Most homeowners do not realize that they often have a choice when it comes to their water needs. Oftentimes the two options for homeowners boil down to a private well vs. municipal water. Regardless of your current infrastructure, you might be able to change your system. Below, we will discuss private well vs. municipal water.
Municipal Water
Municipal water is water that is provided by a local government or agency. The local government or agency treats the water at a water treatment facility. Then, they deliver the water to houses through municipal pipes. Below are some of the advantages and disadvantages of using municipal water.
Advantages:
- Community Ownership. The municipal water is run for the residents for a community. It is therefore not designed to make a profit to appease stockholders and investors. The water is provided as a service.
- Pay as you use. Municipalities charge homeowners on a usage scale. Families who limit their water usage will end up paying less than families who have higher water usage needs.
- Cleanliness. Municipal water must meet certain quality standards that are enshrined in law. As a result, maintenance, upkeep, and testing are handled by the local government or agency.
- Predictable. Municipal water is predictable because the local government and agency have long-term strategic plans in place that take into consideration population growth within the community.
Disadvantages:
- Expenses. Municipal water will be a monthly expense to your household budget. Additionally, any major renovations to the water infrastructure may require additional taxes or an increase in your water bill, which may be out of your control.
- Contamination. When municipal water becomes contaminated, it is often a huge problem that results in huge expenses and may cause interruptions to service.
- Control. At the end of the day, you do not have control over the water. You may have service interruptions as a result of maintenance to the municipal infrastructure or due to failure to pay your monthly water bill.
Private Well
Private well water is water from a well on the property. The owner of the well is solely responsible for the infrastructure, maintenance, and treatment of the water. Below are some of the advantages and disadvantages of private well water.
Advantages:
- Lower costs. Unlike municipal water, there is no monthly bill. Once you have the well installed, you have complete enjoyment of the well except for maintenance, inspections, and/or repairs.
- Taste. Since well water is filtered water, it has a more natural taste.
- No service interruptions. Since private wells are situated on your property, you do not have to contend with interruptions to services that are outside of your control.
Disadvantages:
- Upkeep. As the owner of a private well, you are responsible for the upkeep and maintenance. On the other hand, multiple users share the cost of municipal water.
- Liability. If contamination gets into your private well and contaminates other wells or the aquifer, then you are financially liable. In other words, you pay for the recovery and repairs to mitigate the damage.
- Power dependency. Private wells are dependent on a power source. If you lose the power source and do not have a backup, then you will not be able to pump up the water for use.
