Chris
Well-Known Member
Before the mist system thread gets to far out of hand lets discuss the benefits and downfalls of City water and well water. Please keep it civil.
I really don't know much about this topic, except I have used my cousin's well water and city water, because he can switch from well to city with just one valve. The well water tastes very clean, but the electric rates (in Lake Arrowhead, Ca.) for the well water were twice the price than the city water supply, which doesn't cost any electricity to use at all.
My well works just fine when the electrity goes goes out. The generator kicks in. About a 10 second delay.That's one huge plus; an electrical storm can shut down a private water system completely when the electric goes out.
Post #13 covers a great deal of why I'm the first called to disable private systems and finally make the conversion to public.
People don't like surprises like private systems provide. Everything can be peachy until you get a call from the wifey that there's no water in the house.
A phone call to the water district is far more fun, because you can get discounts for interruptions of service.
See if you can get discounts when you buy pumps or switches, bladder tanks when they go bad. It won't happen.
The most common nuisance issue with private water systems is pressure switch failure or bladder tank failure.
Always keep in mind that the vast majority of people that use water systems whether public or private do not fully understand the inner workings involving what makes water flow out of a tap.
They don't need to other than understand that it works, when it breaks, how much is it going to cost to get it back to the condition it was before.
Just because someone uses something daily does not dictate they understand how it works. Perfect example; an automobile.
The most important consideration in regards to private against public is private water systems are always questionable in regards to the "source" of water from where it is pulled from underground that might be high in certain elements that either cause issues to the longevity of the products used to operate or greatly shorten the life of the product without heavy maintenance or use of water softeners that help in resolving issues such as hard water.
And there is always a salesman out there to make sure their product is always better.
Public water supply systems have no salesmenship or "good deals" till the 15th of the month. You either want it or ignore it. They don't force the issue or show up to talk you into it.
People know that their water bill is based solely on the amount of usage. If you don't want to replace your flapper in your toilet? Trust me, you'll pay for it.
Only areas that have developed city sewer systems are required to have a sanitation fee attached to your water bill.
Some think that sanitation should be free...that's pure ignorance. It is estimated that to treat one gallon of wastewater costs $5 (Five Dollars) to treat when you figure the piping that was installed to bring to the wastewater treatment plant, the treatment of chemicals and settling tanks that involves a numerous step process in order to create an end product that is safe to humans, animals and nature enough to be entered back into the rivers/creeks/ponds or bubbling brook streams.
At one time you could trust a private well, but it's not so much what you do on your property as much as it is what your neighbors do, and that can cause contaminations of the water supply to be considered unsafe.
At least when you have a public water supply, you can call for free and a representative will come out and take samples of the water in question from numerous locations inside and outside your home, using sterile equipment and test containers.
They have the statistical and chemical makeup of the water when it left the treatment plant.
Private water systems is merely a guess, thinking that water is pure that it sits in the ground? Not in today's age; thank human kind for that possibility. Jed out at the barn thinking oil changes at quickie-whippie lube is ludracrist, "just dump it in that low spot!" cries out buford...not realizing the cistern is not even 50' away.
Cisterns always leak, guaranteed
In a private system there are so many rubber components, fragile springs, electrical contacts, rubber bladders that go bad from the day they are installed, all of which have pump heads that are NOT solid brass and resist corrosion. They make them with a product that's guaranteed to be job security for the next sale to whoever is lucky for the taking.
Public water supply companies don't venture the internet looking for the next customer, ever.
People want peace of mind, that's attainable with a water bill that normally doesn't crest $100 a month for the majority.
When a private water system fails, as it always does due to its conditions it has been subjected to, $$$ or $$$$ <<< You take your pick, it's always a 3 or 4 digit equation when you are paying the person trained to install these products.
One bladder tank replacement, one submersible pump changeout with a tank will wipe a year's worth of fees from a public water supply right off the map.
But comon people,
Do you really trust underground water at this point, knowing the conditions employed by human nature, chemicals used that are poisoning our grass, our gardens, our fields of crops?
By all means, this subject matter doesn't apply to those who have no access to public water systems.
I will assure you that there is more than just a dozen valid reasons why people are so glad to hear that the water company is trunking in another main line in your neighborhood.
It's peace of mind without a salesman who can sometimes be unkind.
Not in Michigan. We have to have a "0" bacteria count to put the well in service. The test is pass/fail.Much of what you say is true, and unarguably so. Public water systems are much less likely to get contaminated, much less likely to fail, are generally backed up by generators in case of power outages, etc.
But I much prefer the well water at my house. I have lived in cities for two short stretches in my life, and I could never bring myself to drink that chorinated stuff.
I have seen labs tests where high levels of fluoride occur naturally.Can someone answer me on one question? I know floride is added to municipal water supplies. Do private wells offer the same? By looking at the lack of teeth and rotten teeth, is England all on private wells with non-floridated water?
Many city water systems IS well water. We have drilled a few for cities.
There is no way non-potable water can get in a properly constructed and grouted water well.
Wow!! $200!!! I heat and cool my home in Michigan for about that a month. Last month my electric bill was $206.87. A four bedroom house. I use a Geo system and my water well.I don't have any experience in wells but I do install city lines for a living so of course I am for them. I have heard of the hooking up to a sewer line but they are not under pressure so you would not get anything out of it unless it was a force main which is very rare unless the sewage must flow uphill to the treatment facility. I have heard of more cases of contractors hooking up to the reclaimed line on accident on lines that were installed before they required purple pipe, That water is technically safe to drink although I wouldn't even if you paid me. I have seen many of water lines that are just disgusting and the amount of chlorine it would take to clean them would make it not drinkable. I don't drink tap water just because I see the lines it goes through to get to my home. One day I hope to live in an area that I can at least experience well water I know alot of people on well and they love it, especially for irrigation purposes. My bill for water in the summer months is about $200 and I don't have all that much watering and that does not include sewer.
LOL Stop by the house sometime. I will show you live.Regarding the Grundfos Video....that was good information but I had a hard time dealing with the bad acting and boring narration. I felt as if I was in my eighth grade cafeteria watching a sexual education film clip!
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