Most homeowners love having their own private source of water for their household's drinking, cooking, cleaning, bathing and irrigation needs. There are a lot of benefits to having a private well on your property.
If you have recently moved into a home that has its own private well on the property, or you have decided to have one drilled, you're probably looking forward to having your own supply of water rather than depending on a local utility company for your water.
Naturally, you are also going to want your water to be of good quality, so here is what you can do to help make sure that your well water is as clean and pure as possible.
1. Don't Store Hazardous Chemicals Near Your Well
If you have a garden shed or another type of outdoor structure where you routinely store lawn and yard chemicals or automotive essentials on your property, make sure it is situated as far away from your well as possible to avoid contaminating your groundwater in the event of any accidental spills. Here are some specific chemicals to keep away from your well:
• Fertilizer
• Herbicides
• Pesticides
• Motor oil
• Transmission fluid
• Brake fluid or antifreeze
Make sure that these and other household chemicals are not stored anywhere that is uphill from your well. You should also make certain that any outdoor kennels or pasture containing livestock on your property are situated at least 50 feet from your well.
2. Have Your Property Inspected for Old, Unused Wells
Wells used to be the primary source of water for the vast majority of American households, which means there is a chance that your property has old wells on it that have not been used for a long period of time.
These abandoned wells pose potential safety threats for curious children due to broken well caps, and they harbor harmful bacteria and other contaminants that may adversely affect the quality of the groundwater. Abandoned wells are also the perfect habitat for rodent and insect populations.
Old records and maps sometimes provide information about abandoned wells, but these often don't tell the whole story, especially for properties that have passed through many hands over the course of the years.
Some clues that indicate the potential presence of abandoned wells are:
• Indentations in the ground
• The presence of unexplained pipes
• Old outbuildings that may have served as well houses
However, abandoned wells don't always provide evidence of their existence, so it is a good idea to have your property professionally inspected in order to ensure that they are not a part of the picture.
3. Don't Neglect Your Annual Well Maintenance Inspection
One of the biggest mistakes new well owners make is failing to have their well professionally serviced on an annual basis. A yearly checkup will make sure that the above-ground system consisting of the well casing, cap and electrical conduit are functioning as designed and good to go.
Another important reason to have your well inspected on an annual basis is that the vast majority of private wells in the state of North Carolina are filled with surrounding groundwater, and
groundwater conditions can change over the course of time.
Unlike public water supplies, private well water quality is not regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency, which means that it is up to the homeowner to be proactive about keeping their well water suitable for drinking, cooking and other household uses.
McCall Brothers Inc. brings decades of experience to the table. Call us for reliable private well inspections and maintenance. We are available 24-hours per day because your emergency shouldn't have to wait.
