According to the USGS, private wells account for the water needs of a little less than one in six people in the United States.
Since private wells do not receive maintenance from federal or state governments, frequent well servicing plays a key role in drinking water safety.
When people purchase properties with well water, they don’t always know how often it needs service.
If you want safe water, you must know what goes into regular well maintenance and inspection.
How do you maintain a well? What signs indicate you need servicing? We’ll tell you what you need to ensure things turn out well, including the basics of service frequency, what to do between annual inspections, and what interventions an inspection might lead to.
Well Servicing Basics
Most of those who use well water have their wells serviced once a year.
While you could need a higher well inspection frequency if your area has an ongoing water quality issue, annual tests will often suffice.
A comprehensive well-service visit includes more than a quick look at the pump.
Each visit has several components.
Water Test
The water you drink should be free of toxic chemicals and pathogens.
During the annual well pump service, your servicer should test for:
- Coliform bacteria
- Nitrates
- Dissolved solids
- pH level
The Arizona Department of Health Services recommends additional tests for new wells.
These include:
- Arsenic
- Fluoride
- Lead
- Uranium
If someone in your home gets sick or you find radon in your home, you could need additional tests.
Ask your servicer about the next steps in cases like these.
Visual Inspection
Professional well servicing also includes a good look at each part of the water system.
The parts assessed include:
- Wellhead
- Well cap
- Pump
- Pressure tank
- Grout
Other components, such as electrical equipment and casings, will also get inspected if the system contains them, though which other components you have depend on your well.
If the inspector notices a problem, you’ll know whether you need to repair your well casing or replace your pressure tank.
Flow Testing
During the inspection, your servicer will also measure the dimensions of your well and discern whether it can keep up with providing the typical 80-100 gallons of water used by the average American each day.
If your well can’t supply your home fast enough, the inspector may recommend repairs and adjustments to your system.
Caring for Your Well
While inspections will identify issues that take time to crop up, acute problems can happen at any time.
These water well care tips will help you keep your well in shape between inspections.
Perform Your Own Inspections
You may not have an inspector’s trained eye, but you can still make your well last longer if you take a look at the components every so often.
If you’ve had a recent storm or heat wave you should follow up by checking your well. Inclement weather can weaken or damage parts.
Don’t Take Risks
Don’t mow the area around your well or use it to pile dirt and leaves.
You don’t want to hit your well casing with a mower, a shovel, or a rake.
If you find the grass around your well unappealing, consider hand-cutting it using a sickle or hand scythe.
This process saves you gasoline and reduces the risk of dings, dents, cuts, and slashes of important components.
Avoid Contaminating Your Own Well
Many well owners accidentally contaminate their wells by using chemicals or placing garbage disposal areas close to the well.
You should keep chemicals like motor oil or solvents away from your water system and the area above your groundwater supply.
Hazardous chemicals should stay at least 100 feet away from the wellhead.
You should also ensure that no large plants grow within 50 feet of your well.
The Environmental Protection Agency outlines common risks to private wells for different types of property owners.
Whether you have a small residential well or a well that serves a large industrial site, make sure you know the most common risks.
Replacement and Decommissioning
Every industrial product can fail, including wells.
Routine maintenance includes identifying when a well has reached the end of its life or been rendered unusable by contamination.
Necessary interventions will differ depending on what’s failed.
Pump Replacement
Well pumps last a decade or more. Some pumps have lasted more than 30 years, but these represent exceptions rather than common results.
When a pump meets its demise or utility costs begin to climb, you need to replace it.
Your servicer will discuss the logistics of replacing the pump if an annual or emergency inspection indicates a need.
Contamination and Hardness
Wells often develop hard water or bacterial contamination.
Servicers can fix these issues with chlorination or water softeners.
Dry Wells
During droughts, wells can run dry. If this happens, your pump may burn out from trying to pump water without success.
The water itself helps cool the pump, so pumping without any success will lead to pump failure.
If this happens, you may need a new well, but sometimes you can fix the issue by lowering the pump.
When it reaches the new water line, it’ll pump again. Talk to your inspector or servicer about whether this option will help if your well runs dry.
Decommissioning
If you cannot address the problems with your well, you may need a replacement.
Part of this process involves decommissioning the old well.
You cannot decommission a well on your own.
The process needs to proceed with care to protect the groundwater for you and future property owners in the area.
All’s Well That Ends Well
Well servicing will keep you and your family supplied with safe, healthy drinking water for years to come.
A trained inspector can keep your well running with annual inspections.
If you need water testing and well monitoring services, contact us at Pump It Up Pump Service.
Our in-house machine shop can fabricate and repair components of any size, and we provide emergency service on weekends.
If you need something installed or maintained, contact us to schedule an appointment.
Connect with Pump It Up Pump Services, Inc. for expert water well services across Arizona, including Casa Grande, Scottsdale, Wickenberg, and Phoenix. We’re ready to serve your needs.
Call 623-582-5069 or request service online today!