Well Water or Aquarion? Trumbull Water Basics

Not sure if a Trumbull property runs on a private well or Aquarion public water? You’re not alone. Water source affects daily living, testing, maintenance, and what you disclose when you sell. In this guide, you’ll learn how to confirm the source, what to test if you have a well, how to use Aquarion’s resources, and what records to keep so your sale or purchase stays smooth. Let’s dive in.

Confirm your water source in Trumbull

On-site clues to check first

• Look for a water meter. Public water customers often have a meter in the basement, utility room, garage, or in a meter pit near the street. A meter suggests public service, but confirm with the utility.
• Look for well equipment. A visible well cap or well pad outdoors, and a pressure tank or well pump in the basement, indicate a private well.
• Scan your bills. No water utility bills may point to a private well.
• Trace plumbing. A municipal shutoff or curb stop near the street suggests a public connection. Unmetered plumbing and a pump controller typically indicate a private well.

Records that help you verify

• Review the seller disclosure and listing details. These often note the water supply type, but verify independently.
• Check past utility bills and settlement statements for Aquarion or water charges.
• Look at property tax or assessor records for public utility hookups.
• Ask for well documents. A well completion report, permit, or log may be on file if a well exists.
• Review the deed, survey, or title work for water rights, easements, or hookup notes.

Who to contact, in order

1. Ask the seller or agent for recent water bills and well documentation.
2. Inspect the property for a meter or well hardware.
3. Contact Aquarion Water Company with the property address to confirm if the home is served and to review account history.
4. Call the Town of Trumbull Department of Public Works or Health Department for water-main maps and private well permits or records.
5. Consult the Connecticut Department of Public Health for private well guidance and certified lab lists.
6. If available, review town GIS or water-main maps to see if the parcel abuts a public main.

Expect a few edge cases

• A property can be within Aquarion’s territory but still use a private well.
• The most reliable confirmation is a utility account lookup with Aquarion and a visual inspection of the meter or service connection.

Private well testing basics

If you have a private well, you are responsible for water quality. Regular testing protects your health, your plumbing, and your transaction timeline.

What to test and why

• Annual must-checks: Test for total coliform bacteria and E. coli, and for nitrate and nitrite. These indicate microbial risks and potential impacts from septic or agricultural sources.
• Common additional tests: pH, hardness, iron, manganese for stains and appliance performance; lead and copper for health and corrosion risk, especially in older plumbing; volatile organic compounds if near fuel storage, gas stations, dry cleaners, or former industrial sites; PFAS where there is concern or for added assurance; sodium, arsenic, and turbidity as conditions warrant.
• Local concerns: Follow Connecticut public health and environmental guidance for Fairfield County on contaminants of concern, including gasoline compounds and PFAS.

How often to test

• Bacteria and nitrate: Test at least once a year. Also test after flooding, after well repairs, when water changes in taste, odor, or appearance, or when system components change.
• Lead and copper: Test before a sale or when children are present, then every few years or if corrosion is suspected.
• PFAS, VOCs, arsenic: Test when buying or selling, if a nearby source is suspected, or when public concern exists. Frequency is often event-driven.

Choose a certified lab

• Use a Connecticut Department of Public Health certified laboratory. Confirm the lab is certified for the specific analytes you need.
• Ask for sample bottles and written instructions. Many labs provide both, which helps maintain chain-of-custody.
• For transactions, check if a lender or local rules require certain tests or labs.
• Get quotes and turnaround times. Bacteria tests are usually inexpensive, while comprehensive panels can be several hundred dollars.

Collecting samples correctly

• Follow the lab’s instructions exactly. Bacteria samples require sterile bottles and careful technique.
• Plan your timing. Many bacteria samples must reach the lab quickly, often within 24 hours, and may need refrigeration during transport.
• Maintain chain-of-custody. If results are for a closing, complete any provided forms and keep copies of all paperwork.
• Consider professional collection. If a lab, health department, or licensed well contractor offers sample collection, it can reduce errors.

Understanding results and next steps

• Compare results to health-based benchmarks such as EPA or state action levels. These are not enforceable for private wells but provide guidance.
• If bacteria are present: Disinfect the system, investigate sources, and retest.
• If nitrates, arsenic, PFAS, VOCs, or lead are elevated: Consult state or local health guidance. Consider point-of-use or whole-house treatment, or connect to public water if available.
• Keep documentation of any treatment installed and follow-up test results.

When to test during a sale

• Sellers: Provide your most recent test results. If you do not have current tests, consider testing before listing to support a smoother offer and inspection period.
• Buyers: Include a well-water test contingency and schedule testing soon after inspections. Coordinate sample timing to meet lab turnaround before closing.

Aquarion public water: what to expect

Aquarion operates regulated public water in portions of Trumbull. If a property is on Aquarion, the utility monitors quality and handles service.

