Wake County officials urge testing of private wells

Authorities are urging residents with private wells to find out as part of National Groundwater Safety Awareness Week.

During its meeting Monday, the Wake County Board of Commissioners discussed with county health and environment officials the importance of residents to check their water supply on a regular basis.

Part of that discussion surrounded the contamination found in more than a dozen serving homes along Stony Hill Road near Wake Forest were found this fall to have dangerous levels of trichloroethylene, or TCE, a degreasing agent that environmental officials said likely came from electronics plants that used to operate in the area.

The state estimates there may be more than 2,500 sites that have contaminated groundwater in Wake County alone.

That's why, Greg Bright, groundwater program supervisor with Wake County Environmental Services says, it's important for property owners to be sure their well water is safe.

"The purpose of National Groundwater Awareness Week is to get citizens thinking about their well and not just forget that it's there," Bright said. "It needs to be maintained and checked just like any other system in your house."

Wake County Environmental Services, in conjunction with Wake County Human Services, offers water sampling of private wells.