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Wells get drilled as far down as 1,000 feet into the rock to access the water. Water travels through this casing via a well pump. The well system gets capped off above ground. The water then enters your home from a pipe connected between the casing and a pressure tank (generally located in your home’s basement).
How many years does a water well last?
The average lifespan for a well is 30–50 years. 2. How deep is the well? Drilled wells typically go down 100 feet or more.
Do wells run out of water?
When a well “runs dry” it doesn’t mean that the well will never produce water again. Aquifers can recharge through a combination of more precipitation and less pumps pulling water out of that aquifer. Sometimes wells can run dry permanently, but that is quite uncommon.
How does a well get filled with water?
Most wells do not get their water from underground rivers, but instead get the water from aquifers. New water, such as from rain or melting snow, drips down into the ground through the pores and cracks in the rocks and soil.
Is a water well a good investment?
Wells that produce potable water for use throughout the home are valued above those that are used only for irrigation. The better the water quality, the more value a well adds to a home. Buyers will pay more if the well is in good shape and provides fresh, clean water.
What are the disadvantages of well water?
Disadvantages of well water include: Hard Water and Scale Buildup. Harmful contaminants such as bacteria, lead, and arsenic. Pumps need to be replaced every 10 or so years. Bad taste.
How often should I clean my well?
9. As a routine maintenance practice, clean your well at least once a year. If you have an iron or sulfur bacteria problem, clean more often.
Is it OK to drink well water?
Well water can be safe for drinking and all other household needs, as long as you make sure to test your water supply regularly and select treatment solutions in line with your results. Learn more about the well water treatment options that are available for your specific needs.
How can I tell how much water is in my well?
To determine the amount, you must measure the depth to water and the total well depth. Subtracting the depth to water from total well depth will give you length of the water column. Multiply the length of water column in feet by the gallon volume per given diameter.
How deep is a well for water?
Most household water wells range from 100 to 800 feet deep, but a few are over 1,000 feet deep. Well yields can be increased by fracturing the bedrock immediately around the drill hole and intercepted rock faults.
How fast does well water replenish?
Well water can replenish at a rate of 5 gallons per minute on average, but it will vary. It depends on the age of your well, how long you’ve been using it, the well’s location or geology, and the aquifer the well taps into to replenish its water level.
How many gallons are in a well?
The typical 6-inch diameter well will hold approximately 1.5 gallons of water per foot of casing. The height of the water above the pump when it is not operating, multiplied by the gallons of water per foot of casing approximates the amount of available storage within the well casing.
Is well water fresh water?
Tap water is the water which comes to you from your town water supply; if you get your water from a well, you have well water. For public safety reasons, all residents get their fresh water from the municipal system. This water is thoroughly and effectively treated and is safe to drink.
Can a well save you money?
Digging a well on your property can actually save you money on your metered utility water bill. A shallow well will pay for itself in about one year (cost of installation around $2400) and a deep one will reap you savings benefits in year two.
Why would you have to drill a new well?
1: A New Private Water Well Saves You Money. Once your new private well is drilled, you can say goodbye to monthly water bills. The water pumped from the ground and into your home is completely free, no matter how much you use. And, you won’t have to worry about city-wide use restrictions.
Why would you need to dig a new well?
When The Well Runs Dry. Water can never dry up, under the ground. It will only dry in a well, if there was a constant use of it, but the level was not deep enough. The water underground normally comes in layers, and if the well dries up, it will be needed to be deepened or new well drilled.
Why does well water smell?
The main reason for the smell is sulfur bacteria or hydrogen sulfide. Sulfur bacteria are found in environments that lack oxygen, like deep wells. You’ll also find such issues in areas having plumbing systems and organic matter.
Do I need to filter my well water?
Well water filters are highly recommended to improve the taste, odor, appearance, and health of your water. A well water filter system will protect your household from harmful contaminants that may be in the water.
What kind of maintenance does a well need?
Wells should be checked and tested ANNUALLY for mechanical problems, cleanliness, and the presence of certain contaminants, such as coliform bacteria, nitrates/nitrites, and any other contaminants of local concern, (for example, arsenic and radon).
Should I pour bleach in my well?
Bleach should not be put into the well straight from the bottle. The general recommendation is to dilute the laundry bleach 1:100, (one gallon of bleach to 100 gallons or water; half a gallon of bleach to 50 gallons of water; a quart of bleach to 25 gallons of water.).
Can I use pool shock in my well?
Chlorine granules, tablets and liquid chlorine in the form of household bleach can all be used to disinfect your well. Don’t use stabilized swimming pool chlorine products or non-chlorinated “pool shock” products, as they are not effective enough to clean your drinking water.
Should I shock my well?
Wells should be shock chlorinated when a well water sample result shows that there is bacteria in the water. Any time a well is opened for repair it must be disinfected. Newly-built wells should also be shock chlorinated following construction.
