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Well Maintenance

    A properly constructed well should require little routine maintenance

Create a Well Maintenance Log

If you do not have a well log (AKA water well record or drilling report), Greene's Water Wells Inc. can provide you with one.

The log will include your well reference number, your well location, the construction and contractor details, and results from water tests. This information will help determine the location, age, and condition of the well. This information assists in the scheduling of regular tests of water quality, equipment inspection, and regular maintenance and repairs.

Set a Well Maintenance Schedule

• Inspect your wellhead several times a year. Check the condition of the well covering, casing and well cap. Make sure to leave no cracks or entry points for potential pollutants.
• Have the well system, including the pump, storage tank, pipes and valves, and water flow, inspected every 10 years by a qualified well driller or pump installer.
• If you have no inspection record and cannot determine the age of the well, have it inspected immediately by a water well professional.
• When your well reaches the end of its serviceable life, usually more than 20 years, contact your water well professional to install a new system and properly close the old well.

• Test drinking water immediately if you have no recent test results.
• Test drinking water for bacteria every year. If you live in an agricultural area, or have an on-site septic system, also test your drinking water for nitrates. The best time to perform these tests are in the spring.
• Test if you notice any change in the taste, color, or odor of your water.
• Test more than once a year in special situations:
  • someone in the household is pregnant or nursing
  • unexplained illnesses in the family
  • your neighbors find a dangerous contaminant in their water
  • there is a spill of chemicals or fuels into or near your well
• Test after disinfections, within one or two weeks, to make sure the water is pure.
• Test after any flooding in or near the well, to determine if flood water carried bacteria or other contaminants into the well system.

• Test drinking water before installing any water treatment device.
• Test water every year to make sure the device is working properly.
• Follow the inspection and maintenance schedule provided by your water treatment device manufacturer or water well professional.

• Inspect the septic tank each year for capacity and leaks.
• Pump out the tank as needed, usually every three to five years, based on the number of people in the household and the size of the tank.
• Repair the tank or drainfield system as needed to prevent leaks of bacteria and nutrients into the drinking water.

Other Considerations

• Keep hazardous chemicals, such as paint, fertilizer, pesticides, and motor oil far away from your well.
• Don't allow back-siphonage. When mixing pesticides, fertilizers or other chemicals, don't put the hose inside the tank or container.
• When landscaping, keep the top of your well at least one foot above the ground. Slope the ground away from your well for proper drainage.

Contact Greene's Water Wells Inc. to help with your agricultural well installation and/or maintenance.