Well water and city water (municipal water) both have their pros and cons.
Well water isn’t treated with disinfectants, so it’s free of chemicals like chlorine. However, it is often contaminated with sediment and bacteria. On the other hand, city water is treated to remove common contaminants, but this means it contains chlorine, fluoride, and other chemicals used in the treatment process.
With this in mind, how do you know which is the best choice for your home?
In this detailed guide, we discuss the key differences between well water and city water, their pros and cons, and the costs of each to help you make an informed decision.
The Difference Between Well Water and City Water
The main difference between city water and well water is that city water is treated and distributed by municipal water authorities, while well water comes straight from underground aquifers, and isn’t treated.
Well water is free of disinfectants like chlorine. However, it might still contain several different contaminants.
Depending on its location, the character of the surface minerals that leak into it, its proximity to pesticides and herbicides, and how well it’s taken care of, a well may contain sediment, bacteria, and other naturally occurring contaminants like iron.
Moreover, the installation and maintenance of wells are the responsibility of the owners. This means that, as a well-owner, you need to pay the necessary usage and maintenance fees, and the quality of your water relies on how well you filter it and maintain your well.
On the other hand, city water is the water suppliers’ responsibility. The suppliers are responsible for maintaining the system and ensuring the quality of the water, while the consumers are obligated to pay monthly utility bills.
Is Well Water Better than City Water?
There have been several events in recent years that have led to distrust in municipal water supplies.
For example, the 2014 water crisis in Flint, Michigan, demonstrated how the mishandling of the municipal water supply can have disastrous consequences for an entire community. In this example, a simple change in the municipal water source of the city of Flint put the lives of thousands in danger by exposing them to dangerous levels of lead.
Yet, well water isn’t a perfect solution. Many people in the rural US are also exposed to contaminated water due to improper industrial dumps and agricultural practices that pollute groundwater.
Therefore, it’s imperative for well owners to remain diligent and test their wells for pathogens and pollutants at least annually, as recommended by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
In some places, the stores of water below ground, known as aquifers, may be contaminated. Even though the water coming out of your faucets smells and tastes fine, test results may indicate the presence of invisible contaminants.
If the presence of these contaminants reaches dangerous levels, it’s best to proceed with caution and take action to remove them.
So, well water can be a good alternative to city water as long as it’s regularly tested for contaminants. Plus, you’ll need to use some sort of filtration system to purify the well water before it enters your home. Typically, this includes a sediment filter and a contaminant filter such as a reverse osmosis filter for well water.
What Causes Well Water Contamination?
- Animal waste from livestock yards, silos, septic leach fields (closer than 50 feet)
- Petroleum tanks, fertilizer storage, liquid manure (less than 100 feet from the well)
- Manure piles (less than 250 feet from a water source)
- Oil and gasoline drilling within aquifer bed
What Causes City Water Contamination?
- Naturally occurring toxins like radon, arsenic, uranium
- Land use practices from nearby industries
- Antiquated water lines (lead)
- Outbreaks of Giardia, Legionella, Norovirus, Salmonella, Hepatitis A (complete list)
Do You Pay for Well Water?
You don’t need to pay for your regular supply of well water. However, constructing the well has a fairly high initial cost, and there are other associated costs for maintaining the well and installing a well water filter.
In order to drill a well, you will need to hire a professional well service company. Depending on the width and depth of the well, you should expect to pay between $4,000-$15,000 for the initial construction.
Additionally, you’ll most likely need to install a well water filter to remove contaminants from the water and ensure it’s safe to drink. The price you pay depends on the type of filter you choose.
For instance, point-of-use reverse osmosis systems usually cost $300-$500, while the price of whole-house well water filtration systems can reach as much as $5,000, depending on the brand and model.
Moreover, if the water is hard, you will also need to purchase a well-water softener system to remove the hard water minerals. These units cost $300-$1,500.
The electricity costs of operating a household well are negligible. An average pump will require 1 kilowatt of energy per hour (kWh), and it can produce 10 gallons of water per minute, which equals 600 gallons in an hour. Considering that 1 kWh is roughly equal to $0.15 (as of 2024), you’ll have 600 gallons of water for that price.
