City Water vs Well Water?

15 years ago

For a vegetable garden (a visionary garden, it does not exist yet, but we are contemplating it in an area that is probably about an 1/2 acre).

Well water is free of course, but the city is not.

The well nearby needs a part for the pump that could cost about $1,000.

My thinking was that we could use a lot of city water for $1,000 rather than spending a $1,000 to fix the pump to use the FREE well water.

So the question is whether or not there is any significant difference in the health and growth and productivity of the plants using one over the other. And if there is evidence that the contents of the city water would be less than desirable, is there something that can be added to help (a filter system or the like?)

Comments (3)

motanakajima
15 years ago
City water is regulated within certain specifications, but well water varies significantly depending on the natural filter chanracteristics that rain goes through before reaching under ground water vein. You need to ask someone to test your well water.

In general, city water is poor in mineral and high in chlorine, and well water is opposite. So, well water is normally more favorable to plants.

I don't think anything is particularly necessary to add to use city water. Some may say it's better to filter chlorine, but it kills bacteria.

I would recommend well water, because giving city water to plants is a waste as it is made for human. If you look for either free of nearly free pump through Google or Craigslist, you may probably be able to avoid spending $1000. You can save two things at a same time - city water and a pumpt probably not being used.

Another option is to build your own wind power pump... :)
dragonfly_wings
15 years ago
For way under $1000 dollars you could install a great little rainwater collection system for your garden. Talk about 'free water'...once installed no mechanical problems
to deal with or need for electricity. Just set it up for gravity flow.
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gringojay
15 years ago
Which way to water should also take into account what you would like to plant.
If you are big tomato growers then expect to use a lot more water, peppers less.
Well water can vary in the minerals dissolved in it; this will impact on fertilization strategy.
Rain water catchment is limited by your holding cistern/tanks & that capacity build up is a long term budget calculation.
Municipal aqueduct piped water is vulnerable to factors beyond your control. If a drought emergency is declared, main ruptures or zoning use enforced they can shut you down. Price per unit of water would need studying. As for the purification chemicals you can process them easily to be benign.
Anybody with a superb year round well with good volume output is wise to develop the resource. You can buy a submersible 12volt (or 24 volt) "NEMO" online brand of submersible deep well water pumps really quite cheap; run it off you vehicle's battery ( if you have a vehicle), or get a battery/solar charger for a deep cycle battery bank.