Water is essential for all living creatures. Since it is a vital component for a human’s daily diet, where you get drinkable water is crucial. The age-old question remains the same: is well water better than city water or is city water better than well water?
To understand which water source is a better option for you, you firstly need to know where the water is coming. Water from wells is usually used by people in underdeveloped areas, while people who live in the city use city water. Many water supply companies in cities use well water as their source, and unlike city water, well water doesn’t have to be treated. Well-water is extracted from the deep underlying soil and rock and is usually uncontaminated. It is because the land acts as a natural filter for the water. City water is generally supplied from the river and has to go through vigorous treatments to achieve drinkability.
Homeowners nowadays have to decide if they are comfortable using well water or city water, or even both. People that use well water have preconceived opinions about city water, while people that use city water are suspicious of well water. However, both water sources have many pros and cons associated with them. If you are someone who wants to know about the pros and cons of well and city water, then this article will be helpful for you.
Today, in this article, we will share these pros and cons with you, which will allow you to decide which water source is better for you. Some of these pros and cons of each water source are listed as follows;
WELL WATER
When people use well water for drinking, bathing, and cleaning, it means that they are getting their water supply from a well present at their home. Drilling is required to build a well. Water well drilling involves making a hole in the ground to gain access to the underground aquifer. The water is then pumped to a septic system and then supplied into the house. There are pros and cons to using well water.
Pros
- When you have a water source present at your home, then the biggest pro is that you won’t get a monthly water bill. Also, if you are using an in-house septic system, you won’t get a monthly sewage use bill.
- As well water is pumped from an underground aquifer, it is fresh and full of healthy nutrients. These nutrients can include vitamins and minerals, which is crucial for a healthy body. Also, due to the presence of these minerals, well water tends to taste better than city water.
- Another benefit of using well water is that it remains protected from natural disasters, unlike city water. Natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes will disrupt the supply of city water, whereas well water is usually protected as it does not go through miles of pumping lines.
Cons
- Pumping out well water depends on the presence of electricity. If electricity is not present, the electric pump will not work. If the pump does not work, this means no water for the house. You should make sure that you have an alternate electricity source present at your premises. Also, a hand pump will benefit you as you will not need electricity to pump water when using it.
- A well requires a lot of maintenance, repairs, or additional drilling when water runs out at a certain depth. As well as being present on your premises, you are solely responsible for it. It is not the City’s responsibility to take care of well. The repair and maintenance of a well can be expensive, and you will have to regularly test the well water to verify it is safe for drinking.
- Water obtained from wells can get contaminated easily by sewage, chemicals, radiation, and dead animals. These can come from the use of fertilizers on nearby farms or something like animals falling inside the well and dying.
CITY WATER
When you get water supply from the City, it means that the water was taken out of the river and had to go through numerous purification processes. After going through these processes, the water was then carried to your home via water pipes, running hundreds of miles. Just like well water, city water has pros and cons.
Pros
- When you open a tap into your home, you don’t have to worry about the water quality. The water gets tested regularly to meet strict EPA guidelines. Due to this reason, many people use city water instead of well water as they don’t want to face the hassle of getting pollutants and chemicals tested.
- City water pipelines are present in most places. Unless you reside in a very remote area, chances are water pipelines are already installed by the City inside your premises. For access, the City needs to turn on the supply.
- You get better mortgage rates if you have access to city water. It is due to the reason that well water can be unpredictable at times, and city water is regulated.
Cons
- It is less fresh than well water. As city water gets collected from the river, chances are it has come in contact with pollutants and chemicals that are already present inside the rivers. Also, due to the vigorous treatments city water goes through, it ends up tasting less fresh than well water.
- Compared to well water, city water is expensive. When you use city water, you will have to pay a monthly bill. With well water, there is no need to pay a monthly water bill. Also, the water bill is always on the rise due to the demand for more freshwater.
- As the City is responsible for managing the water supply, they can turn it off whenever they want. It can happen when the City needs to treat water and turn off the supply. It can cause water to be unavailable to large parts of the City.
THE FINAL WORDS
To conclude, everyone wants access to clean water, whether it is from the City or a private well. No matter where the water gets supplied from, every home should have a whole house water filter. This filter will ensure that you get access to safe, drinkable water whenever you turn on the tap. However, it depends on you what water source you choose. To help you make a decision, we have shared with you some pros and cons of both well and city water. So, it is a good idea that you consider them.
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