COVID-19 Risk from Private Wells Assessed

The National Ground Water Association has published a new report on COVID-19 and groundwater. "Groundwater, Wells, and Coronavirus," by William Alley and Charles Job, describes what is known about the risks of contracting the disease through contact with water from private wells. Although leaky septic systems and inadequately sealed wells can allow bacteria and viruses to contaminate well water; the COVID-19 virus has not been detected in groundwater from wells. One possible explanation is that, as a type of corona virus, COVID-19 is less stable in the environment than, for example, noroviruses, which cause gastrointestinal illness. After surveying the literature on viruses in groundwater, septic systems, and treatment, the authors conclude that the risk is low but not zero.