The Advantages & Disadvantages Of Having A Private Well At Home

If you live remotely then a private well is likely to be the only option available to you. However, an increasing number of people with access to water supplies are choosing to dig their own wells. The simple truth is that the current water infrastructure is expensive, having your own well allows you to reduce ongoing costs. 

But, before you invest in some good quality rock augers and start drilling, you should be aware there are several advantages and disadvantages;

The Good

Having your own well means you know where your water is coming from. If you’re using it for drinking and cooking then you’ll need to test it daily. You may even need to add a filtration plant to your home. The advantage of this is that you always know the quality of your water. That gives you peace of mind and potentially better health.

Adding a filtration system means you can avoid the risk of contamination. This is common with well water as the water contains plenty of minerals and can even be high in nitrates. In short, you could cause yourself an illness unless you filtrate the water properly. 

Alongside this, having your own well means you’ll save money as you won’t need to pay for water that you’re not using. You can disconnect your property from the water board and avoid the associated charges. In the long term, this can be a significant money saver. 

The Not So Good Points

While there are plenty of pluses to creating and using your own well, the following should be noted:

Water from a well may have a distinctive odour. This is likely to be due to excess levels of iron that have infiltrated the water deep underground. The iron can also stain pipes, pumps, and other equipment. It can even shorten their lifespan. The good news is that a good filtration and treatment solution can eliminate this issue.

Alongside this, you need to remember that a private well relies on a pump which uses electricity. That means a power outage leaves you without water. You’ll want to keep a generator handy just in case.

You should also be aware that all maintenance and dealing with issues is your responsibility. In other words, you’re probably going to need to learn a lot about how the water treatment system works. 

Value

It’s worth noting that people are increasingly interested in ‘greenhouses. That’s houses which try to look after the environment. Having your own well is an effective step toward the green lifestyle. It reduces water bills and gives you access to water without any negative effects on the environment.

This is likely to make your property more interesting to buyers and, therefore, increase what it’s worth. 

Bonus Point

You’ll want to test your water regularly to ensure the home water treatment plant is working. But, you should also get the well and the treatment equipment checked and serviced by a professional at least once a year. It will help to keep you and your family safe.