When buying a house with private well water, can you request for city water?

[linicx]

A septic tank is not a bad thing if you take care of it. But, it can be a problem if it treated like a city sewer.

Originally Posted by Crede's Crew

Thanks for the price Linicx. 10k is a lot. I was hoping for $5k top. The 2 houses that we checked out are connected to public sewer. I grew up in Chicago so the idea of having a septic tank in my backyard is a no-no for me. I told my agent flat out that we do want to view any home with a septic tank but will consider well water.

[wjj]

Every summer when it is hot and dry, there are stories in the Herald about private wells running dry and the high costs of having them deepened. I don't know about LZ, but it was a common occurence in Hawthorn Woods and Long Grove, which are right next door.

Another expense to consider. Along with the inconvenience of not having any water for awhile.

We would never consider a house on well or septic. But that's us. There are some huge 7 figure homes in Long Grove on well and septic. So it is not a problem for many - even very high end buyers.

[linicx]

Wells depend on water source and pumps; most are underground. Drilling deeper may or may not be costly depending upon the land. It is a whole lot more expensive to drill through hardpan clay and rock it is in sand. It is more costly to drill 100 feet than it is to drill five feet.

There is an Office in your County with survey maps (of every inch of the county) are held. The County ? can look at the maps and determine what is under your grass, and where the source of water for your well is located. The county health department tests for potability and can tell you types of chemicals and how many particles are in your water supply.

What the maps do not reveal is how deep you must drill to reach water. I'd be far more concerned about 100 homes on 1/4 acre lots with septics than I would wells. The last time I checked, the two had to separated by 50 or 75 feet for each house. A full acre is 208.71xxxxx' on each side. The 1/4 acre is 50 feet feet on each side.

Before one can install a new septic system, in most states the County is required to do a Perk Test. If it fails the test one of two things happens. You hook into a city sewage system, or you do without the septic. If it installed correctly, and the owner treats it nicely, it will last your lifetime and beyond with no major problems. .

[middle-aged mom]

Originally Posted by Crede's Crew

We seen some houses in Lake Zurich and Prospect Heights that have private well water. I was wondering if you can request to have public (Lake Michigan) water and how does that work? We we pay for running the pipe or would the city pay full or partially of the cost. Thanks.

Lake Zurich public water supply comes from municipal wells, not Lake Michigan.

If Lake Michigan water is a must have, consider Palatine or Arlington Hts.

[pvande55]

In order to get Lake Michigan water, a referendum would have to be passed and major capital improvements to connect to the Central Lake County JAWA. And it would take years to get completed. Don't know about the last mile to your house. Also, I guess the water quality in the village's namesake lake is poor so they never used it for municipal water.

[cubssoxfan]

Some municipalities publish yearly water quality reports; at least AH does this.