pump bill sharing

[Tiny]

Do I understand this correctly? 
 
1.)  All three houses share a water source and are paying the electric bill for the Pump (and probably share the cost of maintaining the well/pump) ?
2.)  A neighbor has built a "out building" over the shared pump? 
3.)  A neighbor is using the shared electric service for his own purposes (and the bill is still being split 3 ways)?



4.) If the well pump fails - 3 houses will be without water?
5.)  If the well pump fails - the repair people will need to enter the neighbor's outbuilding to repair it?  

I'd say the neighbor just DECREASED the value of your house/property.   As a buyer I might be a little 'skeptical' of the costs involved with a shared well/pump... but if all of it was separate from the 3 households it served and there was some clear legalese about how it is "owned/supported/who's incharge of maintaining it) I'd be more open to considering it being "ok".   

Now that your neighbor is using the electric service for personal stuff that I would be paying for  combined with the well now being "inaccessable" would make me go "No thank you" when considering your property.     If the water goes out - that would be something I would want fixed ASAP and it being INSIDE your neighbor's "building" means there may be issues getting the water service fixed.     No Thank you.   This smells of drama and a headache (an expensive, drawn out, acrimonious headache at some unforseeable point in the future - probably when it is lease convenient). 

What I would do -  since you can't ask your neighbor to tear down his out building -  I MIGHT be talking to a lawyer to see what rights I have to the well and his outbuilding.   I MIGHT also be considering alerting the local government to his set up.   And depending on the Lawyer-ing  (and getting the Well somehow defined as being it's own  separate thing used equally by all three households) I MIGHT also look into getting my own well.   As it will preserve the value of my house and property. 

[Tiny]

I don't know much about "wells".   So take these questions with a grain of salt: 


Can toxic/poisonous stuff get down the well?   If the neighbor built a garage over the well - could, I don't know, spilled oil or gasoline or yard pesticides  (stuff you store in or use in a garage or workshop) leak down into the well thru the well shaft?  Would that effect the quality of the water? 

What if the neighbor has, you know, kids.  Who he's just told "stay away from the covered hole in the floor" and nothing else.  What happens when the kids think it might be fun to, you know, pour stuff down the "hole in the floor"?   What happens then? 

What happens if the outbuilding goes up in flames?   What happens to the well?  

[Deleted]

Jun 29, 2020 11:13:55 GMT -5 Tiny said:

I don't know much about "wells".   So take these questions with a grain of salt: 


Can toxic/poisonous stuff get down the well?   If the neighbor built a garage over the well - could, I don't know, spilled oil or gasoline or yard pesticides  (stuff you store in or use in a garage or workshop) leak down into the well thru the well shaft?  Would that effect the quality of the water? 

What if the neighbor has, you know, kids.  Who he's just told "stay away from the covered hole in the floor" and nothing else.  What happens when the kids think it might be fun to, you know, pour stuff down the "hole in the floor"?   What happens then? 

What happens if the outbuilding goes up in flames?   What happens to the well?  

That would probably be good for schildi!  Building is gone, but well would be fine.  

The kids wouldn't be able to just stuff down the well as it's not just a hole.  It's a capped off pipe probably no more than 6 inches around. But stuff could leach into the aquifer from above if it was dumped around where the pipe is coming out of the ground.

[schildi]

The well is shared because the original developer saved cost that way.

We are 4 houses in our loop, 3 share a well, and the 4th has it's own. The reason for this setup is that code here allows for a max of 3 house to share a well without the county managing the water supply, installing meters and charging for it.

Many good points have been made. Thanks to all of you for replying!

Yes, at our price point, your own well is not a bad idea. This is another reason to maybe go ahead and install my own well. As I said, I will be getting bids soon.

One of my biggest concerns is if we want to sell, and people (or their inspector) look closer into the current setup, which of course is far from ideal. Or, if the neighbor sells to an unaware party, or to somebody who is very difficult to work with (like in not allowing access to our well inside his building). All of this could spell trouble. The added cost for accessing the well because of the building over it does not help either.

The well inside the building is covered with a lid, that part has been taken care of, I would say. Contamination seems at least unlikely, unless the neighbor would purposely lift the lid and something in there. Seems unlikely, as it's their own water supply as well, and he can really stuff in so many other (and easier to access) places if he really wanted to. It is something to consider and keep in mind though.

Tiny, all 5 items in your post #30 are pretty much correct.

Overall, here is what I want to do:

- get an estimate and a feasibility study done for our own well.

- if all looks good, also get a time estimate for an installation

- get the permit

- once I have all of the above, I can decide to go ahead with the well installation, or wait, depending on how long it would take in an emergency.

- if all looks doable though, I think I tend to rather doing it sooner than later.

I am sure it would help the property value if we had our own well.

[schildi]

Jun 28, 2020 21:12:02 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

Have you had much interaction with this neighbor? Is he clueless or just really self-centered?

I think it's a mix of both.

Add to it that he does not seem to care too much about spending. An example would be his shop lights being turned on 24/7. That's 8 large LED strips at 50W each, so 400W total. Adds up to about $45 per month at our (high) electric rates. He thinks it's easier to not have to flip a switch when he walks in. It's just an example to give you an idea ....

[ArchietheDragon]

I saw this article this morning and thought of this thread...
www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/person-rescued-after-falling-through-floor-of-guilford-home-into-well-pd/2295008/

[dannylion]

Jun 29, 2020 13:00:13 GMT -5 schildi said:

The well is shared because the original developer saved cost that way.

