When buying a house with private well water, can you request for city water? (Chicago: price, backyard)

[gardener34]

Every case is different, you will have to see what your town/township policies are. We are on well, no way will we ever be hooked to a municipal supply in our lifetime. If your well water is that bad, you can always get a reverse osmosis thing for the whole house. A water softener at the least, is a MUST.
Not having a water bill is a plus though... but if the power goes out, so does your well pump, which means water, toilet, etc. So you will definitely need a generator if the power goes out for extended periods. (like ours has)

[CSD610]

Why in the world would you pay for water if you don't have to and if you are concerned about the well water not being safe to use invest in a Culligan Drinking Water system.

[ToriaT]

Buying a house with a well is risky. You never know what could happen to your water supply and then you will have a crisis to fix it and you will not be able to tell if a municipality will help you and at what cost. I had well water for a couple of years in my life before going on to Lake Mi. and I hated it. Fortunately everyone in the town had it so there was no option. I was migrated when the whole city went on Lake Mi. So so much better.

[cubssoxfan]

Originally Posted by Crede's Crew

I really like Prospect Heights. Those ranches on half an acre lots are so appealing. However, the well water and the lack of sidewalk, not so much...

I understand the sidewalk issue; it really amazes me that NO ONE has advocated for putting a walking path or sidewalk along Schoenbeck and Thomas to keep kids walking from school off these main roads
I know at least 5 families in Prospect Heights and NONE have complained about the well water. Many do bottled water but it's due to taste preferences and not water quality issues.

[madpaddy]

If you do connect to city water, consider keeping your well and pump system for the outside spigots. It can save you a ton of money on watering your lawn.

[Crede's Crew]

Originally Posted by Crede's Crew

I really like Prospect Heights. Those ranches on half an acre lots are so appealing. However, the well water and the lack of sidewalk, not so much...

Yes, I'm thinking that too. If we do end up in Lake Zurich, we will pay extra to tap into city water but keep the well for lawn and gardening.

[chet everett]

Originally Posted by Crede's Crew

Yes, I'm thinking that too. If we do end up in Lake Zurich, we will pay extra to tap into city water but keep the well for lawn and gardening.

I think folks that do that have to have the city sign off on the way it is done but in the long run it generally pays for itself if you have a lawn watering /gardening irrigation system. Even if you don't initially put in an automatic system you can generally have things "prepped" so that down the road an irrigation system can utlilze the well water while the household system are run off the municipal supply.

[Crede's Crew]

Originally Posted by chet everett

I think folks that do that have to have the city sign off on the way it is done but in the long run it generally pays for itself if you have a lawn watering /gardening irrigation system. Even if you don't initially put in an automatic system you can generally have things "prepped" so that down the road an irrigation system can utlilze the well water while the household system are run off the municipal supply.

Woah, sounds so complicated. City probably want money for signing it off to I guess. Gonna go break just owning a house... Maybe renting is not such a bad idea.

[linicx]

Regardless of he source, private wells are not that unusual in cities. In some counties the water must be tested before you can even buy the property. I am on a well. I didn't like the chemicals in the water even though it is safe. I use bottled water for drinking, coffee, and cooking. I don't worry about it for showers, laundry or anything else.

The bigger is not the well, it is the septic tank. Most homes that have a well are not connected to the city sewer system. If you are connected to a sewer then you should be able to get connected to city water. How much it will cost to for the construction work to connect the house to city water is the big question.

More than one city I ever lived in required a connection to both if one failed. The last time I inquired - six years ago - the conservative estimate was $10.000 for the sewer alone. The reason I keep the private well is for the great water pressure.

[Crede's Crew]

Thanks for the price Linicx. 10k is a lot. I was hoping for $5k top. The 2 houses that we checked out are connected to public sewer. I grew up in Chicago so the idea of having a septic tank in my backyard is a no-no for me. I told my agent flat out that we do want to view any home with a septic tank but will consider well water.