Well Water vs Public Water

Tuesday, 04 September 2018 Stories

Well water

At SERCAP, we are dedicated to ensuring that all residents of the southeastern United States have adequate access to clean, safe drinking water. For some residents, that starts with a properly-functioning well.

Chances are, most of you reading this receive your water from a public well system. You may be wondering: what is the difference between well water and public water? Let’s begin with well water!

Well Water:

Simply put, well water is water from privately owned sources, meaning that the property owner owns the well. Because the property owner owns the well, it means that they are also responsible for keeping up with the maintenance of the well.

It is important to assess the well every so often and to replace parts of the well when needed to avoid wear and tear that could possibly lead to contamination. We recommend testing the water for potential contaminants every 3 to 5 years. While well water may mean more maintenance, a properly maintained well can last up to 10 years.

Well water is sourced from groundwater--water that is held underground--which is drawn out of the ground by a pump. The water can also be drawn up by hand or mechanically.

Through our Private Well program, we provide individual homeowners with private well assessments that examine the health of the well and the possibility of contamination.

If you have any questions about your well, please reach out. We take pride in providing expert service in the field of water and wastewater.

Public Water:

According to the EPA, approximately 90% of the United States population gets their drinking water from a public water system. Public water, as the name suggests, comes from public water systems, which are maintained by a city or town and are shared by many people. Public water means less maintenance; you are only responsible for the water lines on your property, rather than an entire system.

Most public water systems use surface water: water that is on the surface of the planet--such as a river, lake, or ocean--and is then treated to ensure safety. Once treated, the water is sent to holding tanks and is eventually distributed to the public through water mains and water lines.

Whether you have well water or public water, we hope that you now understand a little more about each option. We enjoy the chance to educate others about the systems that give us one of the basic necessities of life: water.

If you are faced with complex water or wastewater issues, our dedicated team will come alongside you to help! Our team has expertise and decades of experience providing a variety of lasting solutions to the water and wastewater problems in rural communities.