well and septic testing
When Buying acreage properties, remember that your water supply is usually a private system located on your property. Unless you are in a subdivision with community systems, that will be discussed in a different blog.
But for the most part you will be responsible for your own system. Prior to purchasing, these water systems, usually private wells, should be inspected. In the treasure valley area of southwest Idaho, there are several things to test for when it comes to private wells. #1. Is productivity or how much water the well will produce on a GPM, or gallons per minute basis. FHA requires a minimum of 5 gals per minute, that is the minimum to keep a moderately sized home supplied with enough water for domestic purposes. But that is the minimum and won’t allow for yard watering or any irrigation. One would hope to get more than that for an acreage property. There are several ways to verify well production. One of the most reliable ways is to get a copy of the well drillers report, or well log. That will show how deep the well is, the static water level, and how much water the well will produce after several hours of full out operation. There is also a way to time how much water comes out into a 5 gallon bucket at an outside hydrant. However, that isn’t always as reliable as a well log. You can also have a local pump company come out and assist you in determining well production.
The #2 item to test for is water potability. Potability is testing for contaminants in the water supply. Different areas test for different contaminants. Here is south west Idaho we typically test for total Coliform and E.Coli in the water. If close to farm ground you may want to test for Nitrates and or Nitrites, arsenic, and other minerals or contaminants. If you are not familiar with the local testing, contact a local testing lab to ask what you should test for. Or contact a Local realtor Like me, who is experienced in helping buyers and sellers determine what to test for. Even if a well doesn’t test clean, most of the time it can be remedied fairly inexpensively and quickly to create a safe water supply for you and family and livestock. Here’s to clean and reliable water Clink!!