What’s the Typical Source of Well Water for Homes?
Find out where your faucets flow from
Highlights
The source of well water is groundwater from aquifers.
A pump brings water from the well hole to your pressure tank.
Making sure your well is deep enough and properly maintained helps avoid dry spells.
Well water needs to be tested and treated for safety if you want to drink it.
No matter if you just bought a property with a well or are about to have one installed, you may be curious about where that well water comes from before you start using it. Wells are drilled deep underground to access groundwater that has seeped through the soil over centuries. Discover the ins and outs of your new well water including where this water comes from, how it affects your home water supply, and if it’s safe to drink.
Where Does Well Water Come From?
Well water comes from aquifers, which are layers of porous rock and soil that bear groundwater. Groundwater comes from rainfall that has seeped into the ground, flowing between rocks, soil, and other loose materials.
When the water flows deep enough, all the cracks and spaces underground are filled and air bubbles are pushed up. This makes the ground at the top unsaturated and the ground below saturated.
The boundary between the saturated and unsaturated areas is called a water table. When an area experiences heavy rainfall, the water table rises. When it experiences drought, the water table lowers. Even if an area doesn’t experience rain for a while, you won’t immediately run out of groundwater, as it builds up and can stay underground for centuries.
When you dig a hole that ends above the water table, very little water will empty out into it as it sticks to the soil and rocks surrounding it below the hole. When you dig a hole underneath the water table, gravity will pull the water into the empty space of the hole and this will become your water source.
How Does Well Water Work?
When a local well pump contractor near you is digging a well on your property, they drill a hole below the water table so that the well will fill up with water. Most wells are drilled between 100–400 feet below the surface, and the cost will increase depending on the depth. The average cost to drill a well ranges from $15 to $30 per foot.
Once the hole is dug, the contractor will install a pump that brings the water to the top of the hole and through your pipes. There are four types of pumps: hand, jet, centrifugal, and submersible. The type you choose for your well depends on your budget and needs.
| Pump Type | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Hand | $150 |
| Jet | $100 – $800 |
| Centrifugal | $100 – $1,200 |
| Submersible | $200 – $1,200 |
When the well water reaches your home, it is stored in a pressure tank that connects to your faucets and showerheads.
Can You Run Out of Well Water?
Most wells offer a consistent source of water for household use. However, it is possible for your well to run out of water.
The most common things that can cause your well to run dry include:
Frequent droughts
A shallow water table
Restrictive soil
Heavy water use
Poor well maintenance
It can be concerning to think that your household may run out of water, but have no fear—with the proper precautions you can avoid a dry spell. The most important factor is to ensure that during water well drilling, your well is deep enough that a moving water table will not be a concern.
If your well is too shallow, a lowering water table can eventually fall below your well, and lead to a drying well. If this occurs, you may have to hire a local contractor to increase the depth of your well.
Proper well maintenance will also help you avoid losing water. Having your well inspected once a year will allow a contractor to check for any repairs that may be needed and ensure that any cracks or broken parts are fixed. A well inspection cost is often around $350, while the average cost for well repairs ranges from $350 to $1,540.
Is Well Water Safe To Drink?
Well water is naturally filtered through the soil and contains nutrients and minerals such as calcium and magnesium. However, it can very easily become polluted by contaminants such as iron, bacteria, and other things found in the ground that can be harmful to your health.
Due to the risk of contamination, it’s very important to regularly test and treat your well water. There are a number of ways to treat your well water including:
Filtration systems
Water softeners
Acid neutralizers
Reverse osmosis filters
Shock chlorination
Using these systems can help ensure that the water from your well is potable water and safe to drink.
Scheduling an annual well inspection is also very important in ensuring the safety of your drinking water. The inspector will conduct a water test to ensure your well water is free of contamination and that it won’t affect your health. In between inspections, you can also do your own regular tests by purchasing a water test kit from your local hardware store.