Well water inspections

Many properties particularly in rural areas are on well water which is not a problem in itself. A new well will have a submersible pump that is down in the well shaft, older wells will often have a “jet pump” which will be located at the pressure tank (in the house of a well pit) A good well supplying 5 or more gallons a minute will satisfy most homes demands. Anything less than 3 gallons per minute is inadequate for habitability and will require either a new well or installation of large water storage tanks to supplement the water supply. When testing a well we establish its gallon quantity per minute then its adequacy in gallons, it’s pressure settings and if it maintains water pressure over a set length of time while the pump maintains and continues to cycle on and off as the pressure changes with water draw. Water pressures are often set low resulting in a shower that does not feel like many buyers are used to with city water. A pump pressure switch setting of 40lbs cut in/60 lbs shut off will give a really nice shower. (60 lbs is considered the maximum pressure for well water pumps) The location of the well in relation to the septic tank leach field and the height and condition of the well head are important for safe drinking water. A well head that is below grade must be extended and terminate above grade. A hand dug well (old stone well) being used as a water source is not permitted if the water is for human consumption. A hand dug well would make a property uninhabitable until such time as a new well is installed. Wells often have high iron content and suffer from sulfur smelling water which is generally cured with a good water softener. All well water should be tested for bacterial contamination and if the property is in farm land, additional testing for nitrates/nitrites that can result from fertilizer use should be considered. A well water issue can make life miserable for a new home owner who has been used to turning on the tap and not giving a second thought to the water that gushes from the spout and how it gets there.