I am looking into buying a house outside the city limits that receives its water supply from a private well. Should I request that the water be checked for bacteria before buying the house? What other well water advice do you have for someone with no experience with wells at all?
Definitely. Check with your local county health or cooperative extension, but you you should have them test it for nitrates and coliform bacteria at a minimum.
My house has a private well.
Take it from me…GET IT CHECKED.
My problem wasn’t bacteria, but such a high mineral content as to be unfit for human consumption.
We now have city water, and leave the well water for the sprinkler system.
You should definitely get the water tested - when we bought our house, the lender required that the water be tested before they would put through the papers on the house, so if things work the same way in your state, you may not have a choice anyway.
Also, find out if the house has a water filtration system already in place, and what kind it is. Also find out how to properly maintain the system. Ours has a UV light system with a filter, which is designed to remove bacteria and viruses.
Here’s some things you will want to consider getting your water tested for:
- Bacteria
- Nitrates and nitrites, if there are agricultural operations nearby or an on-site septic system.
- Minerals - a test can be performed to determine if a hard water condition exists. You may also be able to see signs of this yourself, if there are green, white or orange deposits around the faucets in the house.
- pH level - water with a low pH (less than 7.0) may have problems with leaching of copper and lead from the plumbing.
- Arsenic - if the area is known to have high arsenic levels in the groundwater, a test for arsenic concentration should be performed at least once a year.
- BTEX and MTBE - if there is a gas station nearby (within a 1/4 mile), a BTEX and MTBE analysis should be conducted. It will detect the presence of gasoline and/or the gasoline additive MTBE. This should also be repeated annually.
- Radon - if you live in a region where radon is a known problem, have the water analyzed for it. If radon is detected, you may also want to have the indoor air analyzed as well.
- If the house is in an area where pesticide use is common, such as near a golf course, orchard, or agricultural area, you may also want to consider having the water analyzed for pesticides.
Do get it checked. Even if there is no bacteria, it may not be drinkable. Mine has such a high iron content that it tastes funny. I use it to shower and wash clothes, but I buy drinking water.
Should the seller be responsible for conducting the water test if I request or would that be my responsibility after the sale of the property is complete?
If the test comes back that the well water is unsafe for human consumption and I wanted to get a water meter installed on the propery to start receiving water from a public water provider, who would have to pay to the meter and plumming installed?
If the test comes back that the well water is unsafe for human consumption would it be ok to buy bottled water to drink and use the well water to shower and wash?
Oh, a couple other things too:
-
Make sure that well is drilled nice and deep - how deep will depend on how far down your groundwater is, but make sure it has been drilled to take full advantage of the aquifer it goes into. If the well runs dry, getting a newer, deeper one drilled can cost a lotta money, so you need to avoid that.
-
Keep in mind that when the power goes out, your water won’t get pumped either, so when you are without power you are without water too. While this can happen with municipal systems too, it usually takes longer before municipal supplies run short. You’ll want to keep some bottled water on hand.
So far having a well has been all right with me - no water bills, except for new filters and a new UV light once a year, and no chlorine smell. It’s amazing how you get used to chlorine being in water - until you don’t have it anymore. Then you can smell it right away.
Also, be sure to test the well yield. Around here 1 gpm will allow you to get an occupancy permit, but such a low yield is prone to run dry during drought and come up short during periods of heavy useage. You don’t want to have a wedding reception where no one can flush the toilet. I think you should definately have the water tested as well, and the purchase should be contingent on satisfactory results.
I agree that a yield test is a must. Insist on one even if the owner shows you the driller’s report showing it flowed 10 gpm when drilled. Wells can clog up over time for a variety of reasons.
Should the seller be responsible for conducting the water test if I request or would that be my responsibility after the sale of the property is complete?
If the test comes back that the well water is unsafe for human consumption and I wanted to get a water meter installed on the propery to start receiving water from a public water provider, who would have to pay to the meter and plumming installed?
If the test comes back that the well water is unsafe for human consumption would it be ok to buy bottled water to drink and use the well water to shower and wash?
Well water used to taste and be so much better than city water. At least I used to think so, but now, my parent’s water has a sulfur smell, and can no longer be drunk. Blamed on oil wells near by and possible farm chemicals. But do get it tested, and if it’s an option you may want to get city water, although if it’s not close to an existing city line, it’s going to be cheaper to get a nice filtration system I think.
I have one and like the water so much better then the chlorinated water. I really notice hte difference. Anyway get it checked, for no other reason then piece of mind. I (buyer) sprung for the test, and was very happy w/ the results. IIRC Home Depot sells a water test kit, where you mail away a sample to a lab. This might be better for maintance checking, but for the 1st test in buyiugn the house I say get it checked out full bill.
Also about no power=no water, which is true but there is a reserve that I can tell you from personal experence will allow you to complete a started shower before the pressure drops too far.
Be careful about assuming that you can get a water meter. At least around where I live, many rural water districts are at capacity and will not let you have a meter. Some districts are restricted by local government from giving out additional meters as a way of controlling development.
We’ve got a well, but drink only bottled water. There’s nothing dangerous about our well water, it just tastes bad and I don’t really need the extra sodium from the water softener.
Who pays is pretty much between you and the seller.
Seems to me a water tank is also a good idea.
As far as who’s responsible for paying for testing, a smart seller would already have that done and paperwork available when putting the place on the market. If not, you can ask that they pay for it, or pay for it yourself and ask that they take the cost off the price of the house. If they’re not willing to work with you on this, at least a little, I’d be leery of what might be in that well.
Also, if a place is on a well, it’s generally because there is no water service in that area. Believe it or not, there are still areas, even close to some cities, where this is the case. My parents live less than 10 miles outside a small city, and they’ve only had county water for 2 years. They built the place fifteen years ago, so it’s not like we’re talking about an old farmhouse or anything.
When the county finally put water lines in, I believe the county paid to run the line along the road, but my parents had to pay for the labor and materials to connect the house to the main line.
And yes, when the lights go out, so does the water. This generally isn’t too much of a problem, except when the power is off for long periods of time. You also have to make sure the pump has a covering and plentiful insulation, as they can freeze up in cold weather and leave you without water until you get them thawed out.
Another thing you should know about is the fact that if there are no county water lines, there generally aren’t any county gas lines, either. If the house you’re looking at has gas heat, make sure you find out whether you’ve got a gas meter or a propane tank. If you have a tank, you’ll have to check the level regularly and have it refilled, or you’ll be one cold little Doper.