Nearly two million Georgians in rural parts of the state get their water from private wells. Sometimes, that poses a serious risk.

The Georgia Department of Public Health says that in its most recent tests, 23 percent of the wells it checked showed signs of potential trouble.

Chris Rustin is Director of the Environmental Health Section of the Georgia Department of Public Health.

“You should get your well tested to make sure that number one, your water’s safe to drink,” Rustin told GPB’s On The Story. “ It will establish a base line for you and it’s recommended that you test your well at least once a year for bacteria and every three years for chemicals.”