Have you ever wondered where your water comes from? It most likely comes from a municipal water supply, but you might obtain your water from a well if you live in a rural area.
If you donโt know the difference between these two sources, donโt worry. This guide will show you the difference between well water and municipal water.
Quality Differences Between Well and Municipal Water
The main difference between these two types of water is how the government regulates their quality. For municipalities, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ensures that tap water meets a standard and is free of certain chemicals. Local governments purify the water with chlorine at local treatment plants, then distribute it through a network of pipes.
However, the EPA does not regulate well water, which means that the owner of the well must maintain it so that they donโt drink contaminated water. EPA recommendations state that you should test your well water at least once per year to ensure that your water quality isnโt compromised. Nonetheless, if a natural event such as a flood or hurricane occurs during the year, you should inspect your water quality immediately.
Municipal Water Isnโt Always Safer Than Well Water
Since the EPA regulates municipal water supplies, you would think that it must always be safer than well water, right? Well, this isnโt always the case. As you have probably seen on the news, areas such as Flint, Michigan, have contaminated water in their municipal supply lines due to poor infrastructure that affects the entire city population.
Also, various industrial activities in the US use over 60,000 chemicals, but the EPA only regulates 90 of them when it comes to which ones can be present in water sources. Some of these unregulated chemicals leech into water supply lines when they runoff from the soil into areas where people source their water. Luckily, Yuba City plumbers, like Fletcherโs Plumbing and Contracting, can keep your water lines in good working order.
Cost Differences Between Municipal and Well Water
Another significant difference between well and municipal water is how your water source can affect your finances. Certain lenders wonโt finance a property if it contains a well because itโs too risky.
The costs of maintaining a well can vary depending on how much electricity you use to pump your well water, repairs, maintenance, and testing. Some lenders will finance this type of property, but they typically ask for proof that the water quality is safe and that the well is a certain distance away from the septic tank.
Municipal and well water can both be an adequate water source for your home or business, but knowing how they differ can help you decide which one is right for your property. If you have additional questions regarding the difference between well water and municipal water, or if youโd like a free onsite water test, contact Fletcherโs Plumbing and Contracting, Inc. to schedule an appointment today.