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Figuring out your way to moving into a house with a well can be a difficult task at hand especially if you do not know what you are getting yourself into. If it is your first time transitioning into a new water supply setup then you have come to the right place.
The water supply system is the first place anyone would look into before moving into a new house or a fairly new area that you are not familiar with.
But there is nothing to worry about because even if you are new to all this knowledge, you can still get additional information and guidelines on what your water system should be like by visiting the official pages of the Environmental protection agency and Centres for disease control & prevention.
These organizations will shed light on all your areas of interest and help you gain more knowledge on how you can improve your water supply system.
It is especially important to check that the well water is appropriate for your daily usage also depending on the size of your family members that will use the water. You have to get the well water checked for contaminants and other reliable tests in order to deem the well water safe for usage.
This article will provide a helpful guideline for you especially if you are recently moving or planning to move into a house with a well water setup.
Moving To A House With Well Water – 4 Things to remember
Here are a few ways to ensure you don’t have problems when you move into a house with well water;
Well Water Safety
If the house you are moving in has a well water setup, the first step to ensure its safe use is to test it out. You can either have it tested by the local community water testing plant or you can do it yourself.
A much easier way, if the previous owner of the house knows about the water well, is to ask about the possibility of the water being clean or contaminated. The previous results will give you an idea about how the water quality is.
You should be checking and testing the water for possible impurities such as cloudy or murky water, a neutral and balanced level, any possible bacterial growth such as sulphur bacteria, the presence of extra minerals, etc.
If you have conducted tests through EPA or the local health department in your area, they will help you identify if you need water filtration or water softeners installed in your water well.
Maintenance & Warranty Records
When moving into a house with well water, you should always see how the well has been maintained to date. You can obtain records of the past treatments on the well water as well as any recent changes that were done to its structure should be determined beforehand so that you have an idea of how to maintain it for the future and prolong its usage effectively.
If for instance, the previous owner does not have any proof to show what the changes the well went through, you need to hire professionals who can see if the water well is efficient and ready for use and if there are no underlying issues that could cause future problems.
Normally, the well water is checked yearly for bacterial influence on the water, internal as well as external damage, the potential presence of volatile compounds such as benzene or nitrates as well as hardness. You also need to make sure the well water is safe from exterior environmental damages or leakage so that the water remains unaffected.
Storage Capacity of the Well
It is extremely important to identify the flow rate and dimensions of the water well because you will need to plan your water supply system accordingly, especially when it comes to disinfecting the water amount.
You need to know how much water can be stored in your well, for this, you need to figure out how deep the well actually goes and also the circumference.
The flow rate is important because you need to determine your water use according to the water storage capacity of the well. If the house has more than three members, the required water flow will be automatically higher than usual which is usually 6 to 12 GPM.
If you feel like the flow rate of the water well is not enough, you can use a water pump to amp up the flow.
Ensure No Contact With The Septic Tank
Also make sure the placement of the septic tank is at a distance from the water well to avoid the possibility of contamination of the well water. The home septic tank is responsible for collecting, breaking down, and releasing the waste into nearby drainage zones so we have to make sure the drainage zone does not include the water well system.
The ideal distance between a well water system and a home septic tank system should be at least fifty metres. You should also make sure the well water is at a distance from any other possible sources of underground contamination.
FAQS
How can I avoid sedimentation build-up in my water well?
If you have a cover for the well, make sure it is erected at least a foot above the ground so there is no sand accumulation around the water well.
Final thoughts
In conclusion, moving to a house with well water can sound risky and a ton of work but with a few simple steps, you can ensure a good and long relationship with your house and the well water supply system.
Be sure to follow steps such as well maintenance, yearly checkups for any leakage or seepage, external damage, underground water testing, etc to make sure you can have the well water supply for a long time. If you follow the steps correctly, the well water system can be your long-lasting companion for as long as thirty years!