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Well Stewardship Study: What Colorado is learning about private well water

Colorado has been putting more attention on private well water — not to scare anyone, but to learn what’s showing up, where support is needed, and how well owners can make practical decisions. This page is a plain-English summary of the Well Stewardship Study and what it means for homeowners.

For the official study overview and details, start here:

Read the Colorado State University summary

This page is a homeowner-friendly summary. It’s not a replacement for the original source.

Quick summary (60 seconds)

Colorado partners have been studying private well water to understand common issues and where education/testing support helps most.
Early findings suggest a meaningful share of samples may exceed common drinking-water guidelines (depending on what’s tested and where).
Total coliform can be a useful “system vulnerability” signal — it doesn’t always mean you’re sick, but it can mean follow-up is smart.
Some samples show elevated metals (commonly discussed examples include arsenic and uranium).
The practical takeaway: don’t guess — use a calm testing plan, then choose next steps based on your results.

What the Well Stewardship Study is (plain English)

The Well Stewardship Study is an effort to better understand private well water quality and help well owners make informed decisions. Unlike municipal water, private wells aren’t regulated the same way — so programs like this help fill the gap with education, testing access, and practical guidance.

Why Colorado is paying attention to private wells

Private wells are common in foothill and rural areas, and well water quality can vary from home to home. Colorado’s focus has been on learning what’s showing up in real-world samples and helping homeowners know what to test, how to interpret results, and what to do next.

Key takeaways (what this means for homeowners)

A “normal-looking” well can still have issues worth testing for

Many well water concerns aren’t obvious day-to-day. Testing is the only way to confirm what’s actually in the water.

Some wells show elevated metals (like arsenic or uranium)

Metals can be naturally occurring and vary by geology. If results are elevated, the next step is usually confirming the result and choosing a treatment approach that fits your water chemistry and goals

Total coliform can be a useful “follow-up needed” signal

A total coliform result can point to vulnerability in the well system (or sampling issues). It doesn’t automatically mean an emergency — but it often means you should take the result seriously and confirm next steps.

The goal is practical decisions — not panic

The point of studies like this is to help well owners make calm, informed choices: test, interpret, and act based on evidence.

What to do next (a simple plan)

If you have recent lab results, save them and use them as your baseline.
If you don’t have results, start with a testing plan that matches your situation (symptoms, home purchase, routine check, etc.).
If bacteria indicators show up (like total coliform), treat it as a “confirm and follow up” moment.
If metals are elevated, interpret them in context and choose treatment based on the full water profile (not one number in isolation).

Common questions this helps answer

“Do I actually need to test if my water tastes fine?”
“What does a total coliform result mean in plain English?”
“If a metal is elevated, what’s the next practical step?”
“How do I avoid overreacting — but still be responsible?”

Want help with your specific results?

If you have a lab report and want a plain-English interpretation, use Analyze My Lab Results (Free).
If you’re ready to compare treatment options and pricing guidance, use Water Treatment Estimate (Lab Results).
If you want a full-picture baseline and a walkthrough of what your results mean for your home, you can Schedule a $59 Healthy Home Evaluation.

FAQ

Is this study saying most wells are unsafe?

Not necessarily. The main takeaway is that well water varies and testing is the only way to know what’s true for your home.

Does total coliform mean my water is dangerous?

Not automatically. It can be a sign that follow-up is needed — either to confirm the result, check the well system, or decide whether disinfection and retesting makes sense. But it is not recommended to continue to consume the water until safety can be confimred.

If a metal is elevated, what’s the first step?

Start by confirming the result and interpreting it alongside the rest of the water chemistry. Treatment choices work best when they’re matched to the full profile, not a single number.