Customer services you can use

• Service verification. Aquarion can confirm whether an address is served, provide account history, and identify the meter and service line location.
• Start, stop, or transfer service. Contact Aquarion early to set your transfer date, meter reads, and final billing.
• Billing and assistance. Aquarion offers online account management and customer assistance programs.

Water quality reports and notices

• Annual Consumer Confidence Reports summarize monitored contaminants, sampling results, and how the system performs against regulations.
• Aquarion issues notices for advisories or disruptions and maintains emergency and outage reporting tools.
• Lead and copper are managed under federal rules for public systems. PFAS and other emerging contaminants are addressed through monitoring and public notices as required.

Using Aquarion in your transaction

• Ask the seller or agent to provide a recent Aquarion account history and the latest Consumer Confidence Report for the service area.
• If a buyer wants testing for analytes not routinely monitored, confirm what Aquarion tests and whether a private certified lab should be used.

Owner responsibilities and disclosure in CT

Whether you have a well or public water, organized records reduce friction when you sell and help buyers feel confident.

Keep organized records

• Well construction and permits, if available, including driller, depth, and date.
• Water test results with dates and lab names.
• Pump service and pressure tank maintenance records, plus repairs or upgrades.
• Documentation for any well abandonment or changes.
• Treatment system installation and service history.

Well maintenance best practices

• Keep chemicals, fuel, and waste away from the wellhead.
• Ensure the well cap is intact and secure, and slope ground away from the well.
• Maintain proper separation from septic systems and fuel tanks per state guidance.
• Use licensed well contractors for repairs and, if desired, for sampling and abandonment.

Seller disclosure and buyer due diligence

• Sellers complete the state disclosure form and disclose known material issues, including known water-supply problems, history of contamination, yield or flow problems, and any treatment systems.
• Best practice for sellers: share your latest tests, well log, and maintenance records with prospective buyers.
• Buyers commonly request independent water testing as a contingency. Expect this and plan for timing.

Talk to your agent and attorney

• Confirm your disclosure obligations and whether your contract should include water testing contingencies. Practices may evolve, so get current guidance.

Quick checklist and timeline

Fast checklist

• Step 1 — Confirm source:
  • Inspect for a meter or well equipment.
  • Ask the seller for water bills and well documents.
  • Call Aquarion and the Town of Trumbull Health or Public Works for records and maps.
• Step 2 — If private well:
  • Schedule bacteria and nitrate testing with a Connecticut-certified lab. Add metals or chemicals based on risk.
  • Keep test results, well log, and service records organized.
• Step 3 — If Aquarion:
  • Request the latest Consumer Confidence Report and account history.
  • Arrange account transfer near closing.
• Step 4 — If contaminants are detected:
  • Follow Connecticut public health guidance, consult a licensed well contractor, consider treatment or a public connection if available, and document all actions.

Typical sale timeline

• At listing: Sellers gather and share well and water records with their agent.
• During inspections: Buyers order well testing and review Aquarion’s water quality report if applicable.
• Before closing: Sellers provide disclosures and existing water documents. Address remediation or negotiate credits if tests reveal issues.

Local contacts to look up

• Aquarion Water Company customer service and emergency contacts
• Town of Trumbull Department of Public Health and Public Works
• Connecticut Department of Public Health drinking water and private well resources, plus certified laboratory lists
• Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection for environmental contamination and PFAS guidance
• Licensed Connecticut well drillers and pump service contractors
• Certified water-testing laboratories listed by Connecticut DPH

Ready for clear next steps?

Whether you’re prepping a luxury listing in Trumbull or shopping with confidence, the key is simple: know your source and keep records. If you want guidance on which tests to order, how to time them with inspections, or how to organize documents to support a smooth closing, we can help coordinate trusted local pros and manage the process. Contact Jennifer Lockwood Homes to request a complimentary market consultation.

FAQs

How can I tell if a Trumbull home has a well or Aquarion water?

• Look for a water meter or well equipment, review utility bills and disclosures, and confirm with Aquarion and the Town of Trumbull for records or maps.

What well water tests are most important for Connecticut homes?

• Test bacteria and nitrate annually, and consider pH, hardness, iron, manganese, lead, copper, VOCs, PFAS, sodium, arsenic, and turbidity based on risk.

Who should perform private well testing in Fairfield County?

• Use a Connecticut Department of Public Health certified laboratory and follow their sampling instructions to maintain accuracy and chain-of-custody.

How often should I test a private well in Trumbull?

• Test bacteria and nitrate yearly and after events like flooding or repairs, and test other analytes as conditions, plumbing age, or transaction needs warrant.

What does Aquarion provide to Trumbull customers?

• Aquarion confirms service, handles start and stop requests, manages billing, publishes annual water quality reports, and issues notices and advisories as needed.

What should sellers in Connecticut share with buyers about water?

• Provide the state disclosure form, recent water test results, well logs, maintenance records, and any treatment system documentation.