It's estimated that private water wells provide water for more than 30 million Americans nationwide. These wells, largely in rural areas and small towns, are a major part of the U.S. water infrastructure, and for the most part, free from state and federal regulations that govern public water systems. At the same time, most private water well owners currently receive little to no support from the state and federal governments to maintain their water systems or test and treat their water. For decades, the agreement between private water well owners and their respective governments has boiled down to "Don't bother us and we won't bother you." But this agreement seems to be changing. An analysis of state legislatures across the country has seen an increasing number of new laws and policies surrounding private wells and the water they produce. According to a presentation from the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), there were eight states that introduced bills concerning private water wells in 2022, and as of March 2023, there are now more than 15 bills being considered in 15 states.
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