Pros and Cons of Well Water Systems

If you’ve ever dreamed of going off-grid, you’ve probably considered the option of a well as a source of water. Homes in rural areas without access to the municipal water system might not have a choice. The debate of which is better, well water or city water, is a long-standing one. Each has advantages and disadvantages, and your choice can impact everything from your monthly expenses to your water quality.

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Which Is Better, Well or City Water?

Well water comes directly from an underground aquifer, or layers of permeable rock, sand or gravel that hold water. To access this water, you need to have a private water well dug or drilled into the ground on your property. Once the well reaches the water, an electric pump draws water up to a storage tank. The tank controls the water pressure in your home and ensures a steady water flow. Approximately 15% of homes in the United States rely on private wells for water.

City water treatments remove various metals and impurities before it reaches your home, meaning the water meets or exceeds EPA quality guidelines. Chemicals such as chlorine, fluoride and carbon dioxide are added to city water to improve quality and safety. If you have well water, you have to install a filter to remove any bacteria or other pathogens.

One of the biggest differences between well water vs. city water is that city water is billed monthly. Typically, you pay for water and sewage services on a single bill. With a well, you won’t have a monthly water bill, but the system does require more maintenance.

What Are the Advantages of Well Water?

Aside from providing unlimited access to clean water, a well offers multiple benefits.

• Less waste. Approximately 94% of Americans use bottled water. It’s often purchased for convenience, but many people buy bottled water because of safety concerns about tap water. Well water is safe and reduces the need for bottled water.

• Easier to budget. Your monthly water bill may vary depending on usage and municipal charges. If you’re trying to budget every penny, a well can make it easier. With a well, you don’t have to figure in a monthly water charge.

• Better taste. Most people who drink well water report it has a better taste. With regular testing and a home water filter, you can be sure you’re getting the best available water to drink.

• High in nutrients. Municipal water systems remove nutrients and minerals, such as calcium, magnesium and zinc, that are good for your health. Well water contains these minerals.

• Good for the environment. Municipal water systems use large amounts of energy to treat and process water for consumption. Well water is filtered naturally by the earth.

• Increase your property value. Homes with wells tend to have a higher property value than those without. (Though, this may be a case where correlation doesn't equal causation. Homes with wells are generally outside of cities, and are therefore generally larger than homes connected to the city grid. They may also be on larger plots of land, which also drives up property value.)

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What Are the Downsides of Well Water?

While there are multiple benefits of having a well, there are also several cons of well water that you should consider before making your decision.

• Requires power. It’s a major inconvenience when your power goes out during a storm or other weather event, but if you have city water, you’re still able to flush your toilet and get a glass of water from the tap. Well water requires power to run the pump, so if you lose power, you also lose access to your water.

• Increased maintenance. If you own a well, you’re responsible for taking care of any issues, and you have to pay to have it regularly tested.

• Contaminates. Natural disasters like floods, leaking septic systems and polluted surface water can contaminate your water, leading to a sulfur-like smell, cloudy water and even radiation. To prevent this from happening, you need to test your water frequently and install a house water filter.

• Dry wells. The average lifespan of a properly maintained well is 20 years or more. Environmental factors, such as drought, can cause your well to run dry. If this happens, you have to drill a new well or drill deeper. Drilling a new well costs between $3,750 and $15,300 (CAD 5,366 and CAD 21,891), according to HomeGuide. The actual cost depends on how deep the well must go and the condition of the soil.

All CAD conversions are based on the exchange rate on the date of publication.