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Private well inspection before home purchase checklist

A buyer private-well checklist for obtaining well log, construction and permit records, identifying well type, depth, casing and age, locating property and shared-water rights, measuring setbacks from septic and contamination sources, inspecting accessible wellhead, cap, casing, vent and drainage, reviewing pump, pressure tank, controls and treatment, checking yield and recovery records, collecting transaction water samples through a qualified protocol, evaluating abandoned wells and cross-connections, documenting seasonal and drought limitations and obtaining repair, treatment or further evaluation before closing.

6 items to check

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Well log, permit, drilling, pump, treatment and prior water-test records are obtained

Critical item

Construction and history should be tied to the actual well.

Ownership, shared-well agreement, easements, power and maintenance responsibility are clear

Critical item

A functioning well may still have legal or access constraints.

Well and abandoned wells are located relative to septic, tanks, livestock, chemicals and drainage

Critical item

Sanitary separation depends on accurate site conditions.

Accessible casing, cap, vent, conduit, seals and surrounding grade are sanitary and intact

Critical item

Surface water and pests should not enter the well.

Pump, pressure tank, switch, controls, treatment and visible piping operate with documented limitations

Critical item

The water system should be assessed as a connected assembly.

Yield, quality, repair and replacement uncertainties are resolved within the transaction schedule

Critical item

One sample or short flow test may not predict all seasons.

Use early in the purchase contingency. EPA notes that private wells are generally not regulated under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act; owners rely heavily on state and local requirements and testing. Do not enter septic tanks, wells, pits or excavations; lean over open tanks; breathe confined-space gases; touch exposed wiring; operate pumps dry; drink unverified water; add chemicals to mask a failing system; or drive heavy equipment over tanks and drainfields. Openings require secure barriers and qualified control. Private-well and septic rules vary substantially by jurisdiction.

Reference standards

  • Applicable state, tribal and local onsite-wastewater, private-well, plumbing, health, environmental, electrical and building requirements; local health department and water or sewer authority records; approved site evaluation, design and permits; property survey and easements; qualified inspection, drilling, laboratory and service reports; and exact tank, pump, alarm, treatment, well, pressure-system and disinfection instructions
  • EPA private drinking water well guidance, CDC well testing guidance and applicable state or local rules

    • Tools

  • Property survey, septic and well permits, as-builts, pumping and service records, water results, utility maps, disclosures, manuals, receipts and photographs
  • Camera, tape, flashlight and owner-safe observation tools; qualified probing, locating, pumping, camera, hydraulic, electrical, yield, pressure and laboratory testing where permitted
  • Qualified onsite-wastewater professional, septic designer, installer, pumper, plumber, electrician, well contractor, pump professional, certified laboratory and health department as applicable

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