Well Water Vs City Water Pros And Cons: Which Is Better?

LAST UPDATED:

Two of the most popular sources of drinking water are well water and municipal water, but there is frequently debate over which is superior. Compared to city water, is well water really safer? Does it have additional minerals in it? Are either type of water related with any health risks? Making an informed choice about which water to drink requires a thorough understanding of the distinctions between well and city water. While well water may offer some benefits, there may also be some concerns that need to be considered. Learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of each kind of drinking water by reading on.

TL;DR

Well water is a healthier and more sustainable alternative to city water.

  • Well water is free from chlorine, fluoride, and other chemicals used in the treatment of city water.
  • Well water is not exposed to the same levels of contamination as city water.
  • Well water can be used for irrigation and other outdoor activities without fear of environmental damage.

Discover how well water can provide you with a healthier lifestyle and help protect the environment!

Jump To A Section!
Well Water
Pros
Cons
City Water
Pros
Cons
Conclusion

Are you trying to decide between well water and city water?

Would you like to learn what the difference is between these two?

What are some well water vs city water pros and cons?

Below, we’ve put together all the information you need to know about the differences between well water and city water. You can find out which one is better for your needs as well as which one is better overall, and you’ll even be able to learn about health and wellness risks associated with using either of these options.

If you’ve ever wanted to know more about the pros and cons of both of these types of water, we’ve got all the information you need to make an informed decision below. Read on to find out more.

Well Water

well water advantages and disadvantages

Pros

  • It’s cheaper to have well water, since you do not have to pay a monthly fee to operate your well.
  • Well water contains a lot of good natural nutrients, such as minerals that are present in groundwater and that are good for the human body.
  • Many people like the taste of well water. It tends to taste a little bit like artesian or mineral water, which is pleasant and has a better mouthfeel than some other types of water.
  • Well water can be easy to filter on your own at home. Most of the time, you only need to pump in your well water through your whole-house filter to get all the benefits of thoroughly filtered well water with no hassle.
  • With your own well, you aren’t at the mercy of municipal water decisions. If your water company decides to shut everything off to flush the pipes in the middle of a busy afternoon, you’re stuck dealing with a lack of water (and gross, dirty water after the process is complete). However, if you have your own well, you can schedule this type of maintenance when it’s convenient for you.
  • Wells are less likely to be contaminated after a natural disaster. Although it’s still very possible, depending on the type of disaster, it’s less likely for a home well to become contaminated from a disaster unless things are very dire.
  • Well water can be good for kids, in some instances. It depends on the minerals present in the water, but many times, well water is a healthy option for children. Be sure to get your water treated to find out specific information, however.

Cons

  • You cannot access well water if the power goes out. Modern wells are operated with electricity to power the pumps, so if the power goes out, so does your water. This can be a very challenging situation to deal with.
  • Well water can be full of chemical pollutants. When you work in your yard, garden, or farm, the chemicals you use are washed into the groundwater surrounding your home. And if you have a well, that’s a sure way to pollute your well water.
  • Well water can be polluted with radiation if you live near a nuclear power plant.
  • Well water can be polluted by leaking sewage. This is one of the most common types of well pollution out there.
  • Dead animals can pollute well water. If an animal falls into your well and dies, you’ll have a lot of trouble getting it decontaminated.
  • You have to pay for upkeep yourself. You are responsible for all the maintenance and repairs to your well.
  • If untreated and untested, well water can be deadly. It may contain heavy metal pollutants or chemicals that can poison you and your family.

City Water

well water vs city water pros and cons

Pros

  • City water has to meet or exceed EPA guidelines to be legal. In most places, this is upheld and it means your water is safe to drink.
  • City water is easy and readily available in most places. You usually need only to have it turned on.
  • You don’t have to worry about floating debris in city water. The city filters out sediments and debris before the water ever reaches your neighborhood.
  • You aren’t responsible for maintenance of city pipes. If something breaks, it’s not your responsibility to fix it.
  • You aren’t responsible for maintenance of city pipes. If something breaks, it’s not your responsibility to fix it.
  • City water has good minerals and substances added to it. Your body needs these minerals and substances, so cities add them to the water to make you healthier.
  • You can always ask for city water testing results any time. If you’re curious about what’s in your city water, the city should have this information readily available to anyone.
  • City water usually has a decent taste. Some people don’t like it, but for the most part, it tastes fresh and clean.

Cons

  • City water can become contaminated on a large scale. If a natural disaster strikes and damages your city’s water supply, this can be catastrophic and can take a very long time to clear up. Sometimes, it may never be totally repaired.
  • Natural disasters make city water non-potable. Even smaller-scale disasters keep city water from being safe for a while, and you’ll have to boil your water to use it.
  • City water is expensive in many places and may be too pricey for some families on a budget.
  • It may be difficult to find out information about city water, depending on where you live. It’s usually easy enough, but some cities are more guarded with this information.
  • City water may be turned off without notice for treatment. If this happens, you’re stuck, since you really don’t have any say in when they turn the water on and off.
  • City water may be turned off if you can’t make payments. If you are late with your water payment, you may find the water cut off sooner than you’d like. It can be tough to remember to keep up with a monthly payment without risking this potentially happening.
  • City water is not available everywhere. If you live in a very rural community, you may not even have the option to use city water, and you may just have to stick to a well in the end anyway.

Conclusion

So what do you think? Which is the better choice? In the end, you may be stuck using whichever type of water you already have at your home. However, if you have the option, we recommend going with city water for convenience as well as for health purposes. Well water just has too many risks associated with using it, so unless you are certain you can keep up with everything your well needs to stay safe and fully operational indefinitely, stick to city water when you have the option. It’s better for you and your whole family in the long run, even if it costs a little more.


5 Tips for Choosing Between Well Water and City Water

  1. Research the water quality in your area. Check with local authorities to find out if there are any contaminants in the city water or well water.
  2. Consider the cost of installing a well versus the cost of connecting to city water. Make sure to factor in maintenance costs as well.
  3. Think about how much water you will need. If you have a large family, it may be more cost-effective to install a well than to pay for city water.
  4. Check with local regulations before drilling a well. Some areas have restrictions on where wells can be drilled and how deep they can go.
  5. Talk to other homeowners who have wells or use city water. Ask them about their experiences and what they would recommend.

ALSO: Consider investing in a home filtration system if you decide to use city water!

We constantly make an effort to implement our editorial practices and policies through out our site. This entails researching all of our articles exhaustively and always doing our best to offer the most reliable details possible for our audience. Please check out our About Us Page for more info.

About The Author

Joseph Bartley
Editor-In-Chief
Twitter | Crunchbase

Joseph Bartley, also known as the WaterFilterFanatic, is a seasoned content writer who specializes in water filtration and water quality topics. On AllAboutWaterFilters, he has written a range of water filtration system reviews, water health and quality articles, swimming pool, hot tub and aquarium filtration guides, DIY methods to assist people clean their drinking water, and much more. Joseph enjoys spending his time working with the #AllAboutWaterFilters Editorial Team to provide some of the best quality water filtration content available on the web.

Thank you for visiting AllAboutWaterFilters. When you purchase through site links on our site, we may possibly earn an affiliate commission, at no extra expense to you. Please be sure to enjoy our website!