Ground Water Awareness Week
March 9 - 15, 2008

Roughly half of the county’s annual drinking water supply is pumped from groundwater basins through wells owned by municipalities, retail water companies or individuals. Water from groundwater basins has traditionally been of very high quality.

However, the basins are threatened by industrial spills, urban runoff, leaking underground fuel storage tanks and agricultural operations, as well as biological pathogens from cracked sewer lines, septic systems, livestock facilities and other sources.

• Learn more about groundwater, its role in Santa Clara County, and the efforts to preserve and protect it in the local water pages of our website.

• Certified laboratories - testing your well water

• Information for well owners:

Wells and Water Production information, regulations, District ordinance and more...

"A Guide For The Private Well Owner" is available to download [PDF 945 KB]. You can also request a printed version by calling the Office of Communications at (408) 265-2607 ext. 2238,

This publication will answer many of your questions about a well owner's responsibilities, how to maintain a well properly and how to test for water quality.

• Not all the drinking water comes from the ground, where does the rest of it come from?

• What other projects are underway to protect local water resources?

• Find out how you can become a Groundwater Guardian
  (PDF 1 MB)