Should Those on Well Water Hook Up to City Water?
The consistent urbanization of America, and suburban Indianapolis in particular, has led to new opportunities for homeowners to have access to city water. While this access is viewed by some as a great opportunity, others are a bit more incredulous of switching over from their well water. Indeed, your family’s water source is no small decision. In this blog post, we will go over the advantages and disadvantages of keeping your water well and of hooking up to your municipal water source—it’s not so cut and dry.
Well Water vs. City Water — Cost Comparison
Let’s explore the initial and long-term costs for well and city water. Investing in preventative maintenance for your well is the best way to mitigate costly repairs and replacements. You should have your well inspected once a year and a well cleanout every ten years. The cost of these services is more than worth it over the life of your well. Well water only has the cost of electricity to your pump, so it is much lower than a monthly water bill from the city.
Conversely, just the initial cost of hooking up to the city water main can be expensive. C&J Well offers competitive pricing and financing for hook-up costs. Some municipalities offer extended payment options as well. Furthermore, with City water you have a monthly bill that will inevitably rise as municipal costs and overhead inevitably rise. However, while you will be required to pay a monthly bill with City Water, there usually aren’t any maintenance or upkeep costs involved. Also, many mortgage and home loan companies view City Water as an advantage when assessing home value.
Cost Advantage—Well Water
Well Water vs. City Water — Health Comparison
This comparison is perhaps the most important metric for your decision. You definitely don’t want dirt or bacteria contaminating your drinking water. Although well water is a natural source from the Earth, homeowners still need to keep a vigilant eye on the quality of their water. Proper monitoring and treatment equipment are essential to maintaining quality drinking water. Water softeners will remove iron, arsenic, and other metals, Reverse Osmosis will filter dissolved solids, and an Ultraviolet Light will kill bacteria from your well. Regular bacteria sampling is also encouraged to keep a pulse on the health of your water. With the right treatment equipment, well water can look, smell, and taste better than bottled water.
As far as water quality goes, City Water might not be as healthy as you think. Because it is controlled and distributed by the government, it is treated with harsh chemicals to ensure it has no bacteria. City water is treated with chlorine and fluoride because it comes from lakes and rivers with many pollutants. While these chemicals are used to treat and disinfect the water, they are not good for our health. These chemicals make their way to your house and if left untreated, your faucets.
Although these processes make the water cleaner, city water can have an unpleasant look, smell and taste, while also having negative effects on the skin, hair, dishes, and laundry. It is recommended to have a water softener paired with a dechlorinator to remove dissolved solids and chlorine. We also advise adding extra protection with a Reverse Osmosis to ensure your drinking water is just that—drinking water, nothing else. With the right treatment equipment, City Water can also look, smell, and taste better than bottled water.
Health Advantage—Tie (with the proper treatment equipment from C&J)
Well Water vs. City Water — Convenience Comparison
Because the water in your house is provided by an electrical pump inside the well casing, if your power goes out you might be without water. This can be extremely inconvenient if your electricity is out for an extended period of time. If there is a prolonged blackout, a generator can be useful, but you will still be dealing with fuel costs and procurement. This disadvantage notwithstanding, it is still beneficial to have relative autonomy over your water source. However, this independence comes with a few responsibilities, and some people don’t want to mess with them.
City water is very convenient, especially when it comes to maintenance and upkeep. The municipality is responsible for maintaining the hydrants and water mains, as well as treating the water for bacteria. If there are ever any issues, they are most likely liable to remedy the situation. Once your necessary treatment equipment is installed and programmed, you will be able to enjoy quality water in your home—no more buying and lugging bottled water.
Convenience Advantage— City Water
Well Water vs. City Water — What is Your Best Option?
Ultimately, this is a matter of preference. Well water will have less monthly cost than city water, but both will require preventive maintenance. Both city and well water will require similar treatment solutions, but usually well water must be monitored more closely. Well water can give you more freedom, but also comes with more responsibility. If your home is in an urban or suburban area with city water available, it is probably better for your home’s long-term value to connect.
If you decide to keep your well, we can service and maintain it with our fast-acting emergency service and preventive maintenance—we are experts with over 20 years of experience. If City Water is your choice, you can trust our licensed professionals to connect your home to your municipality’s source, as well as properly abandon your old well. We also have financing available to help spread out the initial cost and make it affordable to anyone.
Whatever water source you decide to go with, rest assured that C&J is committed to providing you with the best quality, most affordable water possible. Contact us today to find out all your options for Well or City water!
