Well water
Drinking water from a private well on the property, not a public utility. Requires periodic testing for bacteria and minerals. The pump is the owner's to maintain and replace.
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Free to set up. No credit card.Part 1 of 4
Why a seller cares
A private well means the buyer, and often their lender, will want a water test and a look at the pump. A clean test and a service record settle the question; a failed test becomes a treatment system on your side.
Part 2 of 4
A simple example
Your home is on a well. The buyer's lender asks for a bacteria and nitrate test, and the buyer's inspector checks the pump's flow rate.
| What the test finds | What tends to follow |
|---|---|
| Clean water, good flow | Nothing; the report goes in the file |
| Coliform bacteria | A shock chlorination and a retest, a few hundred dollars |
| High nitrates or a weak pump | A treatment system or a pump, and a negotiation |
Well water is tested, not assumed. The test is where it becomes a cost or a non-issue.
Part 3 of 4
What people get wrong
That the water tasting fine means it will pass. Bacteria and nitrates have no taste, which is why lenders ask for the lab.
Part 4 of 4 · where to read next
Where it appears in the sale
What a definition is, and what it isn't
Keighbor is a software company, not a law firm, brokerage, or tax adviser. This is general information, not legal, tax, financial, or real estate advice about your sale. Your situation may differ. Before acting on a contract, disclosure, title, tax, or pricing question, ask an appropriately licensed professional in your state.
Written and researched by Keighbor Research · drawn from the reference glossary · how we research and check what we publish
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