WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The National Ground Water Association has published an article outlining the potential risk of the COVID-19 virus contaminating private water well systems.

While the risk to private water well systems is low, various viruses, including COVID-19, are still a potential threat to drinking water from private wells.

The most effective action to protect against viruses, including COVID-19, from contaminating a water supply is regular maintenance of well water systems and wastewater septic systems.

“Set back” is a requirement that a water supply well be at least a certain distance from a septic system or sewer line to provide adequate time for sufficient natural degradation of chemicals and die off of harmful organisms that may endanger well water.

The setback distance from well to septic system has a long history and has been built into state and local water codes to protect groundwaters tapped by wells. The setback allows time for pathogens that may be carried underground to die, be filtered out or be adsorbed onto soil particles.

Distillation, ultraviolet (UV) treatment, and reverse osmosis technologies for households are all effective in removing viruses from a water. For more information, visit Wellowner.org.