Where Does Well Water Come From?

The majority of well water comes courtesy of underground reservoirs called aquifers, which are natural storage tanks. These tanks contain groundwater that originated from precipitation that seeped through the ground as part of the water cycle. Wells ultimately provide access to the aquifer, drawing directly from this water source.

Where Does Your Well Water Come From?

Typically, almost all well water comes from groundwater, as stated above. Groundwater is a collection of precipitation and surface water that seeps through both rock and soil to get to the underground aquifer.

It is quite possible for several wells to share a single aquifer. This happens because of precipitation variations throughout the seasons and overpumping, which can cause aquifers to dry out.

How Do Wells Collect Water?

Your location ultimately decides exactly where the well water comes from. Factors like how the well was drilled and local weather patterns can play a role. The water cycle, however, will always remain important when it comes to private wells.

Let’s take a look at the well water access process below.

Precipitation

Water that gathers in the atmosphere, falling as rain, sleet, snow or hail is referred to as precipitation. This will always be fresh water even if it comes from the ocean because salt does not evaporate.

Most of the water caught up in the precipitation process tends to head right back to the atmosphere. However, there will always be some water that finds its way through layers of both soil and rock.

Natural Filtration

Despite the name, this filtration type does not necessarily remove contaminants from the water. Materials like mineral content or sediment can also be collected along the way.

The result of the natural filtration is groundwater. A space referred to as the water table is located right above the underground saturated zones. It acts as a boundary between saturated and unsaturated. Here, all available space ends up filled with water.

Storage Tanks

When there’s ample space between rock and sediment, the groundwater flows naturally, turning the saturated zone into an aquifer. Fast-moving groundwater, for instance, may actually stay in an aquifer for thousands of years. Aquifers may need to be recharged in areas without an endless water supply.

Groundwater Access

Professionally drilling equipment is needed to access the groundwater stored in an aquifer. The drills will go right through both the unsaturated zone and water table.

The drills are designed to dig so deeply that gravity will pull the groundwater down into an empty hole, where it can be conveniently pulled by the pump system within the well.

How To Treat Well Water

Most people will treat well water to remove germs or chemicals, take extra precautions against potential diseases, and ultimately improve the taste of water. Here are a few ways below to test your well water to ensure it’s safe to drink.

Home Water Treatment Systems

It’s worth considering investing in a home water treatment system in order to remove germs or chemicals from your well water. These systems typically treat the water by filtering it, disinfecting it, or distilling it. No single treatment type can protect against each and every issue.

When investing in a home water treatment system, make sure to check that the system will be able to remove either the type of germ or chemical you are concerned about.

Emergency Situations

Whenever the well water is contaminated, you must treat it, then test it again before drinking. In the event that you have no access to other water sources, always boil the well water prior to drinking it. Boiling water can kill germs.

Always follow boil water advisory guidelines to reduce your chance of becoming ill from consumption. If your water is contaminated with chemicals, never drink or use the water for any purpose. Drinking or even having any contact with contaminated water can be very dangerous. Boiling the water will not remove chemicals.