Having a well on your property and using it as your primary water source has a lot of benefits. The main one is that you have no more water bills. The water should be very clean, minerally rich, and refreshing. Before you can reap these benefits it will be important to have the well water tested and the well inspected. This is especially important when you are entering into a contract to purchase a home that has a private well.
What is a good inspection?
If you are purchasing a property that has a well, you will need to get a good inspection. A good inspection will be done by a professional or company that will test the quality and quantity of the water. This inspection will determine if the water is safe to use and if the well is holding enough water for the home. They will check to see if all of the state regulations are met.
When do you need a good inspection?
Typically well inspections are only necessary for rural areas where homes are not connected to public water services. If anything goes wrong with your well, you will not have help from the city, so keep this in mind. Requesting a good inspection is something the buyer needs to do in most cases, so make sure your agent asks for this on your behalf. You must have this inspection before purchasing a home so that you are aware of any potential repairs and can negotiate this within the contract. This should not be a one-time inspection, after you purchase a home, you want to have this done regularly to ensure the water you are consuming is safe.
What does a good inspection include?
The two focus points of a good inspection are the water purity and water quantity.
Water Purity
An inspector will take a water sample from the tap in your home and send it off to a lab. This water will be tested and you will receive a report detailing the findings. The test will look at PH levels, alkalinity, and turbidity. Turbidity is cloudiness in the water. The test will also look at the mineral levels of iron, calcium, manganese, copper, fluoride, and chloride.
Water Quantity
In addition to the purity test, your inspector will also look at the quantity. This is to make sure you aren’t left with no water while taking a shower. You need to know your well can provide what is needed for your household. The average household needs 100-120 gallons of water per person per day. An inspector will check this by measuring the dimensions and depth along with a flow rate test. The flow rate test indicates how much water is coming from your well by the number of gallons per minute. Lastly, they will check for any potential leaks, rusting, or mechanical defects that could result in low water pressure or contamination.
In Conclusion,
When you are looking to buy property in a rural area, you may be overwhelmed by what to look for. The best way to ease your mind is to work with an experienced agent that can give you the background information on any potential water issues and set up a good inspection for you.
Contact Dale Corpus for all San Ramon real estate and all homes in the Tri-Valley area.
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