If you rely on a private well in Washington, the wellhead is the first line of defense. Before you order lab work or buy any equipment, a short walk around the well can tell you whether surface water, insects, or debris have a way in. This guide covers simple visual checks you can do safely and what to do with what you find.
Why the cap and casing matter
The casing is the steel or plastic pipe that runs down into the ground and protects the well from the surface. The cap or seal on top keeps rain, runoff, insects, and small animals from getting into the well. In the Missouri River-bottom area around Washington and across Franklin County, wells sit in ground that floods and drains slowly, so a gap at the top can matter more than it would on higher land.
Wells are not regulated the way public water systems are. Nobody checks your well on a schedule, so your own eyes and periodic lab results are the main safeguards.
What to look for
Walk around the wellhead on a dry day and check the following. You do not need to open anything or enter a pit to see most of these problems.
- Cracks, dents, or rust holes in the casing above ground
- A cap that is loose, cracked, missing, or does not seal tightly against the pipe
- Screens or vent covers that are torn, clogged, or pulled away
- Soil, mulch, or gravel piled against the casing, or ground that slopes toward the well
- Standing water, mud lines, or debris around the base after rain
- Wires, hoses, or old fittings running into the top of the casing
- A concrete pad that is cracked or sunk so water pools next to the pipe
Checks that point to bigger problems
Some findings are simple to fix, and others point to a deeper issue. A missing cap after a storm, a visible mud line on the casing after flooding, or a well that has been submerged should prompt a closer look and a water test before anyone drinks from it. Brown, orange, or dark staining near the top of the casing can be a sign of iron or manganese in the water or on the outside of the pipe, which is worth noting for later testing.
A strong, sour, or rotten egg odor, cloudy water, or changes in taste after a weather event cannot be sorted out from the wellhead alone. Collect a sample and send it to a certified lab.
Simple steps you can take yourself
- Take photos of the wellhead from several sides and keep them with your well records.
- Tighten a loose cap by hand, and replace a cracked or missing cap with one made for your casing size.
- Pull back mulch and soil so the top of the casing is visible and the ground slopes away from it.
- Clear debris from the pad and keep vegetation trimmed back so you can inspect the casing.
- Write down the date of each check and anything you changed.
When to call a licensed well contractor
Call a licensed well contractor if the casing is damaged, the well has been underwater, the cap or seal cannot be made watertight, or you see anything inside the well opening. Do not pull a cap off a well that is under pressure or lower anything into the casing yourself. A contractor can inspect the well, check the seal, and advise on disinfection if the well has been flooded.
When you call, ask what they will inspect, whether they will test the water, and what testing they recommend for your area.
Keep testing on schedule
A sound wellhead does not replace water testing. Because private wells around Washington can carry hardness, iron, nitrate, bacteria, and naturally occurring radium, test at least yearly and again after any flood, nearby construction, or change in taste, odor, or color. Use a certified lab, follow its collection instructions, and keep the results with your well log.
A few minutes of checking the cap and casing each season is one of the easiest habits a well owner can keep. It will not show you what is in the water, but it can show you where problems may start.