Rural vs town costs, what are the numbers if you compare the cost of a well and septic system to monthly utility bills in town? Septic systems don't last forever and do need some periodic maintenance. Wells require electric usage and you hope they don't fail. Figure in the cost of money you have invested in the well and septic as lost opportunity too. It could have been earning something, or reduced your mortgage and consequent interest charges.
Our water, sewer and trash collection ran from $50 to $125 a month depending on water usage. This was almost a decade ago so the prices have to have gone up. Given that the kids have gotten bigger our water/sewer bill would have grown. The bill prior to us getting a front loading wash was well over $100 a month. The front loader really saved us some money because the water/sewer bill dropped dramatically after we bought it. I would guess the bill would be much higher today because the city we used to live in increased the prices for water, general cost increases, and we might use more water because the kids are older.
We pump our septic tank every four years. It needs to be done now and it will cost $200-300. I don't know of anyone who has had to build a new septic field. The wifey's grand parents replaced the METAL septic tank when she was a young kid and I know a guy would had to replace his CINDER block septic tank. I don't expect that we will have to replace anything if we do what we are supposed to do to maintain the system. In neither case was a new field required. Let say that our average city water/sewer bill was a $1,000 a year which is only $83 a month, in 20 years that is $20,000. Our septic field is simply three trenches that can be dug in a day with Infiltrator "pipes" over the trenches which are then back filled. If that cost $10,000 to replace in 20 years, I would be shocked, but I would still be $10,000 ahead.
Water usage cost.. Never tried to price it.... Best I can tell we don't use more than 200 gallons a day. I think our pump is rated at 5 GPM so it would have to run 40 minutes during the day for 200 gallons. The pump is 240v on a 20 amp breaker so that should be using 4800 watts or 4.8 KWH. If we run it, 40 minutes that is 3.2 KWH. A KWH cost us .10 so that is .32 cents a day....
But I would think power usage would be less because the pump does not use as much power after start up. So I think worst case we would spend $9.60 a month to pump water. Our resident EE's and sparky's can check my power calculations. :laughing::laughing::laughing: $10 a month is much cheaper than $100. Now we did have to replace our tank after six or so years but that should not have had to been replaced and it should have lasted much longer but scat happens. Even spreading the cost of the new pressure tank over six years is only $7 a month. The real cost question is how long will the well pump last? :confused3:
Now the well and septic cost money to install and I think both cost about $8,000. So at this point, the installation cost is paid off compared to what we would have paid the city for water and sewer. But I suspect we are head money wise since the prices would have increased in the city.
One thing is for sure. Our water tastes MUCH better than that swill we got in the city. :thumbdown:
Later,
Dan
