A modern, private water well that taps into a good aquifer can deliver plenty of high-quality water for generations. At some point, however, your well could run dry.
Keep an eye out for the following warning signs because, if you do experience any of these issues, your water well could be going dry.
No. 1: Your Faucets Are Sputtering
Sputtering faucets are a clue that air is getting into your plumbing system. This could be due to a pipe leak or failing valve – or the sputter could mean that the groundwater level is dropping. Your well pump may be trying to draw up water, but is pulling up air instead.
No. 2: Your Water Well Is Slow to Recover After Heavy Use
If you’ve been doing back-to-back loads of laundry or just got finished thoroughly watering the lawn, the available water supply may be temporarily exhausted. When a private well is extremely slow to recover – if it seems to take forever to get the water running again – the aquifer might be going dry.
No. 3: Your Well Pump Is Running for a Long Time
Does your pump run for a long time or frequently cycle on and off? It could be a warning sign that the water well is going dry – the pump is struggling to create enough pressure to bring the low-level groundwater into your well system.
No. 4: Your Water Pressure Has Declined
If your faucets flow at a very slow rate or it takes quite a while for the pressure to build, you might have a problem with the pressure tank, well filter or other system equipment. Or, your well could be going dry.
No. 5: Your Well Water Looks or Tastes Muddy
When you turn on the faucet and the water has a muddy look or taste, it might be a sign that your private well’s groundwater supply is dwindling. As the water level drops, the quality of the water also drops because of the higher concentration of sediment at the bottom of the well.
Is Your Water Well Really Going Dry?
Many of the warning signs we just mentioned could also be caused by other well problems, such as a failed pump, wiring issue or a leak in the casing. In addition, groundwater levels fluctuate, which can affect well production.
Don’t panic if your well has a problem – it may not be going dry at all. To find out for sure, you’ll need to schedule a consultation with a professional well driller.
With more than three decades of experience, the licensed Z-team contractors at Mike Zimmerman Well Service LLC have what it takes to determine if your water well is running dry, or if the issue you’ve noticed has some other cause. And, whatever the problem, our expert team can provide a solution.
Mike Zimmerman Well Service LLC provides free consultations to private well owners throughout Utah and Wyoming. If you think your private water well is going dry, contact our Salt Lake City office today to schedule an appointment.
