Individual water well

[Ultrarunner]

I have both (Not at the same property)

I treasure my well because the water is very good.

On a monthly basis, the cost of using well water is extremely low. I did have to spend $3000 a few years back for a new pump... the original was installed around 1975.

If I had city water, my monthly costs would increase dramatically...

In the best of both worlds, I would like to have a great well and be on city sewer vs septic.

There have been so many regs coming down on Septic and I think it will only get worse overtime.

Easy enough to get a water report for the well and I would never buy without a full septic report.

[PollyGlott]

Originally Posted by Ultrarunner

I have both (Not at the same property)
I treasure my well because the water is very good.
On a monthly basis, the cost of using well water is extremely low. I did have to spend $3000 a few years back for a new pump... the original was installed around 1975.
If I had city water, my monthly costs would increase dramatically...
In the best of both worlds, I would like to have a great well and be on city sewer vs septic.
There have been so many regs coming down on Septic and I think it will only get worse overtime.
Easy enough to get a water report for the well and I would never buy without a full septic report.

Thank you for those 2 recommendations!

[StealthRabbit]

Oh yes, certainly a good well is preferred to a city / public system. (cost and quality of water)

BUT, be sure it is a good well (Volume, quality, equipment)
It is in compliance with regs
It is adequately protected (neighboring factory (for 5 miles) is not a Chrome Plating shop, Dry Cleaner, auto junkyard, or a landfill)
It is DEEP enough and in a good aquifer
It has been installed properly and the first 50 ft sealing in Bentonite (to protect from ground water infiltration)
You have a 'pit-less' adaptor (to allow ALL piping to be at least 2ft under ground in WESTERN WA. More in Eastern region (below frost level))
You have a proper pressure system (80+ gal tank to keep pump from cycling)
You size your sprinklers and such to meet flow of pump (You want to keep pump running ~ 50 psi, rather than cycling on and off)
You have adequate shut-offs and pump protection (in cases of leak)
You know where everything is (lines, wires, relay box, pressure switches ...)
You keep a few spares on hand (a $2 capacitor can save you a $100 service call)
You know how to operate and maintain
You have water tested on occasion (annually), just in case there is a neighbor dumping solvents in the aquifer.

Regarding purity.... nature does a pretty good job when left to do it properly.
Underground aquifers are nature's 'filters' (sand, rock, dirt, organic minerals...)
and far surpass man's feeble attempts to replicate.

On the Septic, Do get an inspection (required for financing, and annually by many Health agencies and counties). A proper Septic is very trouble free as long as you maintain it correctly. I have a 16 yr old system that has never been pumped, and hopefully never will. It has only 6" of sludge (which decomposes). I have seen tanks with 4' of sludge, that is very messy and indication of dumping too much of the wrong 'stuff' down the drain. No septic treatment chemicals are needed, just common sense (no / minimal disposal use). If you get the system pumped, or feel you want to help it, use a dose of buttermilk to give it some enzymes / Bacteria.
Install an outlet filter (or use a silk stocking)on Septic tank. You don't want particulate flowing into drainfield.

Keep the drainfield area clear (of grazing LARGE animals, driveways, buildings...)

You can get a 'self study' booklet (to install your own Septic) from WA DOH and it is a very helpful tool to understand functionality.

[PollyGlott]

Thank you, StealthRabbit, for all the details and suggestions! Very helpful!

[hamellr]

Originally Posted by jinj

You guys are making having a well sound like such an expensive problem.

Wells provide better water than city water supplies and contain no nasty chemicals.

Not true everywhere. People in the Eastern half of the state are having issues with contaminated wells right now.

[mrslovettstailor]

All I can say is get yourself a generator I live in MI and we get alot of high winds off of the bay that knocks the power out so no power=no water

[Ultrarunner]

Originally Posted by mrslovettstailor

All I can say is get yourself a generator I live in MI and we get alot of high winds off of the bay that knocks the power out so no power=no water

Yes... good advice.

Had a huge storm a few years back and power was out the better part of a week.

The little Honda provided the well with power and lights for the house and kept the refrigerator cold.

[mkcurran]

Originally Posted by PollyGlott

Thanks for the explanation!
I suppose the source of one's water can vary widely, but what- if anything - purifies the water, or rather, makes it drinkable?

My water is purified by 160 feet of basalt. It's drinkable right out of the well. Tastes better than most city water as well. I did live in an area where the well water tasted funky, but a britta filter took care of that.

[riknapora]

I just went through tons of well-woes to get me where I am closer to needing to be. First, you need a test...not the state minimum for two or three things that make it minimally drinkable without killing you, but EVERYTHING that may cause problems later. My water flows well (18 gpm), and it is Artisian, but it has iron, manganese, and sulphates...which means it smells, it makes clothes and sinks/toilets yellow, and it plugs filters several times a month with black fine stuff. Safe to drink, yes...but not so fun. The original owner had a huge pressure/holding tank system, and he chlorinated the well by injection. BAD idea. The chlorine wrecked the bladder in the tank, from which particulates clogged everything. I fixed the pump system and trashed the jury-rigged components, for 3k. Now, I am having a filtration system added for 5k...which has a chlorinator then a medium with charcoal/husks to remove the chlorine after it does its thing. The thing you need to consider is that water softeners produce a great deal of brine/salt that gets dumped either in your gutters or in your septic system (both bad). RO has an 80% rejection rate, so all that water goes to septic, and you have to replace the membrane a lot. Ultraviolet kills germs, but the tube gets clogged and the bulb can burn out...so chlorine is about the best way to kill bad things.

[Corialis]

How come no one is talking about where the water comes from? It doesn't just magically appear, it comes from groundwater that comes from streams and rivers, which came from rain. Keep in mind that Since Sequim doesn't get as much rain as other areas in Washington.