Newsletter #118 for October 2025
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PrivateWellClass.org Launches Fresh New Website |
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We have an extremely exciting announcement: PrivateWellClass.org has launched a complete website redesign! The new design has been in the works since last year, and
offers a fresher web experience with all of the same features and information the site has always had.
For those using the website to register for upcoming webinars and/or to view past sessions, please note that the webinar archive is now organized by topic, and that past sessions of each recurring webinar subject are now linked together on dedicated subject pages.
Enjoy the new website experience, and if you have any feedback, you are always welcome to email us at help@privatewellclass.org!
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| Visit the new site »
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4-Hour Workshop: Private Well Assessment and Outreach for Environmental Health Professionals Returns in December
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Our 4-Hour Workshop: Private Well Assessment and Outreach for Environmental Health Professionals, recently held in September, is returning in December! Now is your chance to register if you missed it last month. Due to the interactive nature of this workshop, we cap the registration for this workshop at 200 registrants, so register now to save your seat.
This 4-hour online workshop covers the use of our assessment tool for the evaluation of private well vulnerability to contamination and best practices for well owner outreach. Participants will learn private well fundamentals, how to assess a private well using the assessment tool, how to effectively engage private well owners, how to develop a program for outreach to well owners, and best practices for managing a well owner program.
4-Hour Workshop: Private Well Assessment and Outreach for Environmental Health Professionals
December 3, 2025 | 12 PM CT
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| Register »
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Tap Talk — Empowering Well Owners at the Private Well Class Help Center
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Tap Talk returns for Season 6! In our most recent episode of Tap Talk, we are beyond pleased to welcome two of our colleagues on our Water & Public Health team at the Illinois State Water Survey to the show: Sallie Dolan and Erin Huggett, who are the main forces behind running our Private Well Class Help Center and phone hotline. Launched in the spring of 2024, these services have assisted over 65,000 well owners in finding answers to their well questions or solutions for well problems. As Sallie and Erin discuss, our team looks forward to helping many more as the program grows and develops!
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| 🎧 Listen here 🎧
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From the Help Center |
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How do hurricanes affect private water wells?
Hurricanes can impact infrastructure and water quality of private wells. Read what effect these disasters have in this article at our Help Center!
For additional articles and resources for private well owners, explore our Private Well Help Center.
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Upcoming Webinars & Recent Recordings |
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What Environmental Health
Professionals Need to Know about Private Wells
October 29, 2025 | 1 PM CT
Hosted by PrivateWellClass.org
This free webinar will provide an introduction to groundwater, well construction, water quality, and well care best practices for environmental health professionals and others who serve well owners. Information on how to find local experts and sources of additional free training will be included.
Register »
We would love your support in distributing this information. Please feel free to share this link.
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How to Find Local Information and
Help
November 19, 2025 | 1 PM CT
Hosted by PrivateWellClass.org
In this webinar you’ll learn how to find local resources for well information and assistance. The webinar will address topics such as methods for finding well logs, records, and information about your well; finding well drillers, contractors, and financial help programs; and when to sample, what to sample for, and best practices to protect your well system.
Register »
We would love your support in distributing this information. Please feel free to share this link.
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What Real Estate Professionals Need to Know about Homes with Well Water
Recorded on September 3, 2025
This webinar explained what real estate agents should know when selling homes with private wells, including well water quality, how wells work, and other basic well information.
Watch Recording »
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Is My Water Safe to Drink? -
Common Questions about Private Wells
Recorded on August 5, 2025
This webinar addressed common well questions such as how to get well water tested, how to take care of a well, how to know if a well is susceptible to contamination, and many more.
Watch Recording »
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Maine wardens rescue moose trapped for hours in abandoned well
NBC News
Abandoned wells can be a hazard to health and safety of humans and animals alike. This was certainly the case when a young bull moose fell down a 9-foot-deep abandoned well in Pembroke, Maine. The landowners discovered the trapped animal and notified the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, who sent a biologist to assist with the harrowing rescue. After the moose was sedated and removed using straps and an excavator, it took off running into the woods. The abandoned well, previously unknown to the landowners, was properly capped after the ordeal.
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| Read here »
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Partner Events & Workshops
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Cibolo Creek Well Water
Screenings
October 7-9 | 8:30 am CT | San Antonio, TX
Hosted by Texas Well Owner Network
These well water screenings allow all residents of the listed counties to drop off samples of their well water for testing and to return for a follow-up meeting explaining the testing results.
