Free Well Water Testing & Septic Assessments - Communities Unlimited
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NO-CHARGE PRIVATE WELL AND SEPTIC ASSESSMENTS FOR HOMEOWNERS
Private Well & Septic Assessments
WHAT WE DO
CU Technical Assistance Providers conduct in-person Private Well and Septic System Assessments, identifying safety or reliability issues. They offer practical solutions for homeowners to access federal and state funding for necessary repairs or construction.
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Source Water Project Manager
Brett Capps
Source Water Project Manager
Brett Capps
Brett Capps is the Source Water Project Manager for the Infrastructure Team at Communities Unlimited (CU). In his role, Brett oversees CU’s Personal Well Program.
Find out more about our Personal Well Program
. He joined CU as a Community Infrastructure Management Specialist in January 2022.
Previously, Brett worked as a Wellsite Geologist for Impac Exploration Specialties. He graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin with a Bachelor of Science in May 2021.
Phone:
(865) 995-8168
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Private Well Assessments
During a private well assessment, a technical assistance provider will:
Identify potential threats to your well
Identify potential sources of well contamination
Visually inspect your well
Review well construction
Evaluate water source
Septic System Assessments
During a septic system assessment, a technical assistance provider will:
Identify potential system component failures
Identify inflow or infiltration of your system
Verify proper flow from your structure to the system
Did you know?
If you are in need of a new or refurbished well or septic system, CU offers Low-interest loans to assist homeowners with the construction, repair, or replacement of essential household water wells and septic systems ensuring access to safe, reliable water and sanitation.
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As the southern regional affiliate of
RCAP (Rural Community Assistance Partnership, Inc.)
we provide managerial, technical, and financial assistance to Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas.
Is my well water safe to drink?
If you’re on a private well, that’s the right question, because the answer is on you, not a utility. Well water can look, smell, and taste fine and still carry things you can’t see. The only way to know is to test it.
Common contaminants in rural wells:
-Bacteria (like E. coli):** often a sign that surface water or waste is reaching your well.
-Nitrates:** can seep in from fertilizer, livestock, or a nearby septic system, and are especially risky for infants and pregnant women.
-Arsenic and other naturally occurring minerals:** present in the groundwater across parts of our region.
-A damaged or poorly built well:** a cracked casing, a bad seal, or a wellhead too close to a septic field can let contamination in.
A Communities Unlimited assessment checks for all of this. We test your water and inspect the well itself, then tell you plainly what’s going on and what to do next.
How free well water testing works with Communities Unlimited
1. We come to you. A CU technician visits your property and inspects your well and wellhead in person.
2. We collect a water sample. That sample goes to a certified third-party laboratory for analysis. We coordinate it; you don’t pay for it.
3. You get your results. We walk you through what the lab found, whether it’s bacteria, nitrates, or something else, in plain language.
4. You get a plan. If there’s a problem, we lay out your options, including funding and low-interest loans for repairs or a new system.
What a private well assessment covers
During a private well assessment, a Communities Unlimited technician will:
– Collect a water sample for lab testing by a certified third-party lab
– Identify potential threats to your well
– Identify potential sources of well contamination
– Visually inspect your well and wellhead
– Review your well construction
– Evaluate your water source
What a septic system assessment covers
During a septic system assessment, a technician will:
– Identify potential failures in system components
– Check for inflow or infiltration into the system
– Verify proper flow from your home to the system
If you need repairs or a new system
Found a problem? You’re not on your own. CU can connect you to federal and state funding for the work, and we offer low-interest loans to homeowners for the construction, repair, or replacement of a well or septic system.
The goal is simple: clean, safe water you can count on, and a system that protects your home and your land for the long run.
Get free well water testing
Tell us about your well or septic system and we’ll set up an assessment in your area, at no charge. Contact Brett Capps at
(865) 995-8168
or brett.capps@communitiesu.org
Does Communities Unlimited test my well water?
Yes. As part of a no-charge assessment, a CU technician collects a water sample and sends it to a certified third-party laboratory. You get the results and a clear explanation of what they mean.
How much does well water testing and a septic assessment cost?
Nothing. Communities Unlimited offers private well water testing and septic assessments at no charge to rural homeowners across the seven states we serve.
What can contaminate a private well?
Common sources include bacteria such as E. coli, nitrates from fertilizer or septic systems, naturally occurring arsenic, and problems with the well itself like a cracked casing or a poor seal.
Which areas does Communities Unlimited serve?
We work alongside rural homeowners across Arkansas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, and Alabama.
Our Promise
To partner with people who want to escape from persistent poverty and connect them to solutions for achieving sustainable prosperity.
Our Purpose
Talent is equally distributed across the U.S. and opportunity is not. Access to opportunities should not depend on where you live, how much you have in the bank or what you look like.
Our Approach
Through human connection and ingenuity combined with cutting-edge technology and expertise, Communities Unlimited connects people to solutions that sustain healthy businesses, healthy communities, and healthy lives.
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Communities Unlimited, Inc.
3 East Colt Square Drive
Fayetteville, AR  72703
P (479) 443-2700
F (479) 443-5036
This institution is an EOE Disability/Veteran employer, provider, and lender.
Persons with speech or hearing impairment may call toll-free 1-800-877-0996 for service in English and Spanish
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