Water Well dilemma

[ns_in_tex]

Here is my situation:

Our household water is from the city water system which comes from the Sabine River & cost us 25 to 30.00 month. We normally use about 5,000 gal per month.

We have a shallow well which will produce maybe 8 gpm, 24/7, for livestock & other uses.

We have a spring which produces 4 gpm, 24/7, and storage of maybe 30,000 gal. for lawn sprinkler system.

They have drilled a gas well on our place and in the process drilled a water well to drill the gas well with. When they are done they will pull their pump & we can have the well if we want to use it.

Water well was drilled 540' deep
160' of screen casing
They installed a 7-1/2 HP pump at 360' depth for them to use.
I think it was producing about 30 gpm at the 360' depth.

I am thinking I may want to install a 1-1/2 or 2 HP pump & get off city water, but my better half, doesn't like the idea.

So far we have found:
40 PPM Calcium (we think this is soft water)
400 PPM Chloride ( is this salty enough to be a problem)
8.34 PH
Total Coliform = 2 per #/100 ml (they recommended treating well with clorox)

I would probably purchase & install the pump, pipe, & electrical, myself, which might help keep cost down, and do any maintenance. I am 69 yr old & think the wife may be thinking she might be caught someday without a water well man.

We are wondering if the well water might be as good, or maybe better than the city water. (boy, that sabine river looks nasty in our area)

We are not hurting for water, but it seems like a waste to have this well & not use it.

We would really like any ideas and information which would help us in making the best decision.

 

[thingy]

Just shows you how the world turns,,,I would love to have piped in city water,,alls I got is a well,with iron and just a hint of sulpher,,they never will be any city type water where I live. Sounds like you got plenty o water though with out the well,,maybe if the spring or well water you do have is real good,,you could just tie it in to your kitchen,,for drinking and cooking? thingy

 

[CurlyDave]

I would keep the city water for a number of reasons.

1. The well water is not free. It will cost you electricity to pump it, which may eat up all the savings from the water company.

2. The pump and plumbing will cost a fair amount. At $360/year it may take a decade or more to pay this off. Throw in the interest rate you could get by just leaving the money in the bank, the cost of electricity, and the cost of maintenance, and you are probably going to lose money on the deal.

3. The city water is going to be more reliable.

4. If you ever sell your place, being on city water is usually considered a plus by buyers.

We are not hurting for water, but it seems like a waste to have this well & not use it.

There are a lot of free things in the world that I just plain can not afford.

I would think about getting them to cap it so that I could use it in the future if necessary.

 

[Kubotasrking]

They installed a 7-1/2 HP pump at 360' depth for them to use.


I am thinking I may want to install a 1-1/2 or 2 HP pump & get off city water

hmmm...it seems strange that they would even bother w/ pulling the pump. If they left it, the ROI just might beat current interest rates that CurlyDave points out in his post. Interesting question...I would do something w/ the well.

 

[Egon]

I'd go with Dave's advice.

Just switching the well head over to home use could be a fair cost.

 

[jinman]

Hmm...Neal, have you ever thought about opening up a car wash?

You have lots of water, but I'm guessing you don't have public sanitary sewer. Is the water provided by a city or a private company to the city? Has it been reliable? Does the city not have ordinances that all residents must use their water? Is there a public sewer planned?

There are just "tons" of questions and issues to make your decision. I love being independent and having my own water supply, but it did cost me over $5,000 to install the well and it could cost much more at any time since it is over 6 years old.

By your description, I think I'd just cap the well and keep it as a backup for future needs. You have all the water you need currently at a very good priice. I'm not sure I would want to change things in your situation. Since your wife has doubts, I think that would sure seal the deal for me. After all, you are really "wasting" that well, you are just saving it. You tested the well water, but have you ever tested the Sabine River water you are currently drinking? That could also be a decision maker.

 

[EddieWalker]

I agree with Dave 100%, but would like to add a few thoughts.

Water provided by a Public Utility, regardless of who it is falls under guidlines that require it to be safe. It's highly treated, filtered and purified. In almost every case, it's much, much cleaner than bottled water. The people who maintain and operate the water systems are qualified and knowledgeable. It's a 24/7 operationg with constant testing.

There is no way that an individual can get water from a well to even come close to what is provided for you from a Water Utility.

$30 a month is cheap compared to what it will cost you to provide your own water, maintain it and then try to get it clean.

Eddie

 

[dmccarty]

Water from a utility is usually good water. Usually. Well water is usually good water. Usually.

The city I work in is having problems with its water. The Feds seem to be about to fine them for not testing the water correctly. Part of the mess is that some chemicals used to treat the water can leach lead out of older pipes. There have been some homes tested with pretty high levels of lead.

There have been major outbreaks in city water supplies that have sickened thousands and killed dozens. The city I used to live in had an issue where it appeared someone did not have a back flow valve and polluted the water main. Lots of people where boiling water for a week or so. Seem like this happens not infrequently.

I don't have the option of city water and I don't want it. It is nice to not have to worry about loosing power and thus not having water but I was paying at least $50 to $75 a month for water when we where in the city. Sometimes as high as $125. And that was at cheaper rates than what they have today. The city has since upped the charges for water with a graduated plan. Its one of these things where you pay a small amount for the first couple thousand gallons. Then you pay more for the next few thousand and so on. This was sold as a way to save water. I'm sure it was but it will turn into a revenue generator over time.

We had a wee small garden last year and want a bigger one this year. What I'm reading says we would need 1,000-1,200 gallons per week for the garden we want to plant this year. If we did not have rain it would easily be 4,000 gallons we would have to water. In the city that would be at least $20-30 extra on the bill. IF I could water in the first place.

Our well is 15 gpm and I think the pump only puts out 5 gpm so in theory we can run the well dry. I still wish we had a way to store rain water from the roof. I roughly figured that a heavy 1 inch per hour rain would give us about 1,500 gallons. But that is only one week of garden water! We would need a huge cistern to store the water. I'm am getting a drip system. Looks like for $50-100 I can get a starter drip irrigation system.

Given that you are on city water already you might as well stay given the rates being charged. You might not even be able to switch off the water main anyway. In my old city they would not ALLOW you to drill a well. If you had a well you hooked up to the water supply and disconnected from the well.

Later,
Dan

 

[RC51Boomer]

Just to add- if you go well water, 2-3 years you will have to start changing all the facets in the house or purchase a large water softner. I pay the electric company $24 a month for the well alone. :-(

 

[N80]

I've been on a well for 10 years. Hate city water. Reeks of chlorine to me, even when others don't notice it. I've spent virtually nothing to maintain my well. A pump is cheap. Transferring from city line to pump is simple.

Having said that, your water bill is lower than many municiple systems and you haven't voiced any complaints about it. So I'd keep it as well.

Put one of those hand operated pitcher pumps on your water well. Looks quaint and will be a nice resource when the terrorists, Russians, Hillary, Chinese or 4 Horsemen of the Apocolypse bring us down.