health department or regional health district. The Department of Public Utility Control (DPUC) has lists of Connecticut water supply companies and the towns that they serve on the DPUC website: http://www.dpuc.state.ct.us/DPUCINFO.nsf/ByWater?OpenView
• If the water supply is thought to be seriously contaminated or causing illness for household members, residents should contact their town health department or regional health district. They will send water samples to labs for testing if the water is thought to be a health hazard. Health departments and health districts will not do routine water tests.

PRIVATE WATER WELLS

• Homeowners who have a private well are responsible for maintaining and testing their water supply. Testing should be done once a year or at the time of a home inspection or well construction. Renters who are concerned about the quality of their well water should request that their landlord have it tested. If the landlord does not comply, the renter can contact their town health department or regional health district to inquire about well water testing. As with tap water, well water samples are sent to labs for testing if they are thought to be a health hazard.

CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH

• The State of Connecticut Department of Public Health’s (DPH) Drinking Water Division (http://www.ct.gov/dph/cwp/view.asp?a=3139&q=387304) can refer individuals to laboratories for testing of water samples. Tests are done for a fee. A current list of state-approved laboratories can be found at the DPH website: http://www.ct.gov/dph/lib/dph/environmental_health/environmental_laboratories/pdf/in_state.pdf
• DPH also provides answers to questions on tap water, home treatment kits and related topics at their website: http://www.ct.gov/dph/lib/dph/drinking_water/pdf/fre_ask_ques.pdf
• DPH’s Source Water Protection Program is responsible for assessing and protecting all existing and future public drinking water sources of supply in Connecticut from possible contamination. Further information can be found at the DPH website: http://www.ct.gov/dph/cwp/view.asp?a=3139&q=387338

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

• The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791) to answer questions on drinking water standards, local water quality, public water systems and other topics about drinking water and ground water programs (http://www.epa.gov/safewater/hotline/index.html) Information on actions people can take to reduce lead in their drinking water can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead/leadfactsheet.html
• The EPA also provides further information on well water safety and testing in a document, “Drinking Water from Household Wells” posted on the EPA website: http://www.epa.gov/safewater/privatewells/pdfs/household_wells.pdf

HOW TO FIND PROVIDERS IN CONNECTICUT'S COMMUNITY RESOURCES DATABASE:
Search by service name:
Environmental Hazards Evaluation
Environmental Hazards Information

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SOURCES: Conn. State Dept. of Public Health website;United States Environmental Protection Agency website
PREPARED BY: 211/pt
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: May2008