The General Assembly recently passed legislation that will require local health departments to inspect all new wells and repairs of existing wells.

Regulations already exist regarding the location and construction of wells, and well drillers must be licensed. The health department inspections are an added requirement.

Counties already have the authority to conduct health department inspections of wells, and at least one does so. The bill passed by legislature would mandate such inspections statewide, whether or not local county commissioners and health boards believe they are needed.

The General Assembly did not provide counties any money to pay for the inspections. Local health officials say at least two new employees will be needed to inspect the large number of new wells that are drilled in Iredell County. These salaries will have to be funded either from county tax dollars or from an inspection fee. A fee would add a bit more to the cost of new houses with wells.

The bill passed the N.C. House 111 to 4. Rep. Mitchell Setzer cast one of the four “no” votes. The other local House members, Karen Ray, Julia Howard, and George Holmes, voted for the bill.

The vote in the state Senate was less lopsided—it passed 29/19. Sen. Jim Forrester voted against the bill, pointing out that it was yet another un-funded mandated on counties. Senators Austin Allran and Fletcher Hartsell voted in favor.