The Groundwater Protection and Wells Section of Wake County Onsite Water Protection Division helps private well users get safe drinking water. We do this by enforcing Wake County’s ordinances related to construction, repair and abandonment of private water supply wells. We also provide owners and users of existing private drinking water wells the following services:
- Encouraging proper well maintenance
- Well water testing
- Technical assistance (chlorination, understanding test results, etc.)
- Outreach and education
For Private Well Owners, Users, Realtors and Lenders
Well Contractors and Pump Installers
Find a Well Contractor
All persons, firms or corporations engaging in well contractor activities involving wells for irrigation, private or semi-public domestic use, as well as for geothermal heat exchange injection wells in Wake County shall register annually with the Onsite Water Protection as per Section III of the Regulations Governing Well Construction and Groundwater Protection in Wake County.
View a list of well contractors registered in Wake County.
Submit a Well Concern
Please report any:
- improperly abandoned wells
- concerns about improper well construction
- renter concerns about water from a private well
- concerns about man-made contamination in a well
If you are seeking routine well water testing, need to repair or abandon a well or need a well permit, please apply on the Wake County Permit Portal or contact a certified well contractor.
Awards and Recognition
Wake County Well Water Protection
Wake County’s Groundwater Program has been nationally recognized for its innovative efforts to protect residents who rely on private well water.
In 2020, the team received a NACo Achievement Award for leading a large-scale outreach campaign that encouraged testing for naturally occurring contaminants in private wells. The campaign resulted in a threefold increase in well testing, stronger interagency collaboration and long-term improvements in testing access and staff training.
In 2023, the team was honored again for developing the Potential Contaminant Viewer, a GIS-based tool that streamlines site evaluations for new well permits. By integrating real-time environmental data, the tool has significantly reduced staff research time and improved the permitting process for private wells.
