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Where homeowners and businesses don’t have access to public water systems, private wells fill the void. Order a well inspection to determine the working condition of the well and the safety of your well water, if you’re moving to a home with a private well. Similarly, if you’re at liberty to choose the source of your water supply—whether private or public—it’s imperative to understand the pros and cons of each water system.

Well Water

Some municipalities don’t allow well drilling within city limits. But if your community is free of such restrictions, and you elect to drill for water on your property, there is an initial cost to construct the well. If you move into a home with a well already drilled, you won’t pay construction costs, and you won’t have municipal water rates to pay. You will have well upkeep and maintenance costs to cover. Yearly maintenance should include a well inspection, but inspections, generally, aren’t expensive. Properly maintained wells usually last 10 to 15 years before repairs are necessary.

Well water tastes different from municipally treated water because the earth filters it. The minerals in well water have healthful benefits, as long as you have yearly well inspections to verify none of the minerals are exceeding acceptable levels. A mechanical filtration system can be added to a private well to keep mineral content in check.

Well water can become polluted by above-ground sources. Shallow wells, in particular, can be affected by toxins—chemicals, fertilizers, and sewage waste—from your yard.

Municipal Water

well inspectionMunicipal water systems treat bacteria and toxins with chemicals according to EPA guidelines. Maintenance of municipally supplied water systems is typically not your responsibility as a homeowner, unless the issue lies somewhere between the public water main and your home. If tree roots impede a water line in your yard, for example, the cost of the repair will be yours, not the city’s. Many municipalities add mineral content to their water supplies to make water healthier to drink.

Floods, tornadoes, and other natural disasters can disrupt municipal water service, and cities will terminate service for lack of payment. If city water becomes contaminated, the effects of the contamination may not be immediately evident until many people have been exposed.

 

If you’re looking to construct a well, or if you need a well inspection or repair, the experts at Edgar & Jerry Hughes Well Drilling Enterprise in Bellwood, AL, can help. For over 75 years, they’ve served residential and commercial clients in the Wiregrass area, providing best-in-class well drilling, well maintenance, and pump installations and repairs.  A family-owned and -operated business for five generations, they guarantee your satisfaction. Call them today at (334) 347-1147, or visit them online to learn more.

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