In an earlier post today, I wrote about septic tank inspections. Since septic tanks and wells often go together, I thought this information would be appropriate as well.
A private well is a specialized and complex system, mechanically and biologically. Generally speaking, these systems are beyond the scope of a standard home inspection. Many mechanical parts of the system are not visible and the biological aspects of the system require laboratory testing. Ifyou are buying a home that has a well, depending on the inspector you have hired, he or she will either exclude the well or attempt to take a limited visual exam for you. In other words, some inspectors will try to look at pumps, tanks, valves, gauges, electrical connections and make sure there are no leaks and glean other pertinent information. The inspector might, also, try to do a functional flow test.
The well flow rate is important. It is measured in gallons per minute, or GPM, and can be easily determined by timing how long it takes to fill a gallon jug at a faucetor outside hosebibb. Unfortunately, it is much more difficult to determine the true water capacity of the well. There are costly and specialized tests to determine this, such as calculating the capacity by a "well draw-down" which consists of drawing water out of the well at a given rate, while monitoring the level of water remaining or being replenished. This test is often considered to be extreme as it wastes water and stresses the well and maybe the home's septic system. Therefore, when evaluating a well, it is common and logical to rely heavily on a review of the past performance and history of the well. An honest homeowner or tenant, who has lived at the property for some time, can provide a buyer with detailed and important information. Any purchaser needs to be advised that, when a well is part of a home sale, it is wise - and often the law - to have the water tested at a lab for bacteria, pollutants or other harmful chemicals.
Check out "This Day In History" -- music and vintage television from the 1950's through the 1980's. I enjoy writing these articles because they take me back to my days in radio broadcasting. Click on Elvis' gold record, below, to revisit those golden hits of yesteryear.
