Joe, 2turtles, others -- water quality question

[Elysia]

It looks as though my family and I will be moving from this home where we have lived for more than 35 years.... We currently have public water, but the house that our offer has been accepted on is in New Bloomfield and is on a well. Actually, when we started house hunting we were surprised by all the homes that were on wells and septic systems.

But I focused on Joe and Greg here because I believe both of you have streams running through your property -- does this affect your well water at all? The water and septic have to be tested before the deal goes through, so I should have a baseline idea of what I am dealing with, but I am interested to know what kind of RO system you guys use, and how often you need to do maintenance to it, and how often you change the filters and membranes, because I'm likely going to be purchasing a RO unit in the near future. Thanks.

 

[2turtles]

Sorry you are leaving your home of so many years but welcome to Perry county!
I live on top of a mountain (at least by PA standards) so no stream for me but the well I can chime in on. It is going to be a big guess at this point till you know what kind of water your well is handing out. Streams or other sources of ground water may or may not be a problem, depends on how deep the well is and how much casing. If you have ground water IMO you are going to want a UV. Is the water hard or soft? After you get your water tested for everything you will have a better handle on how often you will need to change your sediment filters. When the water reaches my RO unit (from BRS) it has already passed through a 1 micron sediment filter. (whole house filter) so this greatly extends the life of my RO filters. Best thing is to get a TDS meter and let that be the judge of filter replacement timing

 

[NCNBilly]

If you get lucky, you may be able to get by with just a whole-house UV and sediment filter and a DI for the tank. Well water can vary greatly, so until you have the water tested (should be part of the closing anyway if a mortgage is involved) anything is really a big guess.

 

[Joe]

Emily,

You should have the well tested when you have the "whole-house inspection" done. If the water sample comes back bacteria-free (or very low), then a UV won't be necessary. I don't need one here. I do have an RO/DI system, and a whole-house water filter at the pressure tank. My TDS measures around 90 ppm pre- RO/DI filter, and that's not bad. I've seen TDS numbers over 600 ppm from RC members out west.
Nitrates and bacteria are what you're looking for from the water test. The stream on my property is a non-issue, and code requires the well and septic to be at least 100 feet apart. I have a very high water table here, with my well being ~100 feet deep and the water in the well is only about five feet from the surface, so I wouldn't think you'd have to worry about surface run-off in yours.
It's nice having a stream nearby. Not just for aesthetics, but when there's a power outage for any length of time, I can simply carry a bucket of water into the house to flush toilets.
I use an RO/DI sytem consisting of a pressure pump, a .5 micron sediment filter, carbon filter, 100 gpd membrane, and the D/I. That's it, and my membrane lasts for approximately 2 years. I do have an in-line dual TDS meter (pre & post) to moniter the filters. I don't really like the in-line TDS meter, and plan on getting a good hand-held unit soon.
I hope this helps. If not, ask away!

Joe

 

[Elysia]

Thanks guys! This house actually isn't getting the full on inspection. It was built in the 1970's by the professional residental mason who lived in it with his family for 30+ years. It has the electrical basics for the tanks (circuit breakers, 200 amps, grounded plugs) that some of the other homes that we looked at did not have (one was a home that had all the electric and plumbing ripped out of it when an Amish family moved in.)

The two things that are contingent on closing are the inspection of the septic system and water testing. The septic system was grandfathered in, and currently grey water (from the washing machine and showers/tubs) does not drain into the septic system. So either we need to get a front loading washer, or we may need to change that arrangement.

I'll let you know what the results of the test find.

 

[NCNBilly]

You could always leave the nest...:wildone:

 

[2turtles]

The septic system was grandfathered in, and currently grey water (from the washing machine and showers/tubs) does not drain into the septic system. So either we need to get a front loading washer, or we may need to change that arrangement.

This is not a bad thing. Keeping bleach and laundry soap out of your septic system is a good thing. Hope you get the house. Keep us posted

 

[Elysia]

You could always leave the nest...:wildone:

Would love to be able to afford to... but instead I have a BFA and student loans, neither of which is going to get me far.

 

[NCNBilly]

Would love to be able to afford to... but instead I have a BFA and student loans, neither of which is going to get me far.

I had a BFA, but I swear I never hit her.

 

[Elysia]

Just an update, the septic testing should have been completed today. Settlement is dependent on the septic passing and takes place on Friday the 22nd, but I am not sure when the water will be tested. From the disclosure, there isn't any filter currently used on the water supply.

 

[2turtles]

You will defiantly want a sediment filter. Hopefully you will not need a UV.