For Homeowners with Private Wells
Your situation is the most delicate – Pay close attention to your well! If you notice ANY issues or irregularities, call a well company right away. If you put it off, the situation is likely to get much worse when the ground freezes. (Remember, once the ground is frozen, precipitation as snow sitting on the surface will not be able to permeate down to the aquifer!) State officials are very concerned that wells will run dry after the ground freezes, costing citizens a great deal of distress—financial and otherwise. If you have any problem with flow now, address it!
If your well runs dry, do not request the Fire Department to fill your well to get it running again, and do not try and fill it on your own. The Rollinsford Fire Department would not do this in the first place (they know it’s a bad idea), but it’s important for residents to know that the water from a fire truck (or any kind of tanker truck) can contaminate your well. Not only could it ruin your well, it could get into the aquifer, making the water unsafe for everyone in that area.
Please refer to the 2016 Drought Guide for Homeowners on Private Wells to learn more about how you can protect your water supply, signs of a failing well, and important information on what to do if your well fails.
ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE
While there is no FEMA money available for this situation, there is some state assistance available to help homeowners with private wells mitigate water issues.
Read more about private well financial assistance »
More Information
The State Drought Management Team (DMT), which consists of the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Environmental Services, the State Fire Marshal, the State Climatologist, the NH Farm Bureau, and many others, has created a full page of resources for Drought Management. You can find updates on the drought situation, information on water regulations, water efficiency information, and a search tool to help you locate licensed well drillers and pump installers in your area.
View the DES Drought Management Resource Page »
