Water wells provide groundwater for domestic use throughout Illinois. Wells can be classified as public or private, depending on the number of homes they serve. A public water supply, as defined by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, serves at least 15 homes or 25 people at their primary residence. Private domestic wells serve fewer residences. Across the U.S., 23 million private wells provide drinking water for 58 million people — 18% of the population. In Illinois, that includes an estimated 750,000 wells serving 2.2 million residents.
Resources and Education
Many private well owners have limited experience managing their water supply. Most have not tested their water and may not know where to begin. Because there are no ongoing federal or state standards for private wells once installed, well owners are responsible for the safety of their drinking water. ISWS supports private well owners with tools, training, and direct assistance.
Private Well Class
Private Well Class offers a free 10-lesson online class that teaches well owners how to protect their water source and health. Funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and delivered in partnership with the Rural Community Assistance Partnership, the class is self-paced and accessible to anyone. Monthly webinars expand on class content and allow well owners to ask questions in real time. Over 13,000 people — including well owners, realtors, and public health officials — have taken the course, and over 30,000 have participated in webinars.
Private Well Help Center
Launched in 2024 by Private Well Class, the Private Well Help Center connects private well owners and professionals to personalized support. The site includes a growing library of frequently asked questions that explore themes like water quality, testing, emergency response, and maintenance. Live chat and phone support are available during business hours.
Private Well Hotline: 866-945-0699
TapTalk Podcast
In 2021, ISWS launched TapTalk: The Drinking Water in Rural America podcast. The podcast features interviews with experts in drinking water, private wells, community water and wastewater systems, and onsite wastewater. The experts featured on TapTalk come from across the U.S. and represent all facets of the water and wastewater industry.
Water Well Records
Since 1967, ISWS has maintained a collection of well documents, including construction reports submitted by drillers, primarily through county health departments. Most of these drillers’ records are also available via the Illinois State Geological Survey’s ILWATER map service.
While ISWS does not maintain a comprehensive archive of every well in Illinois, we do have some historic records dating back to the early 1900s. If you are looking for documentation for a specific property, contact the ISWS Well Records team with property details to request a search.
Water Use Reporting
If you operate a high-capacity well in Illinois, you are required to report your annual water withdrawal rates to ISWS’ Illinois Water Inventory Program (IWIP). Learn more about IWIP and water use reporting.
Groundwater Observation Wells
ISWS maintains a network of monitoring wells to track groundwater levels across Illinois. Read more about our groundwater monitoring networks or launch our interactive Illinois Groundwater Monitoring Network map to view well locations and data.
Learn More
Looking for resources tailored to water professionals or environmental health specialists? Explore our Public Health & Training page to see how ISWS supports continued education and safe water practices across communities.