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RALEIGH — Dozens of homeowners in Wake Forest and Raleigh have discovered their private water wells are contaminated, leaving them desperate for clean water to drink and bathe in.

The recent cases have made a lot of other people on private wells across the county question the safety of their water.

This also happens to be National Groundwater Safety Awareness week.

North Carolina estimates there are more than 2,500 contaminated sites near groundwater in Wake County alone. That is just ground contamination that experts know about.

As part of National Groundwater Safety Awareness week, environmental safety representatives are urging everyone using a private well to get their water tested, whether people live near one of the known contaminated sites or not.

Experts recommend people test their well water once a year for possible bacteria and once every two years looking for volatile organics, such as fuel or harmful cleaning chemicals.

The cheapest way to get a private well tested is to collect a personal water sample. Kits are available, with complete instructions at Wake County Environmental Cervices Offices.

Experts say the bottom line is people should think of their well like other systems in their home that require routine testing or service for their family's safety.

“The majority of water in Wake County is safe. But until you have your water tested you don't know. So we don't want to scare anyone. We just think it's a great idea to have your water tested so you'll know what the water quality is,” said Wake County groundwater program supervisor Greg Bright.

Water testing will cost anywhere from $75 to $300, depending on how many tests requested and what kind of contaminates are suspected in the water. It could take anywhere from three days to four weeks to get the results back, depending on the type of tests are requested.