Do You Pay for City Water?
Yes, you pay for city water, which is delivered to homes from water treatment facilities through a network of underground pipes. Your water supplier and the local authorities manage the city water infrastructure, maintenance, treatment, and delivery. Therefore, water consumption is part of your monthly utility charges.
According to the EPA, an average American household uses more than 300 gallons of water daily. Although water prices differ depending on the state and supplier, with an average rate of $4-5 per 1,000 gallons, an average household pays $45-$60 in water bills every month.
In addition, some water jurisdictions rely on increasing or declining block rates, while other regions may use seasonal, drought, and water budget rates. This can affect your monthly water bill.
Pros & Cons of Well Water
| Well Water Pros | Well Water Cons |
|---|---|
| No monthly water bill regardless of how much you use (but overuse may drain your well) | The initial cost of drilling a well is quite high |
| No chemical additives like chlorine | Water quality and testing are the well owner’s responsibility |
| It may taste fresher and has nutritional benefits (subject to water quality) | Requires electricity for pump (use solar or generator power) |
| External factors like natural disasters do not influence the continuous water supply unless the well is affected | It may contain naturally occurring minerals that stain the water |
Pros & Cons of City Water
| City Water Pros | City Water Cons |
|---|---|
| Governing authority is responsible for water purity, quantity, and delivery. | It contains chemicals like chlorine, fluoride, & others |
| Access for many city and suburban residents | Shared with thousands, and a third party manages the supply |
| Banks and mortgage companies consider city water a better option when negotiating mortgages | Costs of water and administrative expenses are rising |
| Possible large-scale contamination (natural disasters or equipment failure) |
How to Get City Water Instead of Well
So, what if you’re using a private well but decide you want to switch to city water? Well, it’s easy to do so, as long as there’s already a pipeline on your street or a transient non-community water station (TNCWS) nearby.
If there’s a pipeline, you need to contact the public water supplier and apply to be connected to the public water system. If your house doesn’t have the necessary infrastructure, you will have to pay extra to connect to the main water supply.
The costs depend on the state you’re in, how much piping and plumbing needs to be done, and the quality of the materials, but you can expect an expenditure between $3,000-$5,000.
If there isn’t a pipeline in your area, you’ll have to haul city water from a nearby source. This requires a sizeable water tank and means of transportation. Considering that a 5,000-gallon tank costs between $4,000-$5,000 and that oil prices are constantly fluctuating, this technique might become quite costly in the long run.
Can You Have Both Well and City Water?
It’s possible to use both well and city water, but it depends on where you live and the local regulations.
Some water municipalities may not allow you to use city and well water simultaneously. We advise you to consult local authorities if you plan to use both well and city water.
Summary
Using well water means you have complete control over your home’s water supply. Plus, unlike city water, it’s not treated by a municipal supplier, so it’s free of chemicals like chlorine.
However, it’s common for well water to contain contaminants like sediment and bacteria, and it can easily be polluted by things like industrial and agricultural waste.
City water is constantly treated and maintained by the supplier and local authorities, but it doesn’t mean water quality is guaranteed. You also have to pay a considerable sum every month.
You don’t pay bills for well water, but you do pay the construction and maintenance costs.
If you have a well but want to switch to the public system, it’s possible as long as there’s already a public pipeline or TNCWS nearby. The cost of switching to tap water depends on your home's water infrastructure.
I loved that you mentioned that a home water well doesn’t have a water bill at all! I’ve been contemplating investing in a water well for over a year now. It would be really nice to talk with a water company to see what it would cost.
I have had a well since I was born. I don’t want to pay for something that is free. Also think of Flint and how those people were made sick and done died. The government controls the water as well as what’s in it. All those chemicals are not good for you. Well water tests are very cheap and I have mine checked every other year. So far it’s fine
I loved how you said that you won’t have to worry about chemicals being added to your water if you have a well! My husband was talking to me a couple of weeks ago about how he thinks it would be a good idea for us to get a well drilled on our property, so I wanted to learn more about the advantages. I appreciate you helping me learn more about the benefits of well water!