Well Water vs. City Water: What You Need to Know!

Believe it or not, the difference between well water and city water affects more than just taste. Whether your home relies on a private well or city water (AKA municipal water), the source of your water can affect your plumbing systems, appliances, and water quality. That’s why it’s important to work with a team like Popejoy Plumbing, Heating, Electric, & Septic that understands the unique challenges and has the best solutions.

Well Water vs. City Water . . . What’s the Difference?

What’s In It

Well Water – Because well water is untreated, it often contains higher levels of iron, manganese, sulfur, or even bacteria. Needless to say, testing and filtration are key for homes sourcing water from a well.

City Water – While city water does get treated at a municipal facility, it can still contain chlorine, chloramines, and sediment. This can still affect taste, odor, and appliance performance.

How It Flows

Well Water – The water pressure is based on by your well pump and pressure tank. That means if either fails or is too small, you may experience low water pressure.

City Water – Normally, water pressure will maintain a consistent pressure. However, older infrastructure can still lead to occasional issues.

 

Common Problems with Water Quality . . . & How We Fix It!

PROBLEM: Hard Water! Hard water can build up on your appliances, and especially your water heaters. Hard water causes scale buildup and shortens the lifespan of your water heater. Well water, especially with iron or sulfur, can accelerate corrosion and lead to smelly odors.

• SOLUTION: Zinc Alloy Node Rods! That’s why we recommend upgrading the anode rod inside your water heater. Specifically for well water, a zinc alloy anode rod helps reduce those smelly sulfur odors and fight corrosion.
• Pro Tip: Another option we offer is a manufacturer’s zinc alloy anode rod that increases the tank warranty from 6 to 10 years for long-term protection.
• SOLUTION: Water Softeners! We have great options for water softeners that even help city water users! This can reduce scale to protect your appliances and avoid frequent, costly appliance replacements.

PROBLEM: Contaminants in your drinking water! It’s important to know what you’re drinking. Whether it’s city or well water, there are contaminants that can hide in every sip.

• SOLUTION: Filtration Systems! Both homes with well water and city water can benefit from the protection of water filtration systems. That’s why Popejoy offers custom filtration that fits your needs, like iron filters, carbon filters, and softeners.
• Pro Tip: Reverse osmosis (RO) systems can both improve taste and remove contaminants. RO is especially helpful to remove high mineral content from well water or the chlorine and chemicals in city water.

But First Thing Is First . . . Schedule a Free Water Test!

We always like to begin with our free in-home water test so we can find what’s in your water and how it’s affecting your home. Then, we move on to creating a solution that’s just right for your home and water source.

CAUTION: No two water supplies are the same, so off-the-shelf solutions don’t always work! We’ve seen it all when it comes to water quality, so let the experts at Popejoy help you find the right solution to protect your plumbing, appliances, and family.

Give us a call, Popejoy at (815) 692-4471, and we can get your free water test scheduled today!