Register here.
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Exploring Emerging Contaminants
in Wisconsin Private Water Wells
October 7 | 9 am CT | Online
Hosted by Great Lakes Community Action Partnership
This webinar features presentations from RCAP Operator Jonathan Wollner, USGS Research Biologist Joel Stokdyk, and Wisconsin DNR DATCP Hydrogeologist Ken Potrykus. Topics covered include the RCAP Private Well Assessment program, findings from the field, and success stories; research and methods on nitrate contamination, pathogens, and antibiotic resistance genes in private water wells; and the work of DATCP as well as research on the influence of pesticides on private water wells.
Register here.
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Virginia 2025 Drinking Water
Clinics
October 8 - November 19 | Various locations
Hosted by the Virginia Household Water Quality Program & Virginia Cooperative Extension
The yearly Virginia Household Water Quality Program drinking water clinics begin for 2025 on July 9. The clinics will be held in 35 cities and counties through November 19, and provide homeowners a chance to have their well water testing at a reduced rate.
Find the full list of dates, locations, and registration information here.
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Well & Septic
Workshop
October 8 | 10 am ET | Online
Hosted by Hernando County Florida-Friendly Landscaping
In this free workshop, representatives Dr. Bill Lester and Dr. Yilin Zhuang from UF/IFAS will be addressing information about the use, maintenance, and science behind your well & septic systems.
Register here.
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Private Well Professional
Workshop
October 8 | 10 am CT | Cherokee, IA
Hosted by Midwest Assistance Partnership
This training will assist environmental health professionals by providing them with the skills and knowledge required to assess a private well system in the field.
Register here.
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Landscaping Around Septic
Systems
October 14 | 12 pm ET | Online
Hosted by Penn State University Extension
Repairing damaged septic tanks and drainfields can be expensive, but smart landscaping practices can help prevent these issues. During this webinar, participants will learn how to safely landscape around septic system components while maintaining their function and protecting long-term system health. The session will cover strategies to avoid root damage, soil compaction, and other common mistakes that can lead to costly repairs.
Register here.
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New to a Septic System – What
You Should Know to Protect Your System
October 15 | 12 pm ET | Online
Hosted by University of Maryland Extension
If you have just bought or moved into a home that has a septic system, there are important things you need to know to help keep the system functioning properly and as long as possible. This webinar will discuss the basic system types and the recommended maintenance practices to follow.
Register here.
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Real Estate and Septic
Systems
October 28 | 12 pm ET | Online
Hosted by Penn State University Extension
In this webinar, participants will explore key considerations on what buyers and sellers need to know about septic systems during property transfers. The session will cover inspection requirements, system disclosures, and what to expect during real estate septic inspections. Whether you are preparing to sell, looking to buy, or supporting clients through the process, this session offers essential guidance to navigate septic-related aspects of real estate transactions.
Register here.
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Septic System Disasters: Cautionary Tales from the Tank |
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In celebration of Septic Smart
Week last month, our DecentralizedWastewater.org team, along with several national partners, had the opportunity to develop a blog post complete with several septic system stories from around the country. Check out the cautionary tales to learn from the experiences of others.
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| Read it here »
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Recommended Minimum Water Supply Capacity for Private Wells
New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services
This factsheet from NHDES provides guidance on the recommended water supply capacity for private wells used in homes, emphasizing the importance of both water quantity and quality. The document also includes tables for both the recommended minimum and optimum capacity. Though the state doesn’t regulate well yield, local towns may have their own requirements, and homeowners are encouraged to consult professionals for testing and improvement options.
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| View the factsheet »
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Featured Video: Wells and Flooding |
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This video, brought to you by the City of Chesapeake, discusses private well management during hurricane season. Monitoring your well to protect the water quality, especially after excessive rain and flooding, is essential during hurricane season. Find out how you can reduce the risk of well water contamination and what to do if your well water becomes contaminated.
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| Watch the video »
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PrivateWellClass.org is a free, grant-funded service to support private well owners and the professionals that work with these wells. The program seeks to raise awareness of private well issues and help well owners understand their responsibilities to be a good steward of their well and water source. The Private Well Class, developed at the Illinois State Water Survey at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, is a collaboration with the Rural Community Assistance Partnership with funding from the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency. Call us at 1-866-945-0699 for assistance.
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Visit our other websites:
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Illinois State Water Survey, 2204 Griffith Drive, Champaign, IL 61820, United States
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