Private wells supply water to over 15 million homes in the country. If you're considering using a well for your drinking water, learn about the types of wells and what you need to do to keep your well working and tasting great.
Types of Home Wells
There are three main types of home wells:
- dug wells
Dug wells are the hardest to make because of the intensive manual labor. Dug wells are also the easiest to contaminate making them the worst for drinking water.
- driven wells
Driven wells are cost-effective and easy, but they need to be located in an area with groundwater 15 - 30 feet of ground level.
- drilled wells
Drilled wells make up a vast majority of the home wells presently in use. As the name suggests, these wells are made using a drill. Most drilled wells range from 100 - 500 feet deep. Generally speaking, the deeper the well, the cleaner the water.
Well Water Advantages
There are a number of advantages to well water:
- cost
When you use well water, you are utilizing the resources on your own property, so you do not have to pay anyone for this water. Except for the cost of building and maintaining the well, the water is completely free!
- dependability
Your home water system is much smaller than a city wide plumbing system. Your water also doesn't have to travel very far. This means that you have less likelihood of a problem.
- healthy
Well water doesn't have the same chemicals that are found in filtered water from the city. The lack of these chemicals make the water much more healthy.
- taste
The lack of chemicals in the water also gives the water a different taste. Most people say that the water tastes more clean and more natural than treated water.
Well Contaminants
Chemicals that can affect well water:
- arsenic
- calcium
- copper
- herbicides
- pesticides
- pollution
- radon
- sewers
Always avoid storing chemicals away from your well to prevent any accidents!
Maintenance
Maintenance for wells keeps your well running better and longer. It can also prevent contamination by pointing out possible problems in their early stages. Required maintenance for your well includes:
- Visually inspect for cracks and other damage to the outer well. If you do see any cracks, call for repairs for wells.
- Test water for contaminants once a year or if you notice a change in the water's look, smell, or taste. You should also test the water if you notice that your family has stomach issues.
- Test well mechanics once a year.
- Replace your well after roughly 20 years.
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