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Q&As
Can I get my home’s water supply from a nearby well?
My husband and I recently bought a house for a knock down and rebuild project. The current water supply is a well that the previous owners used. It's been there for 100 years and the property isn't connected to the mains water supply. We would like to utilise the well if we can, or another alternative to mains water supply if possible. I have contacted Thames Water and they have given us a quote on how much it would cost to connect to the mains in case this is our best option. The new dwelling will be a four-bed cottage with two bathrooms, a cloakroom and utility. Myself and my husband are the only main occupants. Is it feasible to use the well as our water supply? Are there any other solutions rather than connecting to the mains?
One Answer
Hi Helena,
Thanks so much for your question. If you have your own water supply then definitely use it! Not only will it save you money, it will also have less environmental impact than putting in a new mains supply. Wells, streams, lakes, springs or boreholes are all known as Private Water Supplies (PWS). The PWS regulations are administered by your local authority, so speak to them in the first instance. As you are demolishing and rebuilding, you’ll be putting in a planning application so it’s worth including details concerning the well. As the private supply has been in use for over 100 years, it’s highly unlikely to be a planning issue.
However, you need to be sure that there is sufficient water available to meet the needs of modern living and bear in mind that in future this four-bedroom house might be occupied by more than two people. If there were ever a risk of the well running dry, then the local authority might want to see the mains installed simply as a backup.
The other question is water quality and whatever the regulations say it makes sense to get the well water tested and then regularly monitored. Some chemical imbalances can be corrected but note that only certain chemicals are permitted under the PWS regulations.
Ultimately, this is all regulated by the Drinking Water Inspectorate, but in practice you’ll just be dealing with the local authority who carry out the testing. It might be wise to get the testing done before putting in your planning application just in case there are any issues that can’t be resolved and a mains supply has to go in. Worst case scenario – if the water is no longer potable (drinkable) then you can still save money by using it for WC flushing and other non-potable uses such as the washing machine and watering the garden.
Lastly, be sure to protect the well and surrounding areas during demolition and construction. This includes preventing any accidental spillages. We always want to avoid pollution during construction, so develop a plan and work with all contractors on this.
Best of luck with your project,
Nigel Griffiths (Build It’s Sustainability expert)