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If you have purchased bare land and are preparing to build, make sure that you have contacted your town for zoning requirements, contact and engineer to establish your septic and well locations, and ask neighbors for references for local contactors. As licensed well drillers, we cannot drill a well for "New Building" in the State of Vermont without the engineered design plans.
Most homebuyers would never consider purchasing a home without a thorough inspection of the structure and its operating systems. The same care must be taken to inspect the property’s well system and quality of its drinking water.
Research the Well’s History
A recent water quality test is usually required by home mortgage companies before a buyer can close on a property. But water quality is only one concern. You also need to inspect the mechanical workings of the well system, such as the pump and the condition of the wellhead.
Try to get as much information as possible on the construction, maintenance and condition of the well. Ask the sellers for a well log or well history. Our company submits drilling reports on all wells we drill along with GPS coordinates to the states of Vermont and New Hampshire. Ask for any records of maintenance and inspection of the well system after construction.
You should also request a copy of any water quality tests taken in years after the well was drilled. Most states encourage homeowners to test their water once a year, usually in the spring. (See Testing Labs)
Review the Well’s Condition
The well log should help you determine the location, age and condition of the well. There are other aspects of your new well to consider. The list below includes the most positive conditions for the well on your new property.
Well Location
*Proximity to pollution sources – the well is uphill from pollution sources such as septic tank and septic field.
Surface water doesn’t reach or is diverted from the well. The State of Vermont requires the cap on your well to be 18" above ground level.
*Distance from pollution sources – the well is at least 100 feet away from potential pollution sources and meets or exceeds all state minimum requirements for distance. Check with your local health department for standards.
*Soil type – the soil is fine-textured, like clay loams or silty clay. This is the best surface soil type to filter impurities before ground water reaches bedrock and it makes excellent material to protect your service pipe and wire from the well to your house.
*Subsurface conditions – the fractured bedrock that your bedrock well is drilled in creates an impressive barrier that takes time for water to pass through, thus creating an extremely fine filter system. The "Static Level" represents your water table’s highest elevation in your well, at times it produces overflow.
If you still have questions about the condition of the well, contact your well professional about further well inspection, water testing and the need for well repair or replacement. If you are new to the community, ask your real estate agent or neighbors for a reference.
As full service water well professionals we offer a host of services: well drilling, hydro-fracturing, pump service work, water conditioner and filter design and installation, down hole camera inspection of wells, water system inspections for home buyers and now drinking water testing for bacteria and mineral makeup. We also offer to send out water testing for a whole host of requirements based upon your needs –from residential to commercial.
