Considering a move to the countryside? The in's and out's of water supply for rural country properties.
America is currently experiencing a demographic shift and millions of people are looking to move to more rural areas. For many people the considerations that are part of country life are a daunting mystery. What do I do with trash if there is no garbage pickup? What happens if I have a problem with my sewer system? What is involved in supplying water to my house, garden or landscaping?
In this blog we’ll take some of the mystery out of how rural property owners provide water for their homes! We’ll also discuss the main water considerations you should be checking out BEFORE you purchase a rural home that can help save you money in the long run.
Rural Water Sources: Springs, Wells, Rivers & Lakes, Rainwater and Trucking water
Water for most rural homes come from either a spring or a well. Some homes may use water from a river, pond or lake, however this is typically only done when a well or spring is not available. Water from a spring or a well is considered “ground water.” “Surface water” comes from sources such as lakes or rivers. Ground water is typically free of bacteria, virus’ or other pathogenic organisms but it will frequently have some level of mineral content such as iron, calcium, etc.. Surface water sources typically have less mineral content, but have bacteria and other pathogens present, and are often affected by algae or turbid/muddy water during rainy periods. Surface water requires specific water filtration techniques to ensure harmful organisms or chemicals are removed that are introduced from runoff or animal or human activity near the river or lake. These contaminants can include fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, sewage, petroleum products, etc… Some homes have no ground or surface water available and rely on rainwater or even trucking water in.
Springs are a fantastic water source! The spring should area should be kept clean and free of debris and should limit the access of animals to the intake location. Water from the spring is typically stored in a storage tank and then the storage tank supplies the house. Ideally, the spring and storage tank location are high enough above the house to provide adequate water pressure, typically 100’ in elevation is sufficient. If this is the case no pumps or electricity are required to deliver water to the house and maintenance and electrical costs will be very minimal. Power is out? No problem, the water still flows.
In some cases, the spring and spring tank are located below the house and in these cases, electricity must be supplied to the spring/spring tank location and a pump installed to supply water to the house. In this second situation, there will be nominal ongoing costs for maintenance and electricity. In these situations, If the power is out then the water will be off.
Wells are also a reliable water source, but more expense is involved when supplying water from a well. The well must be drilled and a submersible pump installed in the well to supply water to the house. If you’re interested in more information about the well drilling process, check out our blog on well drilling here! Keep in mind that an ongoing supply of electricity to the submersible well pump is required if you want water to your house. When you live in a rural area and the electricity is out, the water is off! In some cases, a well pump will move water from the well to a storage tank located on a hill above the home. In these cases, the storage tank can continue to provide water even when the electricity is off. The ongoing cost for electricity to pump the water, submersible well pump maintenance, and maintenance for the well should be considered as you step into country life with a well. The larger the water requirements, (size of house, landscaping, agriculture, pool, etc…) and the deeper the well, the more a homeowner should be prepared to spend to keep the system operational and replace components! In the absolute best case scenario submersible well pumps last up to 20 or 25 years. This happens when high quality components have been selected and installed properly in a well with good clean water and a supply of quality electricity. Typically, though, the industry sees submersible well pumps that last around 8-10 years when the above factors are not ideal.
Lakes and streams typically involve several pumps that move the water from the lake or stream to a water treatment/filtration station and then to a storage tank. With these systems the costs for maintenance and electricity are a bit more than for a submersible well pump system because multiple pumps are involved consuming electricity and the filter equipment also utilizes both consumables and electricity in addition to requiring regular maintenance.
Rainwater collection is really only viable in areas that have regular rain all year long. Rainwater systems should also have a proper water filtration system to ensure that the contaminants/dust from birds and dust on your roof are not part of your drinking water. In places like California where 8-10 months can pass without any rain, these systems are typically not used because they are unable to provide water for more than a few days before water must be trucked in. Trucking water is a catastrophe for both your budget, roads, and the environment. Trucking water should really only be done as a last resort and on a temporary basis while repairs to/development of the actual water source on the property are implemented.
