Homeowners in rural areas rely upon a privately owned or shared well for water. Well water must be safe to drink and a well must provide sufficient water for normal household use. Prior to purchasing a home with a well, it is important to conduct a detailed inspection. Ensure that there are no abandoned wells on the property- if there are, it should have been properly decommissioned by a licensed well contractor.
There are three items to consider when you are purchasing a home
with a well:
- type of well system
-water quantity
-water quality
There are three types of wells- dug, bored and drilled.
Dug and bored wells are used to produce water from shallow surface aquifers less than 50 feet deep. They are more prone to contamination from surface water and to water shortages. Another type of well used in surface aquifers is a sand point well, which consists of a pointed well screen connected to a small diameter pipe driven into water-bearing sand or gravel.
Drilled wells penetrate deeper aquifers at 50 to 200 feet deep. They cost more, but generally are more reliable as a safe source of drinking water.
There are several items involved in a complete well inspection, which must be conducted by a licensed well contractor.
The well record can be obtained from the current owner of the property or through the Ministry of the Environment. The well record includes information on the location of the well, the date of well drilling, the depth and diameter of the well, the static water level, the recommended pumping rate and the recommended pump setting.
Re: location. The well should be located at least 50 feet from any source of contamination if the well casing is watertight to a depth of 20 feet. Otherwise, this distance should be at least 100 feet. Sources of contamination include septic systems, manure storage, fuel storage, farm fields and roads. The well should also be at least 50 feet from any body of water.
The well cap should be at least 12 inches above ground level. The well cap and seal should be watertight. Both well caps on drilled wells and well covers on dug wells should be inspected.
The well casing should have no cracks or visible settling. Ground should slope away from the casing to allow surface water to drain away from the well.
The well pump and piping should be in good condition.
There should be at least 12 feet of grass growing around the well head, and fertilizers or pesticides should not be used in that area.
Faucet strainers inside the house should be checked for grit or sand- the presence of either indicates a corroded well screen. The pressure tank should read between 40 and 60 pounds per square inch. To check system pressure sustainability, no water is drawn for 30 minutes to one hour and pressure is monitored. Pressure should not drop, nor should the pump start during this period of time.
Wells can run dry for a few reasons. If there is a water supply problem, a licensed well contractor should be consulted. Solutions to the problem can include water conservation in the home, digging a deeper well, unplugging a fouled well screen or replacing a corroded well casing or screen.
When considering the purchase of a home with a well, ask the owners, neighbours or local well drillers if there have been any problems with wells running dry on the property or surrounding area. Keep in mind that shallow wells are more likely to have problems with water quantity than deep wells.
You can hire a licensed contractor to also conduct a water recovery test- the test involves pumping water out of the well and then giving it time to recharge. This will determine how much water can be drawn from the well. A well should be able to pump at least 3.6 gallons/minute for 120 minutes. The cost of the test will run between $200-$300.
Well water must also be tested for quality. Well water can be contaminated with bacteria and chemicals. Dissolved chemicals which can be found in well water include calcium, sulphur, iron or chloride.
An offer to purchase on a home with a well should always include a condition upon a water test resulting in no significant evidence of bacteria. For very little added cost, you can also have the water analyzed for sodium, hardness, sulphate, chloride, lead, iron, manganese and pH. If the well is in an agricultural or industrial area, additional tests can be done for metals, pesticides or other solvents such as gasoline.
Sterile water sampling bottles can be obtained from the local public health unit office. Bacteria analysis is conducted free of charge. Ideally, samples should be taken from a tap between the well pump and any water treatment units/pressure tank.
More tips.
If they are available, request copies of previous water quality
test results from the current owner.
Review with the owner the operation and reason for any water treatment systems on the property such as a water softener, reverse osmosis system or sulphur/iron remover. Ask for the operating manual on any treatment devices that are present.
Sample a glass of water for taste, smell and colour.
Look for scale on kitchen and bathroom fixtures which indicate hard water. Check the toilet cistern for sand, sediment, rust particles, scaling or any other clues that can indicate water problems.
Avoid potential health risk and future expenses by ensuring that the well is a safe source of water for you and your family before you purchase a home with a well.
Source of information for this article: Canada Mortgage & Housing
Corporation
More information is available from your local municipal or health
office, licensed well drillers and government ministries of the
environment.
Tammy Dufault
Century 21 BJ Roth Realty Ltd.
