New Guides
Guides for buying, owning, and installing a private water well
Plain-language guides for the questions that come before and after a water test: what to look at when you tour a home, how your system works, how to protect it, and how to plan a new well from permit to first glass of water.
Buying a home with well water Owning a well Installing your first well
Buying a Home With Well Water
For buyers and future owners
Touring a Home With Well Water: What to Look At During a ShowingA room-by-room, yard-by-yard guide to what you can notice about a private well during a home showing, before you pay for inspections or testing.14 min read
Questions to Ask the Seller About the WellA practical question list for buyers of homes with private wells, organized by topic, with tips on getting answers in writing and what to do with vague replies.14 min read
Well Yield and Flow Tests: Will the Well Keep Up With Your Household?A plain-language guide to well yield, flow tests, and water quantity for buyers and owners, including what the terms mean, how tests work in general, and how to think about your household's needs.14 min read
Buying Land With No Well: How to Check for Water Before You BuyBefore you buy a rural lot or acreage that has no well, here is how to research water availability, read nearby well records, talk to the right people, and protect yourself in the purchase contract.13 min read
Moving From City Water to a Well: What Changes Day to DayA friendly guide for people who have always had municipal water and are moving to a home with a private well, covering responsibility, costs, habits, equipment, and the mindset shift.14 min read
Your First 30 Days in a Home With a WellA week-by-week checklist for new owners of a home with a private well, from finding the shutoffs on day one to setting up testing, records, and routine care by the end of the first month.14 min read
Owning a Well
For current well owners
How Your Well System Works, From Aquifer to FaucetA plain-language tour of a private well water system, following water from the ground through the well, pump, pressure tank, controls, and treatment to your faucet.14 min read
Your Pressure Tank ExplainedWhat a well pressure tank does, how it works with the pump and pressure switch, signs it may need attention, and what homeowners can observe safely before calling a professional.14 min read
Power Outages and Your Well: How to Plan for No WaterWhy a power outage stops water on a private well, how to prepare with stored water and household plans, what to know about generators, and what to check when the power comes back.13 min read
Winter, Freezing, and Vacant Homes: Protecting Your Well SystemHow cold weather affects private well systems, where freezing usually happens, how to prepare before winter, what to do if water stops in the cold, and how to care for a well at a seasonal or vacant home.14 min read
Everyday Habits That Protect Your WellSimple, practical habits for the yard, garden, garage, driveway, and household that help keep contamination away from a private well, from fertilizer and fuel to pets, projects, and parties.13 min read
Living With a Well and a Septic System on the Same LotHow a private well and a septic system share a property, why their relationship matters for water quality, and practical habits and maintenance that help both work well for years.13 min read
Drought, Low Yield, and Conserving Water on a WellHow drought and low-yield wells affect homeowners, early signs your well is struggling, practical water-saving habits, and when to call a professional about storage, pumps, or other options.14 min read
Old or Unused Wells on Your Property: Finding Them and Dealing With ThemHow to recognize an old, abandoned, or unused well on your property, why it matters for safety and groundwater, what to do right away, and how proper decommissioning by a qualified professional works in general.14 min read
Installing Your First Well
For new wells and new construction
Planning Your First Well: The Process From Permit to First Glass of WaterA start-to-finish overview of getting a new private well, from early research and permits to drilling, pump installation, disinfection, testing, and the paperwork to keep.14 min read
Drilled, Bored, Driven, and Dug Wells ExplainedA plain-language comparison of the main types of private wells, how each is built, where each tends to be used, and what each means for water supply, protection, and upkeep.13 min read
Choosing Where to Put a New Well on Your LotThe practical factors that shape a new well's location, including setbacks, septic placement, drainage, contamination sources, rig access, distance to the house, and future plans, with a step-by-step siting process.14 min read
Comparing Well Drilling QuotesHow to read and compare estimates from well drilling contractors, what is often included or excluded, why quotes are structured differently, and the questions that help you compare fairly.13 min read
What to Expect on Drilling DayA homeowner's guide to the day a new well is drilled, from site preparation and rig setup to noise, mud, safety, what the driller is watching for, and what happens when they reach water.13 min read
After the Drill Rig Leaves: Pump, Tank, Trenching, and First TestWhat happens between drilling a new well and drinking from it, including pump installation, trenching the water line, connecting to the house, disinfection, first water testing, and setting up records.13 min read