There are many homeowners that have a private well. This could be due to not being connected to the public water system, or it could be by choice, but many times the assumption is that the water from a well is better than the water in the public system. Is this true?
The fact of the matter is, you can not know for sure without having the water tested. It could even be harmful to your health.
Having a private well means that you will need to protect your water source. Make sure that there is at least 50 feet between your well and your septic tank, since that is a possible source of contamination. The well should be located where rainwater runs away from it, since rain can carry with it harmful chemicals and bacteria. Extra care needs to be taken if the well is shallow since it can be contaminated easier.