Good vs Poor Wells - What makes a well a good well?

[Pettrix]

I agree a generator is a much better way to have water when the power goes off. You can never count on pressure tanks for storing any water.

Most of the people I knew that when the power went out, the pressure tanks were half full and didn't have much water left. A few toilet flushes and a shower left them without water.

A generator with a transfer switch will keep the water pumping for a long time. It's really the best solution as pressure tanks are not designed for long term storage without power.

 

[buickanddeere]

A well into a gravel aquifer on top of the bed rock generally has higher flow and fewer minerals in the water vs a bed rock well.

 

[TheGoose]

A good well is one that makes clean, clear water in the amount you need. 100 GPM will do you no good if it's loaded with sand and sediment. I would rather have a well that makes 5 GPM of good clean clear water than one that makes 20 GPM of sand, sediment, or discolored water. 5 GPM = about 7200 gallons per day. Plenty of water for most purposes.

 

[TomSeller]

I run unto 100 head of cattle on an artesian well that puts out 1.5 to 2 gallons a minute at a about 5 psi. The cows sometimes stand in line and wait but that well gets the job done. They'd be in cow heaven at 5 GPM so I would say a 4 bedroom house should be able to exist on that amount.

 

[dfkrug]

Most banks will not lend/loan for a property that sees LESS THAN 5GPM on the
private well. Water is life and without it, property values plummet. So banks and the FHA set it at 5GPM for a private well.

Never heard of that in CA, and I know of lots of rural properties on wells being sold/mortgaged. If
a lender actually had a 5GPM well minimum spec, then how/who would test/certify it?

That is why our state certifies wells, and only when they are dug with permits. Plus the spec is
not some meaningless GPM number, but a flow rate over a set long interval (24hr).

Not saying that there are not some federal well standards for FHA/VA loans for residences,
I just don't know how they would be implemented here. And 2.5GPM (not 5GPM) for 24hrs is the
minimum state standard.

 

[Pettrix]

Never heard of that in CA, and I know of lots of rural properties on wells being sold/mortgaged. If
a lender actually had a 5GPM well minimum spec, then how/who would test/certify it?

Any competent well driller or building inspector can do the test. Just run the pump and measure the GPM.

Drawdown would be more complicated but using a radar tester that can be easily accomplished with the well cap off.

 

[speedbump]

I am re-fying my house right now and the well isn't even mentioned in any of the paper work or by the appraiser. Maybe it's because we have lots of water in our area.

 

[dfkrug]

Any competent well driller or building inspector can do the test. Just run the
pump and measure the GPM.

Drawdown would be more complicated but using a radar tester that can be easily accomplished
with the well cap off.

As I said above, the rules in CA are very specific, and well tests are monitored by the state. I have
been thru it. It works differently in other states, I am sure.