Well Water Testing 101 for Johnstown Property Owners

If your Johnstown home relies on a private well, your drinking water quality is up to you. That can feel daunting when you are busy managing a property, a family, or a move. This guide simplifies what to test, how often to test, the local risks to know in Licking County, and how to read your results. Let’s dive in.

Why test your Johnstown well

Private wells are not regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act, so you are responsible for testing and treatment. The baseline recommendation is to test at least once a year for bacteria and nitrate, plus other checks as needed, according to the CDC’s private well testing guidance.

Johnstown sits in Licking County, where a USGS study of Licking County wells found about 12 percent of sampled private wells over the EPA health benchmark for arsenic. That makes arsenic a smart addition to your testing plan, even if your water looks and tastes fine. Test after flooding, nearby construction, or any change in taste, color, or odor.

What to test for

Annual basics

• Total coliform bacteria, with E. coli follow-up if positive. This checks for possible fecal contamination and acute health risk.
• Nitrate. This is essential if you have infants or may prepare formula. The EPA nitrate standard of 10 mg/L protects against infant methemoglobinemia. Boiling does not remove nitrate.
• Total dissolved solids (TDS) and pH. These help flag corrosion or aesthetic issues.

Smart add-ons for Johnstown

• Arsenic. Strongly recommended in Licking County based on USGS data. Test at least once, and retest if conditions change.
• Iron and manganese. These cause staining and can indicate reducing conditions that sometimes align with arsenic.
• Lead and copper. Consider first-draw testing if you have older plumbing.
• VOCs. Add if your property is near gas stations, industrial sites, or known spills.
• Radionuclides or radon in water. The EPA guidance on natural radionuclides in private wells suggests a multi-year schedule when geology indicates risk.

If you are unsure which extras matter for your address, contact the Licking County Health Department’s sampling services for local insight before buying a broad, expensive panel.

How and when to test

Frequency and timing

• Test for bacteria and nitrate at least once every year.
• Test arsenic at least once in a well’s lifetime and repeat if local conditions or your well construction suggest risk.
• Consider radionuclide testing about every three years when geology indicates a risk.
• Test right away after flooding, major plumbing work, or a noticeable change in water quality. The CDC recommends adding tests if you have a new infant, pregnancy, or an immune-compromised person in the home.

Who collects and where to send

• In Licking County, the health department will collect private well samples and forward them to the lab. They post sampling schedules, fees, and typical 3 to 4 business day turnaround on their site. Start here: Licking County Health Department’s sampling services.
• You can also use an Ohio EPA certified lab. Check the Ohio EPA’s list of certified drinking water laboratories to ensure legally meaningful results.

Sample collection tips

• Use sterile bottles supplied by the health department or lab. Do not rinse them and follow the instructions exactly.
• Purge the well or plumbing line as directed, and sanitize the faucet used for sampling. See the Ohio Administrative Code sampling rules for collection and hold times.
• For lead or plumbing metals, collect a first-draw sample after water has sat unused for at least six hours.

Understanding your results

Bacteria

Any E. coli detection is an immediate health concern. Stop using the water for drinking and cooking until you correct the problem and pass a follow-up test. Shock chlorination and resampling are common first steps, often with health department guidance.

Nitrate

If results exceed the EPA nitrate standard of 10 mg/L, do not use the water for infant formula. Point-of-use reverse osmosis or distillation can reduce nitrate at the kitchen tap, while whole-house solutions require professional design and ongoing maintenance.

Arsenic

The public water standard for arsenic is 10 micrograms per liter. Licking County data shows some private wells exceed this level. Effective options include point-of-use reverse osmosis, anion exchange, or adsorptive media systems sized to your water chemistry. Confirm equipment against the EPA overview of residential treatment technologies.

Verify treatment performance

Whatever you install, choose NSF/ANSI certified systems for the contaminant of concern and re-test the treated water periodically. Filters and media wear out, so set reminders for service and sampling.

Buying or selling with a well

If you are buying, make well testing part of your due diligence. In Licking County, a basic panel plus arsenic is a prudent starting point. Your offer can request recent results or require new testing with a remediation or credit plan if anything is elevated.

If you are selling, be proactive. Ohio requires sellers to disclose the water source and known material issues under Ohio’s residential property disclosure law. Provide recent lab results and any treatment maintenance records to build buyer confidence and reduce delays.

Whether you are getting your property market-ready or vetting a purchase, you deserve straightforward guidance. If you want a local perspective on how well testing can impact timing, pricing, or negotiations in and around Johnstown, reach out to Angel Perez for a conversation that fits your goals.

FAQs

How often should I test a Johnstown private well?

• Test bacteria and nitrate every year, add an arsenic test at least once per well, and consider radionuclides about every three years when geology indicates risk. Test sooner after flooding, major plumbing work, or a noticeable change in water quality.

What are the most important tests if I have an infant at home?

• Prioritize bacteriological testing and nitrate. Elevated nitrate can affect infants, and any E. coli result means you should use an alternate water source until the problem is corrected.

Who can help me test my well in Licking County?

• The Licking County Health Department offers sampling services and local guidance, and you can also use an Ohio EPA certified lab for independent sampling and analysis.

What should I do if my results exceed standards?

• For E. coli, stop using the water for drinking or cooking and contact the health department. For nitrate or arsenic above health benchmarks, use alternate water for drinking and cooking until treatment is installed and verified with follow-up tests.

How do I choose the right treatment system?

• Match the technology to the contaminant and your water chemistry, choose systems certified to the relevant NSF/ANSI standard, and plan for maintenance plus periodic re-testing to confirm performance.