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What to Know When Buying a Home With a Well and Septic System Instead of City Water
Well, well, well. This is a deep subject.
Photo: Bnenin / Adobe Stock
Photo: Bnenin / Adobe Stock
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Before you move forward with that rural homestead purchase, you’ll want to be familiar with what it’s like to live with a well and septic system. From grabbing a drink to brushing your teeth to making a meal, we rely on water constantly for everyday life. Access to a municipal water and sewer line may not be available, so you might be introduced to a well water and septic tank system for the first time.
How Does a Well and Septic System Work?
You may not give much thought to where your water comes from, but a well and septic system will require a bit of knowledge in order to keep everything running smoothly. While the concept is simple in theory, there are several different parts that homeowners should be aware of.
What Is a Well?
In simplest terms, a well is a hole drilled into the ground that provides access to water. A pump and pipe system is used to pull water out of the ground, and then a screen filters out unwanted particles to help avoid clogs. Because groundwater sources can be exposed to bacteria and chemicals, wells can easily be contaminated if built incorrectly. Every well is made up of four important components:
Casing made from steel, PVC pipe, or concrete pipe. The casing maintains open access in the ground while preventing any leakage into the well from the surrounding area.
Grout is used as a sealant to fill in any cracks or spaces around the outside of the well, preventing contaminants from getting in.
Filter screen made from stainless steel or slotted PVC pipe keeps gravel, sand, and other debris out of the well.
Gravel is packed around the outside of the filter screen to prevent debris from entering the well or clogging the screen.
What Is a Septic System?
A septic system is an underground wastewater structure that consists of a septic tank and a drain field. These systems are commonly found in rural areas without access to centralized municipal sewers.
All the wastewater from a home’s kitchen, faucets, and bathrooms exits through one main drainage pipe into the tank, a water-tight container buried in the ground. The tank then holds all the wastewater, slowly separating the solids (which sink to the bottom) and the oils (which float to the top). Because sludge builds up over time, septic tanks need to be pumped every three to five years.
Eventually, the liquid (called effluent) is released from the tank and distributed into the drain field, which is a shallow, covered trench of unsaturated soil. The drain field treats and disperses the wastewater, eliminating much of the bacteria as it filters into the soil.
Well Water and Septic Tank vs. City Water and Sewer
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While many homeowners use well water and a septic tank because municipal resources aren’t available, some people choose these systems purposely. If you have the choice, both city water and well water are different and have pros and cons you should review.
Pros and Cons of Well Water
If you’re considering using well water for your home, take these pros and cons into account.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| No water bill | Contamination |
| Fresher water | Expensive |
| Safe in disasters | Lots of maintenance |
Pros and Cons of City Water
Connecting to city water is a great solution for many homes, but there are some drawbacks worth considering.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| City’s responsible | High water bill |
| Minimal upkeep | Maintenance delays |
| Safe in disasters | Not as fresh |
Have a System Inspection Before Buying a Home
Wells and septic systems are frequently excluded from traditional home inspections, but it’s vitally important that you have a thorough inspection completed before going forward with a purchase.
If your general home inspector does not have an additional septic license, you will need to hire a separate licensed septic inspector to come out. While this will likely incur an additional fee, the quality of the system will have long-term effects on the health and safety of your family.
Where Should a Well Be Located?
You can find a well head easily by looking for a 6-inch capped pipe that will be sticking about a foot out of the ground. Make sure that this pipe is at least 50 feet away from the corner of the house, and at least 100 feet away from the septic drain field.
Septic Systems and Drinking Water
In order to keep your drinking water as clean as possible, make sure your septic system is working properly. Things like a clogged pipe or drainage problems can cause overflow. Too much septic overflow can cause untreated wastewater to back up into the pipes used to push clean drinking water throughout your home, potentially leading to illness.
Pros recommend that you have your tank pumped every three to five years, and watch for any warning signs that there are problems with your system, such as an odor in the yard or standing water near the drain field.
Pro Tip
A few warning signs that something is wrong with your system include a constant gurgling, slow-flushing toilets, bad odors, flooding in the yard, and a washing machine that's not draining properly (your clothes are still soaking wet after the spin cycle). Reach out to a pro if you think something may be wrong.
Avoid DIY Septic Systems
A well and septic system need to be installed by a professional contractor, period. There is too much contamination risk with any well that has been self-dug or bored. Avoid purchasing a home where the system has not been professionally laid out and tested.
Well water and septic tanks sometimes get a bad rap, but they’re actually very functional and provide many benefits. If you’re new to this type of water setup, do some research and consult with a local septic expert about what the upkeep will look like. With regular maintenance, these systems can work well for years.
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