deciding on water: city water vs. well water

[jaws7777]

That must be nice. My water seems to be more expensive than most other communities and my water bill is always pretty high.

Amazing isnt it, just an excuse to squeeze more $ out of us. When we lived in ny our water bill was between 300 and 400 per quarter

 

[jaws7777]

Was planning to do that one day but now the wife tells me she wants to move. Gotta wait.

Funny how they are the ones that get to decide such things....smh mine did the same.

 

[Yoimbrian]

The sulfer can be removed pretty easy. A carbon filter works, or they make packed beds that regenerate with hydrogen peroxide.

I have well water. Out of the ground it is hard, has lots of iron, and has sulfur. But I have a whole house filtration system that removes all that anyhow.

 

[clm08k]

I think the polys would do fine with either ph.

No one better to answer this question than duanes

Just a guess i would say the city water. Only because we dont know what else is in the well. Have you tested the well for nitrates ?

the nitrate test that I did said 0ppm. But who knows what else is in the well.

duanes more than qualified to answer.

The question i have is....did u have ur well water tested already? Also agree with J jaws7777 cause between the two I'd say county water if not tested.

have not had any of the waters tested recently. Can call water company. website says :" one of the purest water supplies in the nation." lol maybe they can test both well and city.

The main drawbacks to city water are fluctuation in water chem, fluctuation in chlorination, and increased cost of both the water and the water treatments.

Well-water *could* therefore be better than city water, but it depends on your situation. Do you know the groundwater is clean? Do you have control over the well-head area such that you can ensure that the well head doesn't receive pollution (e.g. spilled oil, fertilizers, pesticides/herbicides)?

City water could be easier because someone else is monitoring these issues and actually testing the water for contaminants on a regular basis.

true, I have no idea what is going into that water. what is a well-head? You make a good point with the pros-cons.

Maybe it's just the lighting but doesn't it look like there is a little ammonia in the well water?

I would say the city water, treated, is going to be better for fish and other aquarium animals. However, the well water is probably better for plants because they will use the extra "stuff" that's in the well water.

yep. there is a little ammonia in the well water. as well as phosphates and slightly more nitrites.

 

[clm08k]

The sulfer can be removed pretty easy. A carbon filter works, or they make packed beds that regenerate with hydrogen peroxide.

I have well water. Out of the ground it is hard, has lots of iron, and has sulfur. But I have a whole house filtration system that removes all that anyhow.

RODI or water filter through the sink?
That's cool that the sulfur can be removed with carbon. I didn't know that. Thank you!

Well water is free, which is a huge selling point. Main concern with the well water is the presence of ammonia.

 

[Grinch]

true, I have no idea what is going into that water. what is a well-head? You make a good point with the pros-cons.

The well-head is essentially the physical location where the pipe going into the ground is located. The well-head area is the area where any water on the surface (e.g. your yard) could infiltrate into the ground and intersect with the pipe thereby entering your fish tank. The size of the well head area mainly depends on the draw from the aquifer (how much water you use), the depth of your pipe, and the depth of the water-table. The well-head area may also be impacted by local topography and streams.

 

[kno4te]

When I was getting quotes for a well in central Florida. I was advised to get the water tested if it was to be connected to the house. If not testing then directly for lawn irrigation or any non fruit bearing plant/tree would be fine. Couldn't be used for animals or human consumption unless cleared by the county's water testing.

There's always something about Florida that everything's gotta be a little off. I'm not hating.

 

[clm08k]

The well-head is essentially the physical location where the pipe going into the ground is located. The well-head area is the area where any water on the surface (e.g. your yard) could infiltrate into the ground and intersect with the pipe thereby entering your fish tank. The size of the well head area mainly depends on the draw from the aquifer (how much water you use), the depth of your pipe, and the depth of the water-table. The well-head area may also be impacted by local topography and streams.

hmm. I know my dad washes his paint brushes near it. So might not be a good idea. Also I know one of the local nearby streams did have fecal matter in them at one point.

When I was getting quotes for a well in central Florida. I was advised to get the water tested if it was to be connected to the house. If not testing then directly for lawn irrigation or any non fruit bearing plant/tree would be fine. Couldn't be used for animals or human consumption unless cleared by the county's water testing.

There's always something about Florida that everything's gotta be a little off. I'm not hating.

Florida being off= so true. heh

 

[Grinch]

hmm. I know my dad washes his paint brushes near it. So might not be a good idea. Also I know one of the local nearby streams did have fecal matter in them at one point.

Unless it's a lot of paint, that's probably not a problem that should cause you much worry with regard to your fish.

I'd be more worried about the ammonia and sulfur smell. Has the well recently been drilled? Has it been in use lately? These observations could just be minor (normal) redox reactions... the anaerobic decomposition of organic material in this case. On the other extreme, you could be dealing with breakdown products of organic pollutants like pesticides.... which you probably wouldn't want in your fish tank.

 

[clm08k]

Unless it's a lot of paint, that's probably not a problem that should cause you much worry with regard to your fish.

I'd be more worried about the ammonia and sulfur smell. Has the well recently been drilled? Has it been in use lately? These observations could just be minor (normal) redox reactions... the anaerobic decomposition of organic material in this case. On the other extreme, you could be dealing with breakdown products of organic pollutants like pesticides.... which you probably wouldn't want in your fish tank.

having ammonia in the water is a concern. Either way sounds like bad news. I am not sure if the well has been drilled recently. It is used weekly for the sprinkler system. Will try to find out more information.