Converting from well to the county water system

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birdonamission

New Member
Hello, all.

Sorry in advance for my long-winded post and thanks for any information...

We currently live in Anne Arundel County and plan to move to Charles County, which will be closer to work -- the main reason for moving. We're not interested in homes that have a private well and septic system.

So, there's a home we like that's on public sewer with the county but, alas, has a well as its water source. That's about the only drawback for us and, if not for the fact that it's possible to hook up to the county water system, we probably would not be considering purchasing the property. I provided the address to Charles County Water and Sewer Operations and was told that it's eligible for hooking up to the county water system; that is, there's a public water pipe already running along a street that the property abuts. I was given an approximate amount that it would cost, which was quite reasonable to me (what helped to lower the cost is that the property is already on public sewer).

Has anyone on here ever gone through the process of converting from a private well to the county water system? If so, please give me the scoop on that entire "ordeal" (sounds like it would be one). Would love to know detailed descriptions of the whole project, e.g. do you have to hire a contractor? How long does it take? We will be installing an inground pool – what are considerations for that in terms of the routing of the pipes or placement of the pool itself? FWIW, the well cap is in the front yard in the middle of the front yard in the middle of a flower bed.

Thanks, all.
 
NorthBeachPerso

NorthBeachPerso

Honorary SMIB
You'll have to run a pipe from the main to your house which means digging a trench. The switch over is relatively easy, disconnecting the well from the main house service and connecting the new line.

I don't know if you'll have to decommission the well.

You could dig the trench yourself, likely to about 3 1/2 feet deep. You'll likely have to have a plumber make the connections at both ends. There may be an inspection performed by the County water authority.
 
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birdonamission

New Member
@NBP

- Thanks a lot for responding. Total novice on the subject, so as much information as possible is great. I'm not much of a trench digging person so sounds like a contractor is definitely in order...lol. Just how the house is sited on almost an acre and where the county water pipe is, along an adjacent street, the connection will have to be via the backyard, hence my comments about a future inground pool. Thanks again.
 
NorthBeachPerso

NorthBeachPerso

Honorary SMIB
When you were told about the cost was that for the water tap fee only or was the estimate including the trenching and plumbing work?

Yeah, running it through the back yard will impact pool placement probably.
 
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birdonamission

New Member
Thanks - will have to the call the County back to get a really good understanding of what is covered in the quoted amount (which was an approximation). Thankfully the backyard is big enough to have a few options on how to position the pool.
 
kom526

kom526

They call me ... Sarcasmo
Why 'no' to the well? If the (city) water in your neighborhood of choice tastes like it does at my shop then you'd be better off drinking a 50:50 mix of bleach and water.
 
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officeguy

Well-Known Member
Why would you want to get off the well ? The bigger hassle is the septic, if you already have a sewer connection, that is not issue. Especially if you have to irrigate, your cost on county water is going to be much higher than pumping the water yourself.
 
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Hannibal

Active Member
Add me to the list of "why the hate for the well?" I am a Chuck County resident myself and I would LOVE to be on a well. I've had both in Charles County and would take the well hands down. What am I missing?
 
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birdonamission

New Member
Hi, all.

So I get it that there are many people out there who are more than happy to be on a well and wouldn't want it any other way. There are families out there, I'm sure, that have been on wells for generations and think it would be weird not to be on one. Then there's the off-the-grid people who like wells for a number of reasons. Definitely a matter of choice and preference.

From our own research and talking to people who own wells, we definitely prefer being on county water. Looking forward to hearing more from "Chuck" (I loved that...lol) Countians on this conversion topic. Thanks!
 
NorthBeachPerso

NorthBeachPerso

Honorary SMIB
One of the upsides to being connected to a water system is that when the power goes out you still have water (if you have a grinder pump in the sewer that's another issue) where if you're on a well you're out of water after one flush unless you have a generator. How long was power out after the hurricane 3 or 4 years ago?

I would tell you that if you switch over see if you can have an outside water connection to your well for irrigation, car washing, etc.

If you're concerned about the safety of the well, don't be. The well will be tested by the Health Department before closing and you'll get the results. If there are any safety issues they'll put a hold on the sale.
 
NorthBeachPerso

NorthBeachPerso

Honorary SMIB
officeguy said:
Are you allowed to keep a well if you are connected to county water ?
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I don't know about Charles County, that's why I told him to check. We could over here when the water system went on line 20 or so years ago. There weren't allowed to any cross connections or way to tie it back in.

