Private Wells

In Westford, roughly 40% of properties depend on obtaining water from an on-site, drinking water well. The term "private well" is typically used for a well that provides drinking water for a residence. This private water supply provides water for human consumption and consists of a system that has fewer than fifteen service connections and 1 serves fewer than twenty-five individuals 2 serves an average of twenty-five or more individuals daily for fewer than sixty days of the year. Private wells are regulated by the local Board of Health.


Types of Wells

New & Replacement Wells & Water Systems

Well Water Testing & Frequency

Westford's Minimum Testing Requirements for Property Sales

The analysis for potable water wells drilled in bedrock must at minimum include:

  • Arsenic
  • Chloride
  • Coliform Bacteria
  • Copper
  • Fluoride
  • Radon
  • Uranium
  • Hardness
  • Iron
  • Lead
  • Manganese
  • Nitrate/Nitrite
  • Perchlorates (See Perchlorate Monitoring Area in the regulation)
  • pH
  • Sodium

If the Gross Alpha Screen is elevated, a second water sample shall be collected and analyzed for Radon and Uranium. Based on advice from the well driller and/or laboratory, Radon and Uranium can be analyzed in water instead of Gross Alpha.

State & Federal Recommended Testing Parameters & Frequency