Well Inspection in Spokane County: What an Annual Checkup Covers

A well inspection looks at the pump, the tank and switch, the wellhead and the water. NGWA recommends an annual checkup by a qualified well professional, and says to inspect whenever a well is opened or taste, odor, pressure or cycling changes.

Email us about your well: contact@spokanecountywellpump.com

What a well inspection is

An inspection looks at the whole well system and records what is found. It is different from a repair, which fixes a failure, and from a home-sale flow test, which answers a buyer's questions. An inspection can be done once a year, or any time something changes.

The National Ground Water Association (NGWA), on its wellowner.org annual inspection page, recommends an annual checkup of a well by a qualified well professional. It lists a flow test, a check of the pump's amp load, grounding and line voltage, and an inspection of the pressure tank and the pressure switch contacts, along with a coliform and nitrate water test and a written report. It also says to inspect a well whenever it is opened, or when taste, odor, turbidity, pressure or cycling changes.

NGWA's inspection page also advises keeping a 50-foot clean zone between a well and livestock and removing roots within 10 feet of the well. It says casing should extend at least 12 inches above ground, while Washington's own rule, WAC 173-160-291, sets the minimum at 6 inches above ground, so use the Washington rule when you ask what applies to your well.

An inspection does not decide whether the water is safe. That takes a lab test, and the Washington Department of Health recommends testing private well water every year for coliform bacteria and nitrate.

When people look into this

It has been a year or more since anyone looked at the well.
Taste, odor, turbidity, pressure or cycling has changed.
The well was opened for work.
A flood has reached the wellhead.
A home on a well is being bought or sold.
A landowner is starting a record of the well.

What the work usually looks like

Gather the paperwork. Well report, earlier invoices and test results.
Ask what is covered. Compare the visit with NGWA's list.
Inspect. Flow, power, load, grounding, tank, switch and wellhead are checked.
Test the water. A coliform and nitrate test is arranged.
Get the report. Findings and recommendations are written down.
Decide next steps. Any repair is priced on its own.

How to prepare

Before work starts, it helps to settle these points:

Gather the well report and earlier paperwork.
Note any change in taste, smell, pressure or cycling.
Make sure the wellhead is clear and reachable.
Ask which items the inspection covers.
Ask whether a written report and water test are included.
Ask your county health department how and where to test.
Ask what happens if a problem is found.
Get the price in writing.

What affects the cost

Prices vary widely with the well, the pump and the work. For an inspection, the cost depends on what is checked and what is written down.

What is covered. A short look costs less than a full checkup.
Water testing. A lab test is usually separate.
Written report. Some visits include one.
Access. Whether the well and tank can be reached.
Pump type. Some checks differ by type.
Distance. Travel to the property.
Follow-up. Repairs are priced on their own.

Inspection versus a home-sale flow test

A routine inspection checks the system and records its condition. A home-sale flow test answers a buyer's questions about how much water the well gives. They overlap but are not the same, and a buyer may want both.

If you are selling a home on a well, a recent inspection report can answer many questions in advance. If you are buying, ask what the inspection covered and whether it included a water test, since a flow test alone does not say anything about water quality.

Local rules and sources

NGWA checkup. The National Ground Water Association (NGWA), on its wellowner.org annual inspection page, recommends an annual checkup of a well by a qualified well professional. It lists a flow test, a check of the pump's amp load, grounding and line voltage, and an inspection of the pressure tank and the pressure switch contacts, along with a coliform and nitrate water test and a written report. It also says to inspect a well whenever it is opened, or when taste, odor, turbidity, pressure or cycling changes.

Wellhead. NGWA's inspection page also advises keeping a 50-foot clean zone between a well and livestock and removing roots within 10 feet of the well. It says casing should extend at least 12 inches above ground, while Washington's own rule, WAC 173-160-291, sets the minimum at 6 inches above ground, so use the Washington rule when you ask what applies to your well.

Testing. The Washington Department of Health recommends testing private well water every year for coliform bacteria and nitrate, and also when you notice a change in taste, color or smell, after flooding, and after you replace any part of your well system. Your county health department can tell you how and where to have it tested.

Trades. 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. Check a company's registration on the Washington Department of Labor & Industries “Verify a Contractor, Tradesperson or Business” page.

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.

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 does a well inspection cover?

NGWA lists a flow test, the pump's amp load, grounding and line voltage, an inspection of the pressure tank and switch contacts, wellhead checks, a coliform and nitrate water test and a written report. Ask which of those a company covers, since there is no single standard list.

When should a well be inspected?

NGWA recommends an annual checkup and says to inspect whenever a well is opened, or when taste, odor, turbidity, pressure or cycling changes. After a flood, the Washington Department of Health also recommends testing the water. Ask a qualified professional what suits your well.

Does an inspection tell me if my water is safe?

No. Water safety needs a lab test. The Washington Department of Health recommends testing private well water every year for coliform bacteria and nitrate, and after flooding or after replacing any part of the well system. Your county health department can tell you how and where to test.

How high should a well casing be above ground?

Washington's rule, WAC 173-160-291, says casing must extend at least 6 inches above ground, and 2 feet above the 100-year flood level at a site that floods. NGWA says at least 12 inches. Use the Washington rule when asking what applies, and ask a professional to check your wellhead.

How much does a well inspection cost?

Prices vary widely with the well, the pump and the work. What the inspection covers, whether a written report and water test are included, access and distance change the total. Get a written scope that lists what is included, so prices from different companies cover the same work.

Related services and areas

Request a quote

Tell us about your well and how to reach you.