The 2 Most Important Issues to Consider When Buying a Home with a Well
Water is one of the most important things to life. Drinking bad water is dangerous. Not having enough water can be very frustrating. Buying a property in Placer County California in the Sierra foothills many times includes owning a well for your water source. We help buyers understand the issues of GPM and quality water reports.
What are the 2 most important things to consider when buying a home with a well?
1. Output – gallons per minute or GPM is how the well’s output is measured. The gallons per minute will tell the home owner if the well is producing enough water to meet their needs. The well’s output does change over time and seasons.
2. Quality of water – Water is extremely important to humans. The quality of the water coming out of the well is the most important consideration when testing a well. The only way to know if the well water is good for drinking is having the water professionally tested. This is not an area to save money during the inspection period. Pay for the best test that is available.
Water from underground aquifers is assumed to be good to drink. And the well is expected to give plenty of water for a life time. Both assumptions are false.
Both the quantity and quality of water can be tested. If you are moving to a Placer County home, the one set of tests that should never be waived or not done is testing the well for output and quality of water. Sacramento County also has areas where the homes are on well water.
What is the gallon per minute (GPM) of a well?
The output of the well test is measured in a couple of ways. The gallon per minute or GPM is one of the key gauges for the production of the well.
For many people, moving to the gold country is the first time they will have well water as the main water source for the home. Abundant pure water is taken for granted by most people who live in a metropolitan area. City water is disparaged as tasting bad, but for the most part it is safe to drink.
What is a good gallon per minute well production?
Understanding the local acceptable GPM is the key to valuing the well. Each area in the California foothills has a local expectation of GPM. Sometimes this is good news, other times the area has only lower producing wells
There are 4 ways to improve a lower GPM well?
- Drill the well deeper
- Add a storage tank
- Hydro fracking
- Find another source of water
1. Drill the well deeper
This is a major operation. But many times where the well is located on the property is the best place for a well. Also the well is a known amount of water and drilling deeper could add enough capacities to meet the needs of the property owner. A new well drill could be a dry hole. So going deeper is less of a risk.
2. Add a storage tank
Another way to add storage is to add a storage tank. With very low producing wells, this is the only way to get enough water.
The stand or static water supple
One other well production number can help especially if the well is producing on the low end of acceptability, that is the stand or static water number. Basically, the water storage capacity is the number of gallons of water that are in the well pipe. Ask for the depth of the well when getting the well tested and have them give you the number of storage gallons.
Here is how that works, when you know the level of the water and pump depth, you’ll be able to determine the water storage capacity. A traditional 6-inch diameter drilled well can store 1.5 gallons of water per foot. It is just simple math after knowing the correct information. Drilling the well deeper should give it more storage in the well. This is known as static capacity.
3. Hydro fracking
Hydro fracking is done by injecting high-pressure water via the drilled well into the rock formations surrounding it. The purpose of hydro fracturing is to widen fractures in the bedrock and spread them further. This will increase the network of water bearing fissures supplying water to the well.
4. Find another source of water
Adding other sources of water can be very helpful. Even if the water is not potable it can take pressure off the well for other water needs like gardening. Public water for non-drinking purpose may be available. It is always a good choice to take advantage of these resources. These water sources in the foothills are called NID, ditch water, country water, channel, and other local names. Many times, they are acquired by the miner’s inch. You can also get a fraction of the miner’s inch for example, a half inch.
The water quality of a well
The Center for Disease Control has several water quality indicators. They are a good starting point. But local water quality testing companies know what types of issues should be added to that test. Check out the sample test for the Placer County area.
Water Filtration System
Most water issues can be solved with a water filtration system. I have sold homes with very complicated and expensive systems. Other water filtration systems are over the counter solutions. I feel this is not a DYI (do it yourself) problem. I have lived in Placer County for over 20 years and budget for a professional water treatment person to come the take care of my system. I also take a sample to the water testing company and have it tested from time to time. Water is just too important to quality of life.
Water Quality Reports
Here are 2 samples of water quality reports. Note that they will give you the information as a table of just item and tested numbers or of a text showing the item, tested numbers and some context for the numbers. Whichever way the water quality report is generated understanding the test results are the key to knowing what actions are to be taken to give you and your family the best water quality.
Final thoughts on water quality
The bottom line is to test the well’s water quality. And do a complete test of any property you are considering to buy in Placer County. And here is the voice of experienced real estate owner talking, get two tests. Get one test at the water source and get the second test at the kitchen faucet (the place where you drink the water). This information will tell you how good the water filtration system is and a good base line for any issues that could come up in the future.
How long do wells last a house?
18-45 years is normal. But some water sources create sand and other minerals that impact the pump’s longevity. Many people use the term well and pump when talking about longevity of the well. It is good to get a clear understanding that the pump in a well is a machine and will break down. Replacing a pump in a well is not the same as dealing with a failed well.
Here are other questions good to ask when buying a house with a well.
- Does the home have a drilled well, and if so, when was it drilled?
- How deep is the well?
- What is the flow rate of the water?
- What is the overall capacity of the well?
- Has the GPM changed over time?
- How is the quality of groundwater in the area?
- How old is the pump in the well?
- What is the size (horse power) of the pump in the well?
- Where is the well located on the property?
- Where is the pump house located on the property?
- Where are all the water supplies located on the property?
Know the issues before you buy a home with a well
That old axiom “knowledge is power” is very important when it comes to having a well as your water source. Get all the knowledge you can before you buy the home with a well so you can make a powerful informed decision. Well water can be a great water source. The taste and minerals can be a good benefit to living with well water. But harmful minerals, bacteria and other issues can make well water a major problem. Modern water filtration systems are amazing. But understanding all the issues, maintenance and cost is very essential to the home owner with a well for their water source.
