Well Maintenance & Tips

Those who eschew the busy and hectic city lifestyle can boast of having more space and relaxation in their general daily living. However, for the increased acreage, they must also often learn to do away with conveniences like having a public water supply and use a well water supply instead. Maintaining and caring for your water well is key for keeping a plentiful and safe water supply.

If you live on a farm or a similar rural environment with considerable acreage, regular maintenance of your well is important in keeping a supply of clean and safe water for your home. Because your well is entirely your responsibility as the property owner and not the city's or county's it is incumbent upon you to take the responsibility.

Wells that are not well maintained, constructed and situated in the right location can mean a contaminated water supply. Common causes of unsafe well water includes pollution of groundwater or contamination from a faulty septic system, negligent annual checkups of the well system, negligent testing of the well system and contamination of household or farming chemicals into the water supply.

In order to keep your well safe and maintained, follow these tips:

• Keep contaminants at a safe distance. Primary chemicals to be mindful of include paint, pesticides, motor oil, gas and fertilizer.


• Use back flow prevention devices on exterior faucets and hoses to prevent back siphonage. This will prevent dangerous pollutants from being sucked back into the hose and into the water supply.


• Regularly inspect the well, especially the parts that are exposed. Things to watch for are cracks or damage, accumulated debris or dirt around the well head and a loose well cap.


• Seal any wells that are no longer used. Not doing so can also contaminate your current water source.


• Manually test your well water for contaminants regularly. Though the cause may not always be visually detected (such as an obvious crack), a water supply can still become dangerous for other reasons. You should run a bacteria test once a year and perform a full chemical analysis at least every five years.