A well-studied county
State geologists have published a full assessment of arsenic in the Slate Belt rock of Union County, and university studies have flagged the county for targeted monitoring. That research is a good reason to test, not a reason to panic: most Union County wells meet the standard. The ones that don’t can be treated.
Drought and yield
Some parts of the Slate Belt give modest yields, and dry summers show it. A well that keeps up in spring may struggle in a long August drought. A pump set at the right depth, a storage approach for low-yield wells, or in some cases a deeper or new well can solve it.
Growth on wells
Plenty of Union County’s new homes outside town limits are on private wells, and so are many older farms. Both need the same basics: a tight, sealed wellhead, a pump and tank that aren’t short-cycling, and a test every so often.
Permits and rules
Union County’s environmental health division permits private wells, inspects construction, and samples new drinking-water wells as North Carolina requires.
Slate beltQuestions from Monroe
Local answers.
Should I test my Union County well for arsenic?
Yes, at least once, and again if anything changes. Union County is on the Carolina Slate Belt, where North Carolina research has found arsenic above the federal limit more often than in other parts of the state.
My well runs low every August. What can be done?
Start by finding out why: a pump set too shallow, a well with a low yield, or a failing pump can all look the same. Fixes range from resetting the pump to adding storage to drilling deeper or drilling a new well.
Who permits wells in Union County?
Union County’s environmental health division. A permit is required before drilling, repairing or abandoning a well.
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