How to Install and Maintain a Residential Water Well
When you own your own home, you can use groundwater from a local aquifer or use surface water from a nearby river, lake, stream, or reservoir as a water supply. To use surface water, you can use a public water supply system. But if you prefer to use groundwater, you can pump it from a deep well.
As a homeowner, you may prefer water from your own well because it is full of natural minerals and not chemically treated like water supplied by a public water system. Water from a well is naturally filtered by the earth, and many people prefer the taste.
If you want to install a new water well or maintain an existing well on your property, you can do several things to make sure you have plenty of water that is clean and free of contaminants.
Drill and Install a New Water Well
To install a new water well, hire a licensed, professional water well driller and pump installer to access the groundwater on your property. After they drill into the aquifer, have your contractor install a PVC casing with stainless steel screens at the bottom to filter the water coming into your system.
Have your contractor install a water pump in the casing to draw groundwater through the well and into the plumbing lines to your home and yard. To power the water pump, have your contractor install and bury electrical lines to the pump and cap the water system with a wellhead. This wellhead will extend the casing approximately two feet above the ground.
Prevent Water Well Backflow
To prevent backflow in your water well, have your contractor install a backflow prevention valve between the well and the plumbing lines. This valve will prevent pumped water from flowing back into the well should your water pump fail.
Inspect and Protect the Wellhead
To maintain your water well, inspect the exposed wellhead often to ensure that it is in good condition and does not show any signs of leakage. To protect your wellhead, keep the area around it clear and dry.
Trim any grass or other vegetation around the wellhead for a distance of about four feet. To avoid damaging the wellhead and casing, trim the grass and vegetation with a pair of hand clippers and not a lawnmower.
Landscape the Area Around the Water Well
When you landscape your yard, avoid using fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and fuels near the water well. If these chemicals spill on the ground, they can leak into the soil and contaminate the aquifer that supplies the well.
Maintain the Well with Annual Inspections
To keep the water well operating efficiently, have it inspected annually by a licensed water well contractor. At the inspection, have your contractor test the well water for purity, find and repair all leaks, and make sure there is adequate water pressure in the system.
Service the Well When Water Quality Changes
Whenever you notice any changes in the color, smell, or taste of the water from the well, have it inspected and serviced. If you notice a change in water pressure, have your water pump serviced or replaced.
Keep Water Well Records
When you have your water well inspected or serviced, keep a record of the date and what was done. This written record will create a history of the well, document the condition of the aquifer, and indicate when it is time to replace the water pump.
When you wish to install a new water well or have an existing one serviced, contact Bruce MacKay Pump & Well Service, Inc. We have the experience and expertise to drill a new well in an ideal location on your property and maintain an existing well in top working order for many years.
