Well Water: Advantages & Disadvantages | Beauchamp Water Treatment (2024)

FAQs

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a well? ›

Advantages and Disadvantages of Dug Wells

Dug wells are one of the oldest methods for accessing groundwater. They are best for areas with high water tables and are relatively inexpensive. However, their shallow nature makes them prone to contamination and seasonal variations in water availability.

Berkey Water Filters can be your best option for treating well water. It can remove the most common contaminants from water better than any other gravity filter. Chlorination is one process of disinfecting or treating the plumbing and well system with the use of chlorine.

Public water is treated with chlorine, fluoride, and other harsh and dangerous chemicals. Well water travels straight up from the ground—you get all the health benefits of clean water with none of the harsh chemical additives. Just make sure to check the area around your well and, again, test it annually.

Well water drawbacks

Contaminants: Bacteria, lead, arsenic and other contaminants can be an issue with untreated well water. Municipal sources use chlorine and other chemicals to treat their water. Well water is straight from the ground and unprotected.

Well water is dependent on electricity. Well water needs to be pumped out of the ground. If the electricity goes out, then your pump will stop working.

Water treatment helps in removing contaminants and hazardous substances from the water, making it clean and safe to drink and be used for other purposes. Unfortunately, almost 2 billion people in the world use either untreated drinking water or get water from unsafe or contaminated sources.

Reverse Osmosis (RO)

Reverse osmosis filters are top of the line for removing a large percentage of contaminants from the water, potentially including dangerous bacteria associated with waterborne diseases. RO filters work by pushing water through the reverse osmosis membrane using pressure.

Boiling or heating water is the most widely used and effective method to kill disease-causing germs, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites. Steps for boiling water: Bring clear water to a rolling boil for 1 minute (at elevations above 6,500 feet, boil for 3 minutes).

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).

How often should I sanitize my water well? ›

A well and water system should not need to be chlorinated more than once per year; although dug wells that have never been cleaned sometimes require sequential rounds of disinfection. Aside from when new pumps are installed, many wells never require disinfection.

Chlorination is the process of treating (disinfecting) a well and plumbing system with chlorine to kill or reduce certain kinds of bacteria.

If your water at home is from a private well or small community well, you should boil the water or use approved bottled water for drinking. Sometimes a well is more likely to become contaminated with bacteria. Bathing is not a problem using well water. Water from a private well should be tested at least once each year.

Should I buy a house that uses well water? As long as you feel comfortable with the ongoing maintenance well water might require and are content with where the water comes from, then buying a home that uses well water shouldn't be a problem for you.

The presence of coliform bacteria shows that surface contamination has found its way into the well, and disease organisms may also be present. The presence of E. coli or fecal coliform means a more serious health risk exists. In that case, the water should not be used for drinking, cooking, or bathing.

Pros. There's no bill: There's no water bill if your water comes from a private well. The water has nutrients: Well water can taste fresher and have more nutrients and minerals. You don't have to rely on the grid: Well water means you're not dependent on the grid if there's a massive water problem.

Due to the nature of a well, well water tends to be hard. Drinking or using hard water in day-to-day cleaning isn't dangerous. However, there are still side effects to watch out for, such as: Build up around faucets and in tubs, sinks, and toilets.

And finally, some estimates have concluded that having a home well on a property can raise the property value of the land by as much as 10 percent. This is especially true if you live in an area where water is scarce, such as a desert or mountainous terrain.

Reliable Supply

Having a well close to your house means that you never have to worry about a water main break in the city stopping your water supply. You don't have to pay the fees to get water to travel all the way from the city to your home and you can enjoy the reliability of having water nearby anytime you need it.