Your well and septic system, explained plainly.
Independent, source-checked guides and calculators for homes in the US and Canada with their own water and wastewater. We don't sell treatment systems or pumping services.
Built on EPA · CDC · state health departments · university extension services
What's going on?
Start from the question you actually have.
- Is my well water safe to drink? What to test for every year, what else to add for your area, and what the results mean. Read the guide
- My well tested positive for bacteria What it means, what to drink meanwhile, and how to get rid of it for good. Read the guide
- My well water smells like rotten eggs Find where the smell starts in five minutes, and the fix for each source. Read the guide
- When does my septic tank need pumping? The interval for your tank and household, and the signs that you have waited too long. Read the guide
- My water is hard. Do I need a softener? How to read your hardness test, when softening is worth it, and what it means for sodium and septic. Read the guide
- What does septic pumping cost? Prices by tank size, what adds to the bill, and the extras you can skip. Read the guide
Browse by topic
Everything on the site sits in one of these four sections.
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Photos: Michael Förtsch , Clay Banks , Roger Starnes Sr , Quang Tran on Unsplash
Calculators that do the math
University extension services publish tables and formulas in PDFs. We turned them into tools that show their working and their sources.
- Well water test planner Tick what applies to your home and get the tests public health agencies suggest, and why. You enterYour situation, nearby land use, plumbing Open the tool
- Well water result checker Type in the numbers from your lab report and see which are over a US or Canadian limit, and which guide to read. You enterBacteria, nitrate, arsenic, lead, uranium and more Open the tool
- Well shock chlorination calculator How much plain bleach to use for your well’s size, water depth and bleach strength. You enterCasing diameter, water depth, bleach % Open the tool
- Water softener size calculator Turn your hardness test into grains per day and see how often each softener size would regenerate. You enterHardness, people, water use Open the tool
- Septic pumping calculator Estimate years between pump-outs from your tank size and household, using extension tables. You enterTank size, people, garbage disposal Open the tool
Latest guides
Buying a house with a well and a septic system: a checklist
What to ask the seller, what to test and who should inspect the well and the septic system before you close, with a checklist built from EPA and state guides.
CanadaSeptic systems in Canada: who regulates them, pumping and maintenance
Septic systems in Canada are regulated by each province. Who is in charge in Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta, how often to pump and what the rules require.
CanadaWell water testing in Canada: what to test, how often and where
Health Canada advises testing a private well for bacteria every six months. The Canadian guideline values, how they differ from US limits, and where to test.
Septic systemsHow to take care of a septic drain field
A drain field lasts longer with grass on top, no vehicles, no buildings and no extra water. What to plant, what to keep off it and what shortens its life.
Septic systemsYour septic system in heavy rain or a flood: what to do
When the ground is saturated, use as little water as you can and do not pump the tank yet. What to do before, during and after a flood, and when to use it again.
Septic systemsHow much does it cost to pump a septic tank?
Septic tank pumping costs about $290 to $700, around $400 on average. See prices by tank size, what adds to the bill, which extras to skip and how to compare quotes.
Septic systemsSigns your septic system is failing, and what to do first
Slow drains, gurgling pipes, sewage odors and soggy ground over the drain field are warning signs. What to do first, the likely causes and who to call.
Septic systemsWhat not to flush or pour down the drain with a septic system
With a septic system, flush only human waste and toilet paper. The full list of what to keep out, what the agencies say about bleach, and what to do instead.
How we work
Wells and septic systems are about your family's health and some of the most expensive repairs a house can need. So we hold ourselves to a few rules.
How we research
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Official sources first
Every claim links to its source: EPA, CDC, state agencies and university extension services. We open each one and note the date we checked it.
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We show where experts disagree
Agencies don't always give the same number. When they differ, we say so and explain why, instead of picking one and hiding the rest.
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Nothing to sell you
We don't sell filters, softeners, tests or pumping. When something needs a professional, the guides say so plainly.