For many people living near a public water supply, it's easy to take clean water flowing into your home for granted. However, homes with water wells require the property owner to understand key factors of the water well system, such as its location and storage capacity, to ensure it provides sufficient clean water to the property. If you're interested in purchasing a home with a well, here's what you should know before closing on the property. 

What You Should Know Before Purchasing a Property With a Water Well

1. Water's Quality

Before moving into your new home, you should know the property's water supply quality. Not only will the knowledge keep your household safe from harmful pathogens, but potability testing may also be necessary for you to purchase the house. 

Local lab tests can determine the well water's purity and the type and quantity of its mineral content. Potability testing will also uncover unwanted materials like coliform bacteria, radon, and volatile organic compounds from cleaning agents, auto fluids, degreasers, and other solvents. 

2. Flow Rate

Testing a well for its storage capacity and flow rate is also good. Even if the water is safe for drinking, you must ensure the well can accommodate your household's water needs. Wells generally hold about 1.5 gallons of water per foot. You can use that information to calculate your prospective home's water well capacity. To test its flow rate, check how many gallons the pressure tank holds before the pump draws water, and note how quickly the pump turns on and off. Though many areas have a minimum flow rate requirement of three to five gallons per minute, it's better to have a well yielding six to 12 gallons per minute.

3. Proximity to a Septic Tank

If the property uses a well water system, it may also have a septic system. Both the well and the septic tank will be buried underground on the property. However, they should be at least 100 feet apart. If the well doesn't have a watertight casing, it can be 50 feet from the septic tank. 

It's best to ask the real estate agent or property owner about the water well's location and distance from the septic tank to note possible cross-contamination. If the structures are too close, the risk of bacteria and other pathogens from the septic system seeping into the groundwater rises significantly.

Whether your home has an existing water well or needs a new one, you can count on Mauldin Drilling LLC. Based in Williamsburg, NM, and serving Sierra County, this licensed well drilling contractor is the go-to source for premium water well services. Their team can conduct well inspections, provide routine maintenance, and install new wells and irrigation systems. As top-rated professionals, their experienced contractors work quickly and look for the best cost-effective solutions for every client. Learn more about their services online and call (575) 894-3192 to request an appointment.