Learn About Well Water

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Do You Have Well Water?

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), most homes in the United States get their water from the local water department. When you receive water from the city, officials treat your water at a plant and pump it to your home in underground piping.

Homeowners that live far from the nearest municipality often choose to install a well near their home and source their water directly from the private well. Currently, more than 13 million households nationwide rely on well water, according to the EPA.

Well Water Vs. City Water

If you’re unsure what kind of water (well water or “city” water) you have in your home, ask yourself these questions:

Is your address within the city limits?

If you reside within a city, chances are your water comes from the local water department. If you live in a rural area, your water may come from a well.

Aerial view of residential neighborhood in the Autumn.

Do you pay a water bill?

When your water comes from the local water department, you’ll regularly pay a water bill, perhaps once a month, to that organization. Homeowners that utilize private wells do not have a water bill. Instead, they pay out of pocket for the maintenance, testing, and upkeep of their private well.

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Can you spot a well pump in your yard, or is there a pressure tank near or in your home? 

These are clear indicators that you are utilizing well water, as you must periodically pump the water. The pressure tank helps optimize water flow and is a crucial component of a well water system.

Old water pump in a flowering garden in the spring

If you still aren’t sure what type of water is in your home, call your local water department and provide your home address. They will be able to tell you if your home receives water from the city.

Facts About Well Water

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which protects and regulates public drinking water systems, does not monitor private wells. It is the well owner’s responsibility to test well water and maintain its cleanliness. But how does the water get in the well in the first place? And what contaminants could make their way into the well water?

We are water Experts

Water quality is non-negotiable. To prove it, we've built state-of-the-art water quality labs and filled them with the best and brightest scientists — all so we can provide you with the best water of your life.

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What's in your water?
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