If you’re considering buying a home with a well or installing a well on your property, you might be wondering how it compares to city water.
There are many advantages of having a home that uses well water vs. city water, and in this post we’ll explore five of them. Whether you’re interested in saving money, being more self-sufficient, or just want to know where your water comes from, read on to learn more about the benefits of well water.
1. You’ll have a reliable water source that is not affected by city water issues.
Nobody really thinks about losing their water supply until it actually happens. With city water, nothing is guaranteed. From broken water mains, sewer backups, boil water advisories and other emergencies, issues with city water will leave you frustrated and feeling out of control.
When you have your own private well, you don’t need to worry about these things that are out of your control. If any issues come up with your well water, the situation is in your hands and you will be able to fix any issues right away. Of course, this highlights the importance of educating yourself on homestead water wells as much as you can. Don’t worry – we have you covered! After all, these the not-so-fun, real issues that homesteaders need to be aware of and may face at some point.
One drawback is that well water does rely on electricity to pump it into your house. Make sure to have a generator on hand in case of a power outage or at least have an emergency backup plan in the case that your power goes out for a few days.
2. You won’t get a water bill.
This is one of my favorite things about being on well water: no municipal water bill to pay! Other than the costs of maintaining your water system and maybe the initial installation fees if you’re getting a well put in brand new, having your own water source is essentially free.
If you’re on your own septic system as well, you’ll probably be paying less property tax since you are not using those city services.
In the long run, you will most likely save money by using your own water source.
3. You have more control over the quality and taste of your water when you have a well.
I didn’t realize that the taste of chlorine in city water is so apparent until I moved to the country and started using well water. When I visit friends and family in town, I can really taste the chlorine in the tap water! Personally, I don’t really mind either way, but many people say that well water tastes better due to the lack of added chemicals like chlorine and fluoride.
Well water comes straight up from the ground, deep in the aquifer layer, and does not contain any harsh chemicals. Since it does not go through a treatment process, it’s important to test your water at least once a year to make sure it isn’t contaminated.
4. Well water is good for the environment – it doesn’t require treatment or transportation like city water does.
This one is pretty self-explanatory. Your water travels far less of a distance going from your well to your home compared to city water, which is collected, treated and distributed to homes through large water mains.
If you are on a well, you’ll also be in control of exactly where your water travels through; for example, if you hate the idea of lead in your water, you can make sure that you don’t have lead pipes going from your well to your home.
5. Wells create a sense of independence and self-reliance – something that’s becoming increasingly rare in our modern world.
Finally, it can be said that having the ultimate control over your home’s water supply gives peace of mind and creates a sense of independence. With how much we depend on other things in this day and age, going back to the basics whenever possible helps instill that sense of importance and self-reliance. I think most – if not all – of us living the homesteading lifestyle share these same principles.
Conclusion
Having a home with a well is a change from being on the city’s water system and it does require you to be knowledgeable about your water supply, at least enough to do some basic troubleshooting. However, there are many advantages to having your own water supply that doesn’t rely on outside sources. From saving money to simply feeling good about yourself, owning a homestead with a well comes with a lot of great benefits.
How do you like your well water vs. city water? Do you have a preference for one over the other? Let us know in the comments!
