How To Buy a Home With a Water Well

Purchasing a home can be tough enough, but if you’re unfamiliar with well water systems, buying a home that draws water from a well can be even more intimidating. Like everything with home ownership, managing a water well system is easy if you learn the basics and have a reliable professional to call on when there are problems.

Here are some important things to look for when buying a home with a water well:

Know the common water well problems

Do you know the difference between a bedrock and shallow well? Or what hard water is?  There are a number of common water well problems that often arise, depending on where your home is located. Bedrock wells, also known as artesian wells, draw water from cracks in the bedrock deep underground and are more likely to draw water that contains dissolved minerals and metals. Hard water is the most common problem with bedrock well water, but other issues, such as arsenic and radon contamination can cause problems for homeowners. Roughly 90 percent of all new wells in New Hampshire are bedrock wells.

Shallow wells, or dug wells, draw groundwater into the home and are far more susceptible to bacterial contamination than bedrock wells. Shallow wells may also be at risk for contamination from pesticides and other contaminants that flow into groundwater from nearby farms, highways or industrial sites. Fortunately, shallow wells are less likely to have issues with hard water or other mineral and metal contaminants.

Some obvious signs of water well problems

Spotting potential well water problems in a home you're considering buying can help prevent headaches when it comes time to buy. State law in New Hampshire requires sellers to disclose information about both the water supply system and the septic system, including the date of the most recent water test and if the test showed any water quality problems. Although some mortgage companies may require it, water tests are not required by state law in New Hampshire. This means the most recent water test disclosed could have been done many years ago.

Keep an eye out for crusting on water fixtures, which could indicate untreated hard water. Also take a look at the water system components both inside and outside the home. If there is obvious damage, corrosion and leaking, chances are there are other unaddressed problems as well. Here are some other issues to consider:

Age of the home/age of the well: Old homes don’t necessarily mean old well. But if the home has a well older than 30 years old, it could mean the well is at the end of its life. Make sure closely inspect the well system and water quality before buying.

Drainage issues: Wet and poorly drained soil can cause problems with home septic system and cause groundwater contamination. If the home uses water from a dug well and the ground on the property has poor drainage, make sure to test the water for bacteria and other contaminants.
Location and soil type: Is the home located in an area known for high levels of radon in bedrock well water? Is the dug well located downhill from a possible contamination source? New

Hampshire Department of Environmental Services has extensive documentation regarding soil types and risks to well water. The agency will also send out water alerts, like it did in June 2014, urging homeowners with well water to test for contaminants, such as arsenic.

A water test is the only proven way to know if well water is contaminated or not. To ensure reliable results, testing should be done by a reputable lab. Skillings & Sons offers advice and assistance with water testing. Our experienced staff can help homeowners collect samples correctly, interpret results and offer advice on home water treatment systems if contaminants are found.

If you have questions regarding the purchase of a home on a water well or need an expert opinion and well inspection, contact the professionals ate Skillings & Sons.

NH's Proposed Gas Pipeline and Your Water Well

The proposed New Hampshire gas pipline andwater wells

What you need to know about your water well and the natural gas pipeline proposed to go through your town in New Hampshire

If you live along the New Hampshire-Massachusetts border, chances are you’ve heard about the natural gas pipeline proposed to run from the Berkshires into New Hampshire and across the border again into Dracut, Mass. Building a project of this size takes months and sometimes years to complete, however, knowing a little about how these projects are constructed can help you stay on top of the process and informed about any potential risks.

Regardless of the project, whenever there is large-scale construction near your home, it could impact your home well water supply. At Skillings & Sons, we recommend homeowners test their water whenever they notice a change in quality, such as a new strange taste or smell, or the presence of sediment. We also suggest homeowners test their water if there has been a massive construction project ongoing nearby. Here’s why:

Large-scale construction projects often require blasting

Granite ledge is a common geological feature in this part of the country. Large formations of bedrock provide us with an ample supply of clean, great-tasting water. But it also means that whenever a road, large new development, or pipeline is built, there will likely be some blasting.
According to the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, blasting can cause silt, sand, and rock particles to shake loose into bedrock fractures that carry water into nearby bedrock wells. This sediment then travels into our home water supply, increasing what is known as “turbidity.” High turbidity is not only unpleasant to drink, but it can also damage a home’s water fixtures and appliances.

Homeowners should be aware that high turbidity can sometimes carry with it other harmful contaminants such as metals or blasting chemicals. Detonator and explosive materials are sometimes not entirely combusted during the blast and are then released into the groundwater. This includes residual chemicals left behind on the blasted rock materials, both within the ground and removed and stockpiled on the construction site. Blasting contamination is often associated with increased levels of nitrate or nitrite, and in some rare cases, volatile organic compounds.

Construction and the flow of groundwater

Blasting on a large-scale construction site can temporarily disrupt the flow of water into your home’s well, but is unlikely to damage it. Studies of wells near blasting zones show there is little likelihood of a blast damaging a well, well casing or pump, especially in areas where people live and lower charges are used.

There is a chance that the well could see a drop in flow because loosened rock and sediment are blocking the flow of water to the well. This problem can be solved with a technique called hydrofracking. This process sends a highly pressurized blast of water deep into the well, loosening and eliminating the rocks and debris blocking the flow of water into your well. This technique is safe, uses no chemicals and works so well, Skillings & Sons offers a guarantee. 

While most of this post has addressed potential damage to bedrock wells, those homes with shallow wells should also be on alert when construction is taking place nearby. Disruptions in the soil around your home and well can lead to bacteria contamination.

Skillings & Sons recommends water testing and shock chlorination if warranted, to fully eliminate the risk of contamination after construction.