Water Filters
Many rural homes will have water filters. In some cases, these water filters are to adjust pH or remove high levels of iron, manganese, calcium, and magnesium. While typically not harmful in water, minerals can cause buildup and staining on plumbing fixtures. Other common forms of water treatment/filtration for rural homes involve systems that remove taste and odors from water or will expose the water UV light or add chlorine to the water. Chlorine and UV are frequently used to ensure the water does not have any bacterial contamination. Some filtration systems get exotic and can cost as much as a small car! The ideal water needs no filtration or at most some pH correction to ensure that the water is not acidic which can lead to metal pipe damage/corrosion.
Water Considerations Before Purchasing a Rural Home
Those considering purchasing a rural home should do a bit of investigation into the water supply, quality, and system prior to purchase. Don’t assume that the realtors have these considerations in mind. One of their primary goals, after all, is to sell property! I’ve heard a realtor tell their client, “Even if the well doesn’t have enough water, you can just get water trucked in.” Another comment I’ve overheard is “Oh, the water quality doesn’t matter, you can always just filter it!” The first comment implies that spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars a month trucking water is acceptable and the second comment ignores potential contaminates which are extremely difficult/expensive to remove and which can inhibit plant growth or can cause other health problems.
The first questions you should ask is: Where is the water coming from? A well or spring, great! A lake or pond should send up a yellow flag and lead to questions about the type of water purification available and the availability/quality of the groundwater. Homes that rely on rainwater collection or trucked in water should send up some red flags if not cause you to look elsewhere.
Once you have determined where the water comes from, you should determine how much is available. A well or spring yield test should be performed on existing wells and springs to see how much water they produce. Is this water sufficient for any plans for expanding/remodeling the home? Is it enough to supply water for the landscaping and gardening projects you have in mind? Keep in mind that the planning department for your county may have strict guidelines on water availability, fire suppression, and water storage tanks before they will issue building permits. If you don’t have enough water your building permit will get denied! If you have plans for remodel or expansion, take a visit to the local county building department to discover what requirements or restrictions they have in regard to water availability, requirements for storage tanks, etc…
Water quality testing is a great idea! Depending on your location, the types and levels of contaminants can vary significantly. If the home you are considering has water filtration, water quality testing should be done before and after the filter equipment so that you know what is in the water and if the filter equipment is actually working! Check out our water testing page to help familiarize yourself with the different types of contaminates and water testing that is available. If a water filter is installed, find out if it actually an appropriate filter for the minerals/contaminates present, or was it something the original homeowner purchased from a late night TV ad that promised to fix everything (and usually fix nothing).
Have the sewer system inspected and ensure that the septic tank and leach fields are at least 100’ from your well or spring location and not in a location where flooding or runoff can potentially transport sewage to your water source.
Have the condition of the water system equipment checked. Is it new and functioning well? Is it old and falling apart? Does the current homeowner have records from the well pump installation? How about a year’s worth of utility bills so you can see what to expect? This information can help you understand if significant investment will be required in the water infrastructure before you purchase you new rural home.
In general, rural properties that meet the following water criteria should be at the top of your list as your sort through properties to purchase.
A spring or a well that provides at least 5-10 Gallons per Minute & fills a storage tank is plenty of water for most rural homes. Springs or wells that have provide more than 15-20 Gallons per minute probably will not need a storage tank to be able to provide adequate water to your home, garden, and landscaping.
Look for good quality water that doesn’t have strange tastes or odors and doesn’t require filtration or at most treatment for pH correction or hardness/iron removal. Get the water tested by all means, but also take a glass and fill it up, take a sniff! After all this is the water you’ll be using and you should like it.
The water system is simple and understandable consisting of a well pump, a storage tank/booster pump, and a simple filter that you can maintain yourself by adding salt or changing an inexpensive, readily available cartridge.
The water system should be clean & sanitary, well maintained, and labeled so that you know what pipes go where and what valves turn off the house, garden, landscaping, etc… The sewer system/leach field are located both far away from the well or spring and are lower in elevation.
Our highly skilled team at Oakville Pump regularly work with clients that are looking to purchase or develop property in the Napa Valley and need our expertise to ensure pure water is available for their home, business or agriculture. Please contact us today if we can help you with your water needs!
If there are questions you’d like our blog to address, please contact us and we will try to address them in future blogs.