Arsenic is a metal that has no smell or taste.  Arsenic is naturally present in bedrock in many places throughout Connecticut.  When a drinking water well is drilled into bedrock containing arsenic, the arsenic can get into the well water.  We know that there are private wells in locations across Connecticut with high levels of arsenic.  The only way to find out if your well has high arsenic is to test it.  The State of Connecticut Department of Public Health (www.ct.gov/dph) recommends that homeowners test their private well at least once for arsenic.  The EPA and expert scientific committees have classified arsenic as a human cancer-causing agent.  Research indicates that people living in areas where water concentrations are vey high are more likely to have bladder, lung, or skin cancer.  They are also more likely to have problems with their skin, and with their cardiovascular, immune, and neurological systems. These toxic effects of arsenic exposure develop after many years of exposure to arsenic in the well water. 

When Should I Test My Well for Arsenic?

You should test for arsenic when you buy a house with a well or at the time a new well is drilled. It is possible for arsenic levels in well water to fluctuate so even if one arsenic test shows no arsenic problem, it is a good idea to test for arsenic every 5 years. If you have a treatment system to remove arsenic from your water, you should test every year to be sure your treatment system is working properly.