A Well With No Water in Spokane County: What Public Sources Say

When a well produces little or no water, King County Public Health lists possible reasons including seasonal changes in water level, neighboring wells, clogged well screens, changes in geology, broken pumps and water storage tanks, and leaks. It recommends contacting a water professional like a well driller, pump installer, or water system engineer.

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What "no water at all" can mean

A well that produces little or no water has a problem somewhere between the water in the ground and the tap in the house. The well itself, the pump, the storage tank, the pipes and the ground water level are all part of that path, which is why the causes listed by public-health sources span so many different parts of the system.

King County Public Health (Seattle area) says possible reasons a well produces little or no water include seasonal changes in water level, neighboring wells, clogged well screens, changes in geology, broken pumps and water storage tanks, and leaks in the water system. It recommends contacting a water professional like a well driller, pump installer, or water system engineer.

Because the possible causes range from seasonal water levels to a broken pump, no single answer fits every well. The useful step is to gather what you have seen and bring it to a professional who can assess your own system.

When people look into this problem

Taps run dry or only trickle.
Water production has dropped over weeks or months.
A well that worked in spring slows in late summer.
A neighbor's well has changed or a new well has gone in nearby.
Water has stopped after a storm or a change to the system.
The pump runs but little water arrives.

What an assessment usually looks like

Describe the symptom. When the water stopped or slowed, and what changed around the same time.
Look at the system. A professional looks over the well, pump, tank and pipes.
Consider the possible causes. Seasonal water level, neighboring wells, clogged screens, geology, a broken pump or tank, and leaks are the causes the public-health source lists.
Decide what to check. The professional decides which parts of the system to test.
Agree on the work. The scope and price are put in writing.
Check the result. Water production is watched afterward.

How to prepare

Notes that help anyone looking at a well:

Write down when the water slowed or stopped, and how it has changed.
Note whether the problem is worse in certain seasons.
Note whether neighbors have had changes to their wells.
Note anything done to the system recently, such as a pump or tank replacement.
Check whether you pay a water bill to a city or district, since that changes the question.
Gather any paperwork on the well, pump and tank.
Get any price in writing, with what it includes.

What affects the cost

Prices vary widely with the well, the pump and the work. For a well with little or no water, the cost depends on what turns out to be the cause.

The cause. A pump, a tank, a leak and a water level problem lead to very different work.
Equipment. The pump or tank involved changes the price.
Access. How easily the well and equipment can be reached.
Time on site. Looking over a system takes time before any work starts.
Parts. Replacement parts add cost.
Written scope. Whether the price covers an assessment only or the repair too.

Why a professional looks at the whole system

The causes listed by King County Public Health sit in different parts of the system, from the water level in the ground to the tank in the house. Looking at only one part can miss the real problem. Asking a well driller, pump installer or water system engineer to look at the whole path, and to put the scope in writing, keeps the work tied to what is actually wrong.

Sources and registration

Registration. Check a company's registration on the Washington Department of Labor & Industries “Verify a Contractor, Tradesperson or Business” page. Pump work can involve other trades: contractors are registered with the Department of Labor & Industries, electrical work generally requires an electrical contractor license, and plumbing work generally requires certified plumbers, with some exceptions.

Safety. Work on pump wiring, pressure tanks and wells can involve electricity, stored pressure and, in some cases, contaminated water, so it belongs with a qualified professional.

City water. If you pay a water bill to a city or a water district, you are probably not on a private well, and this site's well pages may not apply to you. Check your water bill.

Reasons to trust this page

Most statements on this page name their public source, such as the Department of Health or the Department of Ecology.
Cost factors are explained in plain terms, and this site does not quote prices.
The email address is shown at the top of every page, and the Privacy page says what a quote request collects.

Common questions

What can cause a well to produce little or no water?

King County Public Health lists seasonal changes in water level, neighboring wells, clogged well screens, changes in geology, broken pumps and water storage tanks, and leaks in the water system. Because the causes sit in different parts of the system, a qualified professional should look at your whole system.

Who should look at a well with no water?

King County Public Health recommends contacting a water professional like a well driller, pump installer, or water system engineer. Check the company's registration on the Washington Department of Labor & Industries “Verify a Contractor” page, and get any price in writing with what it includes.

Does a dry well always mean a broken pump?

No. A broken pump is one of several causes listed by King County Public Health, along with seasonal water level changes, neighboring wells, clogged well screens, changes in geology, broken storage tanks and leaks. That is why the whole system should be assessed rather than one part.

How much does fixing a well with no water cost?

Prices vary widely with the well, the pump and the work. The cost depends on the cause, the equipment involved and the time needed. Ask for a written scope that says whether the price covers an assessment only or the repair as well, so prices from different companies can be compared.

What should I write down before someone looks at my well?

Write down when the water slowed or stopped, how it has changed, whether it is worse in certain seasons, whether neighbors have had changes, and anything done to the pump or tank recently. Gather paperwork on the well, pump and tank. These notes help a professional assess your own system.

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