The USEPA and Ohio Department of Health recommend that owners of private water wells with elevated arsenic use an alternate source of water for drinking and cooking, or install a water-treatment system that removes arsenic. Private water wells provide water to homes and small businesses (less than 25 people, less than 15 service connections). Because arsenic occurs naturally in geologic formation, there is no guarantee that installing a new well will decrease the arsenic concentration of the water.

The term “elevated arsenic” refers to arsenic concentrations greater than the health standard of 10 ug/L.

Treating water to remove arsenic is not simple. Common household water-treatment methods, such as water softeners, activated carbon filters, and sediment filters are not effective for removing arsenic from water. Arsenic cannot be removed from water by boiling.

Click the "Download" button to obtain the  "Arsenic Treatment and Removal for Private Water System Wells" fact sheet.