Knox County Well Surveillance and Education Program
Do you use well water? Knox County Health Department is conducting a survey to develop a database of private well water users in the event contamination threatens the safety of well water in an area. Knox County residents who use well water are asked to take the following short survey or to call the KCHD Well Water Survey hotline at 865-215-5200, Monday-Friday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Currently, only residents living in the 37914 zip code area are being surveyed as part of the pilot program. Additional zip codes will be added this fall. Responses to the limited survey will enable KCHD to better refine the program before initiating a countywide effort.
Risk Factors for Contamination
KCHD recommends that Knox County residents who utilize wells have a bacteriological test every year, as recommended by both the EPA and CDC. Well contamination can result from the following:
- Radon — The natural geology of the area allows radon contamination, if present, into both indoor air and groundwater.
- Agricultural contaminates — Fecal contamination from manure, manure stacks, or proximity to livestock is a risk factors for microbial contamination to nearby well water. Insecticides, fertilizer, or pesticides also can be potential contaminants to groundwater and well water.
- Household contaminates — Additional sources of contamination can come from improperly built or maintained septic systems for household wastewater, leaking or abandoned storage tanks and piping, or storm water drains that discharge chemicals to groundwater.
- Commercial/industrial contaminates — Commercial and industrial business practices, including gas stations, dry cleaners, landfills or garbage dumps, or improper disposal or storage of waste or chemical spills at industrial sites.
Links to websites for more information on well water
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/private/wells/
Environmental Protection Agency: http://www.epa.gov/safewater/privatewells/index2.html
Tennessee Department of Conservation and Energy, Tennessee Healthy Well Manual:
http://www.state.tn.us/environment/dws/pdf/TnHealthyWell.pdf
United States Geologic Service: http://water.usgs.gov/owq/topics.htm