My pump went bad or I'd still be using it for outside.
 
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birdonamission

New Member
Hello, all.

Just wanted to give an update. Based on discussions with Charles County officials and plumbers, we are estimating it could cost well north of $10K - around $15K probably - to convert from well to county water on the property we're in the process of buying in the county. The reason it would be so expensive is because of the sheer distance from the county main to the house, sited on the far end of a long lot from where the main is. (The math says: add the county's hookup fee of approx. $4,300 to the cost of a plumber trenching over 300 feet + all that goes into the actual hooking of the pipe to the house and to the main.)

So, because we like the house, the land, its location, etc., so well, we're prepared to put that idea off indefinitely and be content with the well for now. All pre-purchase inspections are indicating the 620-foot artesian well is in great shape, including water quality testing results. This, plus positive testimony of well users here on the forum and people we know has allayed our apprehensions and concerns about wells.

We'll probably end up getting a generator in case of the rare power outage to keep the water flowing. Don't mind the no county water bill either!
 
GWguy

GWguy

*
birdonamission said:
Hello, all.

Just wanted to give an update. Based on discussions with Charles County officials and plumbers, we are estimating it could cost well north of $10K - around $15K probably - to convert from well to county water on the property we're in the process of buying in the county. The reason it would be so expensive is because of the sheer distance from the county main to the house, sited on the far end of a long lot from where the main is. (The math says: add the county's hookup fee of approx. $4,300 to the cost of a plumber trenching over 300 feet + all that goes into the actual hooking of the pipe to the house and to the main.)

So, because we like the house, the land, its location, etc., so well, we're prepared to put that idea off indefinitely and be content with the well for now. All pre-purchase inspections are indicating the 620-foot artesian well is in great shape, including water quality testing results. This, plus positive testimony of well users here on the forum and people we know has allayed our apprehensions and concerns about wells.

We'll probably end up getting a generator in case of the rare power outage to keep the water flowing. Don't mind the no county water bill either!
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How much could you save if you trenched and laid pipe yourself, so all they would do is the actual hookup? Working a ditch witch is no biggie. Probably wouldn't save much ont he actual cost of the copper, but you'd save labor hours for sure.

Just like working on a house. I'm doing all the kitchen and den tearout myself, plumbing, electrics, will only use a contractor to lay new flooring and cabinets. I've saved 10s of thousands of $ to date.
 
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Gilligan

Gilligan

#*! boat!
PREMO Member
GWguy said:
How much could you save if you trenched and laid pipe yourself, so all they would do is the actual hookup? Working a ditch witch is no biggie. Probably wouldn't save much ont he actual cost of the copper, but you'd save labor hours for sure.

Just like working on a house. I'm doing all the kitchen and den tearout myself, plumbing, electrics, will only use a contractor to lay new flooring and cabinets. I've saved 10s of thousands of $ to date.
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I think the bigger picture is that they had an aversion to well water that was unfounded (in this general geographic area..there are certainly others out there that are a different story) and, hence, connecting to the "city" water money that would be spent for no tangible gain. A 620 foot well is an excellent setup..mine goes down "only" about 450 feet and that is over 200' farther than was required at the time I had it drilled (1998).

Frankly, I wouldn't want to be on city water anywhere, ever...that's a) a terrorist soft target and b) won't be there where when SHTF. :razz:
 
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GWguy

GWguy

*
Gilligan said:
I think the bigger picture is that they had an aversion to well water that was unfounded (in this general geographic area..there are certainly others out there that are a different story) and, hence, connecting to the "city" water money that would be spent for no tangible gain. A 620 foot well is an excellent setup..mine goes down "only" about 450 feet and that is over 200' farther than was required at the time I had it drilled (1998).

Frankly, I wouldn't want to be on city water anywhere, ever...that's a) a terrorist soft target and b) won't be there where when SHTF. :razz:
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I thought I perceived that too, but put it out there anyway.

As far as the water here being "city", heck, it all comes from a local well anyway. Just goes thru a bit of filtering and "chemical adjustments". :lol:
 
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officeguy

Well-Known Member
The water you get from the county system comes from the same acquifer. The only difference is that the county pours chlorine in it and tests it every couple of days.
 
GURPS

GURPS

INGSOC
PREMO Member
Gilligan said:
Frankly, I wouldn't want to be on city water anywhere, ever...that's a) a terrorist soft target and b) won't be there where when SHTF. :razz:
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you will still be alive when the solairum gets in the water supply and 99% of the populations turns into zombies



:cheers:
 
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