E-Enterprise sponsors Be Well Informed to help agencies provide consistent and timely advice about water quality to people that rely on private well water. Households that test their well water may have difficulty interpreting lab results and taking appropriate action. If well water contains pollutants, the Be Well Informed application gives people information about potential health concerns and water treatment choices relevant to their state, tribe, territory, or locality.
Millions of private well users need help understanding the quality of their drinking water
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that more than 23 million American households rely on private wells for drinking water. Unlike public water systems, these wells are not regulated by the federal Safe Drinking Water Act and state-level standards and testing regulations can vary widely. Well users that do test their water often seek help interpreting laboratory test reports and understanding necessary treatments if contaminants are detected. Agencies with limited staff resources may struggle to deliver timely and consistent advice to well users.
A shareable app that can be customized for state, tribal, and local agencies
The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) developed the initial Be Well Informed application with funding support from the Centers for Disease Control. NHDES then worked with E-Enterprise to modify the tool and make it available as a customizable shared service. To date, Alaska, Arizona, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, New Hampshire, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming, as well as Wake County, North Carolina, have officially adopted and tailored the tool to their jurisdictions. Other agencies are testing the application and expect to publish their information into the application in the future.
The Environmental Council of the States (ECOS) hosts this application with support from E-Enterprise and the Exchange Network.
What’s next for the Be Well Informed project?
ECOS is working with current users of Be Well Informed and EPA’s Office of Water to make the tool even better. The new application will offer agencies an easier onboarding process and well users a more intuitive design and user experience.
A shareable app that can be customized for state, tribal, and local agencies
Our collaborative work on Be Well Informed is producing a wide range of benefits for agencies and well users, including:
- Data on Demand: Information is timely, actionable, and customized to local standards
- Consistent Messaging: Agencies can provide clear guidance about health concerns and water treatment
- Better Health Decisions: Well users can make more informed decisions about their water and their health
- Reduced Costs: Agencies automate their response to information requests and eliminate the need for costly and redundant software development and maintenance.
Use the app today!
To access the Be Well Informed app, go to bewellinformed.info in your web browser. There is no cost or login required — just click and go.
