Close the Loophole on Household Wells

We’re working to close the loophole in the Safe Drinking Water Act that excludes the more than 45 million Americans who rely on household wells.

Low-income families are more likely to rely on well water for drinking, cooking, and bathing, and studies show they suffer from disproportionately higher exposures to harmful chemicals that can be found in drinking water.

Well water can be contaminated by naturally-occurring toxins, such as arsenic, uranium, and radon. It can also be contaminated by industrial chemicals and toxins, such as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) and lead.

Many of these chemicals are linked to harm to the brain development of young children, as well as certain cancers.

In fact, northern New England has the highest rate of bladder cancer in the nation, which is linked to prolonged arsenic exposure—and the region also has high rates of arsenic in well water, from naturally-occurring bedrocks in the soil.