Low-Yield and Slow Wells Near Portland, Oregon
Running out of water halfway through laundry day? A slow well can often be managed or restored. Call or send the form, and a local well company calls back to look at yours.
Around Scappoose, Dallas and nearby
Calls are recorded for quality assurance.
How much water a home uses
The U.S. Geological Survey estimates indoor use at about 80 to 100 gallons a day per person. Toilets use the most, followed by showers and baths.
A well that produces half a gallon a minute gives about 720 gallons a day, enough for the indoor needs of most households. The trouble comes at peak times, when several taps, the washer and outdoor watering all run at once.
Ways to stretch a slow well
- Spread use out. One shower at a time, and laundry or dishes when nothing else is running.
- Use less. Newer toilets, showerheads and front-loading washers use far less water than older models.
- Add storage. A storage tank fills slowly during quiet hours and supplies the house at busy times.
- Measure it. A water meter on the line shows how much the well actually delivers.
When the well itself has slowed
Wells lose performance over time as mineral deposits, bacteria or silt build up in the openings where water enters. On a well that produced plenty, the decline can go unnoticed for years; on a low-yield well, small losses show up fast.
Comparing today's pumping numbers with the original flow test on the well report shows how much has changed. Cleaning and surging the well, or cleaning its screen or perforations, is usually less expensive than deepening it or drilling a new one.
Questions to ask
- How does the well's output today compare with the flow test on the well report?
- Would cleaning or surging help, or is deepening the better choice?
- Is the pump matched to what the well can actually give?
- Would a storage tank solve the peak-time shortfall?
Low-yield questions
Is my neighbor's new well taking my water?
Possibly, but the state notes that low pressure is most often caused by the well losing efficiency. A pump test and a look at the well report usually tell which it is.
Does a dry spell in late summer matter?
Water levels change with the seasons. Measuring the level in spring and fall, around the same dates each year, shows whether yours is falling over time.
Ready when you are
Call now, or send the form. A local pro calls you back, usually the same business day.
Calls are recorded for quality assurance.