Well Water 101

If you live in an urban or suburban environment you probably take your water supply for granted. With just a flick of the wrist it’s always there. Things aren’t so simple when you are buying property for a vacation home. When you are looking for property it is important to remember that the breathtaking views will do you no good if you cannot access a good water supply. It is important to invest in professional help from a licensed driller from the outset. The price of a well is much cheaper than the price of the property and a house. Once you have found the property of your dreams you need to hire a licensed driller who will determine for you where your water table lies, and if it has sufficient quantities of water to support daily usage. This is invaluable information especially for mountain properties where the depth needed to drill a well can add significantly to the cost of constructing a home. If there is already a home on the site then you will still want the well tested to make sure that it is adequate and in good working order.
Once you have the well drilled and have located the water table, you will want to have the water tested for organic and inorganic content. Typically, well water is very clean and free of microorganisms but you will still want to run a check. It is the inorganic materials that most homeowners find the most bothersome. Growing up in Alaska where almost everybody in my town was on well water, I know first hand the effects of sulphur, arsenic and iron can wreak on your clothes, hair, and out of town guests. I never owned anything white, everything was off-white to gray due to the high iron content of our water. We considered ourselves lucky though. Friends of ours had so much arsenic in their water that they couldn’t use it to drink or cook, only shower. It was hard to drink some neighbors water because the smell of rotten eggs from the sulphur in it would make me queasy. Have the water tested by a certified contractor prior to purchasing the property, and then annually if you do go through with the purchase. Look for your contractor to be accredited by the National Ground Water Association.
Here are some tips for well-water users:
Have an annual maintenance check performed by a certified professional.
Keep hazardous materials away from the well area. This includes motor oil, paint, fertilizers and pesticides.
make sure there is proper separation between your septic system and you well.
Keep records of your annual well tests so that you can note any changes.
Take care around your well casing. Damage to the casing can compromise the sanitary conditions of your well.

If you follow these steps your well should stay in good working condition for nearly 20 years. A small investment in testing and maintenance will allow you to enjoy that rural retreat for years to come.