What Does Having a Private Well Mean for Your Home?

When you’re looking at homes to buy, you may come across a few features that you’re not totally familiar with—including well water. Wells are relatively common for country and rural homes, and are an alternative to the larger water utility systems you see in more highly populated areas. But what does having a private well mean for your home, and is it a highlight or a drawback ?

More than 13 million households in the country use a well for their water supply. And as with many home features, well water isn’t necessarily all good or all bad. It’s up to you to decide whether a private well works for you, and to help you do it, we’ve put together this quick guide to having a home with a private well, including what it is, what the advantages and disadvantages are, and answers to some common questions about living in a home with a well.

What is Well Water?

Well water is a private water source taken directly from the earth. To create a private well, a hole is drilled into the ground down to the aquifer—a permeable layer of rock that contains water. A pump system is then used to carry that water up and into your home.

Unlike tap water, which comes from a general municipal water supply, well water is not treated with chemicals like chlorine or chloramines to filter out bacteria and microorganisms. Instead, it is naturally filtered by the layers of rock and soil that it passes through—though it’s not guaranteed to be bacteria-free. Proper sealing, sufficient filtration, and a slow travel time between the aquifer and the ground surface can go a long way toward preventing any bacterial contamination.

If you purchase a home with a private well, you’ll need to be diligent about doing an annual check for bacteria. This test is easy and cheap to do on your own (about $50 total for the kit and the lab testing), and some rural counties provide the service themselves.

Pros and Cons of Having a Private Well

It’s worth considering both sides of the coin before deciding whether having a private well is right for your family. So now that you have the gist of what it means to have well water, let’s talk pros and cons.

Well Water Pros

• • No water bill. Because you’re not hooked up to a local water supply, there’s no middle man standing in between you and your home’s water. That means no monthly bill to worry about, which can be a big plus when you’re trying to keep expenses down.
  • No worry about service disruptions. It’s not common for a town or city’s water supply to be cut off, but it is possible. If there’s a natural disaster or other emergency that could lead to a water shut off (such as mass flooding), having a well means that you likely won’t be effected.
  • It’s healthy. You already know that water is good for you, but well water is thought to be particularly beneficial health-wise, since it’s chemical-free and full of minerals right from the ground. (Of course, it’s only the healthier option if it’s free of bacteria, which again highlights the need for regular testing.)
  • You know exactly where your water is coming from. There’s a lot of peace of mind that can come with sourcing water from a well on your property, since there’s no having to worry about where the water has traveled from or what it went through before it got to your tap.

  Well Water Cons

  • • It might stain or have an odor. The high mineral content in well water may have some unpleasant side effects, notably a slightly sulfurous taste and odor and staining properties due to elevated levels of iron. There are filtration systems you can add to your property to help with this, and a water softener can also provide some relief.
    • It relies on electricity. It’s bad enough that you lose internet when your power goes out, but water too? Yes, private wells rely on electricity to pump ground water to the surface, and if you lose electricity, you lose the ability to pump water as well. For this reason, it’s recommended that you have a backup source of electricity on hand with a well, such as an emergency generator or solar power.
    • It’s a responsibility. While being off the grid with your water supply does mean no water bill, it also means that it’s up to you to resolve (and pay for) any maintenance or repairs that your well requires.
    • There’s a risk of contamination. The lack of chemical treatment with well water can be both a blessing and a curse. Though when bacteria-free water from well is presumed to be healthier than other water sources, there is an inherent risk of contamination from pollutants making their way into your well or pump system. In Mississippi, where more than 90% of inhabitants rely on ground water, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that more than 20% have shallow water wells that produce water with undrinkable levels of nitrate.s If your well is deep into the aquifer, well maintained, and regularly tested however, you should be fine.

    Common Questions About Having Well Water at Home

    If you’ve never lived in a home with a private well before, then it’s normal to have some questions about the ins-and-outs of what life with one is like. Here are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about living in a home with a water well.

    Is it safe to drink water from a private well?

    Yes, so long as it the well is properly tested and maintained water from a well is safe to drink and cook with. It may just give off a taste and smell that’s a bit different than what you’re used to. You can help offset this by installing a basic water filtration system directly at your tap or by using a standard water filter that you fill and keep on the counter or in your fridge.

    Can you do laundry with water from a well?

    Yes, but the high mineral content can cause some issues, such as stains on clothing and a stiff feel when they come out of the wash. Fortunately, installing treatment systems to soften the water and/or filter out specific minerals can make a big difference.

    Can you fill a pool with well water?

    Yes, you can use water from a well to fill a swimming pool. It’s a good idea to do this in stages instead of all at once, since you don’t want to overtax the well. And you should be treating the water prior to swimming in it, too. An alternative is to hire a company to come fill your swimming pool for you, but this can get quite costly depending on the size of your pool.

    Can your private well run out of water?

    Yes. Certain conditions—in particular droughts—can cause a private well to run dry, as can overtaxing it in one use (see: filling your swimming pool). Signs that you’re running out of a fresh supply include a sputtering pump that turns on and off periodically, as well as water coming out of the pipes brown or muddy. If this happens, contact a water well professional to discuss options, which may include drilling the well deeper into the aquifer.

    Maintaining a Private Well

    If you do decide to purchase a home with a private well system, then it’s important to know what you’ll need to do as a homeowner to keep your well and your water supply in tip-top shape. Add these tasks to your general list of home maintenance tasks to ensure your water stays fresh and accessible.

    Test your water at least once a year
    

    Have your well professionally inspected once a year
    

    Maintain your water softener
    

    If the country life is calling you, then you’re probably going to end up having a water well. Make sure you’re fully informed on all that entails, and have any well fully inspected prior to purchasing a home just as you would other major home systems.