i have a well water pump in my basement/it doesnt even work. It is not in any way connected to the City water that i also have. The city told me that i need to either have a Backflow Preventer put on my well line OR have the well removed, Because of EPA regulations they are afraid the well water will back up into the city water system and contaminate it? How would that happen if they are not connected in any way? Should i sue them? Thank you!
2006-12-12 03:04:41 · 9 answers · asked by EAT! 3 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
That cannot happen, the truth is they tell people this so that they get scared enough to use ONLY city water so the City can make more money AND so that they can send someone in to remove and cap to get paid for it. EPA has NO regulations against using both. It is all about the money.
Can you really sue someone for telling a lie?
2006-12-12 03:36:24 · answer #1 · answered by lisads1973 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Assuming the well is still piped to the house then since the house is connected to the city water supply the well and the city water supply are connected. If there was a reduction in pressure of the city water system (a big main pipe break) then it is possible that water from your house would end up in the mains...this is called backflow. Since the quality of the water in your well is unkown and likely not good since it appears to have been abandoned this is a public health risk. I agree with the other answerer in that you should ask the agency how to properly abandon the well so that you dont need a backflow preventer device.
Suing them would be a lot more expensive than complying with their request that you install a backflow device.
2006-12-12 05:11:48 · answer #2 · answered by Nginr 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
If your house has both, the well water pump is still connected to the plumbing lines and there could be backflow into the city water supply. That's why the EPA wants you to take those actions.
When you sell your house, the new homeowner may try to just replace the pump and wouldn't know about any of this. That's why it's important.
2006-12-12 03:13:23 · answer #3 · answered by DA 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your well, or sand point is no longer in use it must be properly abandoned. The only persons who can legaly do this is a well drilling company or liscened pump installation company.There are fourms they are required to fill out and submit to the state, and yes they do occasionaly check to see if abandonment was done correctly.If you did it yourself and city found out about it they may turn you in.(just disconnecting the lines is not good enough pumps need to be pulled, power completely removed hole properly plugged with concrete or bentonite chips,......)
2006-12-12 11:53:10 · answer #4 · answered by petasucks101 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes, they can require you to have a back flow preventer in the main some where. this is a normal thing, so dont feel like you are being singled out. heck, the law is the same way down here in possum holler.
Possum
2006-12-12 12:53:55 · answer #5 · answered by hillbilly named Possum 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most goverment employess went to college on their daddy's ticket.
They don't appreciate the costs they put on a common working man. Like FEMA, they set on their duffs doing nothing for 10 years.
When it comes time to act, they hide behind regulations to hide their own inability to make a decision. If they came out of their ac'd office to look at your pump, they probably wouldn't know what to look at. You just got slammed by the beurocacy.
2006-12-12 03:31:23 · answer #6 · answered by Bill R 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Someone could still hook it up. Many cities now require old wells to be capped. Just cap the well and get rid of the tank.
2006-12-12 03:18:36 · answer #7 · answered by Papa John 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
there afraid if you connect the well water to an existing faucet don't sue they would win
2006-12-12 03:15:30 · answer #8 · answered by big john bro 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have both and only use my well for "irrigation".(watering my yard and garden)
As long as it's not on the same line, they can't do a damn thing about it.
2006-12-12 04:32:59 · answer #9 · answered by Mr. KnowItAll 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