We rarely think about where the water from the faucet comes from, but city water sourced from large reservoirs has become the predominant source of drinking water for many homeowners. Not every town offers water to residents, though. Homeowners in rural areas rely on the traditional source of drinking water: private drinking water wells.
Drilled wells are the modern form of the ancient practice of digging into the earth to find a source of fresh water. Drilled wells are narrow shafts that can go extremely deep (100-400 ft, generally) into the earth to tap into hidden ground water aquifers.
Some things to look for when evaluating a well:
Is the well properly covered? Check the condition of the cover, the seal should be secure with no visible gaps, check to see if the bolts holding the cover down are not rusted out.
Is the earth around the well properly graded? Check if the ground around the well is graded away from the well. It is recommended there are no bushes, foliage, or decorations directly around the well as they can attract and harbor pests that could potentially contaminate the well.
Does the well shaft extend 18 inches above ground level? Well shafts and their covers should be at least 18 inches above the ground to protect the well from contamination. Well shafts which are less than 18 inches may need the ground around the well to be re-graded.
To determine the well flow rate and the water quality of a well give Hearthstone Home Inspections a call.
https://health.ri.gov/water/for/privatewellowners/
https://web.uri.edu/safewater/files/TipSheet01_Smartwellowner.pdf