What needs to be controlled in order to maintain well integrity and water quality?

Maintaining well integrity and water quality is primarily focused on preventing contaminants from entering the water supply. This requires controlling contamination sources. When there are unregulated or unmanaged sources of contamination near a well, pollutants can seep into the aquifer, thereby degrading the quality of the water drawn from the well.

Effective management practices involve identifying potential sources of contamination, such as agricultural runoff, sewage discharge, improper waste disposal, and industrial activities. By addressing these sources, water systems can enhance the safety and purity of the water supply, ensuring the health of consumers and the environment.

While other factors like water temperature, water levels, and well pump efficiency can impact the operation of a well, they do not directly relate to the integrity of the well structure or the safeguarding of the water quality against contamination. Therefore, focusing on contamination sources is essential in the context of overall water quality management.