We are 4 houses in our loop, 3 share a well, and the 4th has it's own. The reason for this setup is that code here allows for a max of 3 wells to be shared without the county managing the water supply, installing meters and charging for it.

Many good points have been made. Thanks to all of you for replying!

Yes, at our price point, your own well is not a bad idea. This is another reason to maybe go ahead and install my own well. As I said, I will be getting bids soon.

One of my biggest concerns is if we want to sell, and people (or their inspector) look closer into the current setup, which of course is far from ideal. Or, if the neighbor sells to an unaware party, or to somebody who is very difficult to work with (like in not allowing access to our well inside his building). All of this could spell trouble. The added cost for accessing the well because of the building over it does not help either.

The well inside the building is covered with a lid, that part has been taken care of, I would say. Contamination seems at least unlikely, unless the neighbor would purposely lift the lid and something in there. Seems unlikely, as it's their own water supply as well, and he can really stuff in so many other (and easier to access) places if he really wanted to. It is something to consider and keep in mind though.

Tiny, all 5 items in your post #30 are pretty much correct.

Overall, here is what I want to do:

- get an estimate and a feasibility study done for our own well.

- if all looks good, also get a time estimate for an installation

- get the permit

- once I have all of the above, I can decide to go ahead with the well installation, or wait, depending on how long it would take in an emergency.

- if all looks doable though, I think I tend to rather doing it sooner than later.

I am sure it would help the property value if we had our own well.

It is more likely that either or both of the bolded situations will happen than that neither will.  You're dealing with people.  Have you met people?  People are stupid.  (Other people, not YM people  ).  And many of them are selfish and unreasonable.  Given the expected value of your property, if I were in your position, I would definitely be in the process of getting my own well.  JMHO. I hope you are able to remedy your water supply issue quickly and with limited drama and aggravation.  

[azucena]

You might want to ask the third house what their plans are as well.  If they want to get their own well too, maybe you can talk the contractor into a discount to come do both at the same time.

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Jun 29, 2020 13:30:36 GMT -5 azucena said:

You might want to ask the third house what their plans are as well.  If they want to get their own well too, maybe you can talk the contractor into a discount to come do both at the same time.

Except that 4th well would exceed the 3 well rule in the neighborhood.

schildi Do you like the 3rd neighbor? Would you want to be thoughtful and share a well with them since a 4th well will put you all under municipal control?

[justme]

Jun 29, 2020 15:41:39 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

Jun 29, 2020 13:30:36 GMT -5 azucena said:

You might want to ask the third house what their plans are as well.  If they want to get their own well too, maybe you can talk the contractor into a discount to come do both at the same time.

Except that 4th well would exceed the 3 well rule in the neighborhood.

schildi Do you like the 3rd neighbor? Would you want to be thoughtful and share a well with them since a 4th well will put you all under municipal control?

3 well rule? I think you're reading wrong. There can't be more than 3 houses sharing a well before the county steps in. The developer would have put all 4 on one well if he didn't have to deal with county to do it. Not a limit on the number of wells. 

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Jun 29, 2020 15:45:21 GMT -5 justme said:

Jun 29, 2020 15:41:39 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

Except that 4th well would exceed the 3 well rule in the neighborhood.

schildi Do you like the 3rd neighbor? Would you want to be thoughtful and share a well with them since a 4th well will put you all under municipal control?

3 well rule? I think you're reading wrong. There can't be more than 3 houses sharing a well before the county steps in. The developer would have put all 4 on one well if he didn't have to deal with county to do it. Not a limit on the number of wells. 

Maybe?

There was something about “the county putting a max on 3 wells to be shared” in the little enclave.

[justme]

Jun 29, 2020 15:50:19 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

Jun 29, 2020 15:45:21 GMT -5 justme said:

3 well rule? I think you're reading wrong. There can't be more than 3 houses sharing a well before the county steps in. The developer would have put all 4 on one well if he didn't have to deal with county to do it. Not a limit on the number of wells. 

Maybe?

There was something about “the county putting a max on 3 wells to be shared” in the little enclave.

Yeah, I guess it can be interpreted both ways!

[schildi]

Jun 29, 2020 15:45:21 GMT -5 justme said:

Jun 29, 2020 15:41:39 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

Except that 4th well would exceed the 3 well rule in the neighborhood.

schildi Do you like the 3rd neighbor? Would you want to be thoughtful and share a well with them since a 4th well will put you all under municipal control?

3 well rule? I think you're reading wrong. There can't be more than 3 houses sharing a well before the county steps in. The developer would have put all 4 on one well if he didn't have to deal with county to do it. Not a limit on the number of wells. 

That's correct.

The limit is 3 houses sharing one well. There is no limit on the number of wells.

I re-read my previous post and I agree, I was not very clear. I've updated it.

[jerseygirl]

Jun 29, 2020 16:05:25 GMT -5 schildi said:

Jun 29, 2020 15:45:21 GMT -5 justme said:

3 well rule? I think you're reading wrong. There can't be more than 3 houses sharing a well before the county steps in. The developer would have put all 4 on one well if he didn't have to deal with county to do it. Not a limit on the number of wells. 

That's correct.

The limit is 3 houses sharing one well. There is no limit on the number of wells.

I re-read my previous post and I agree, I was not very clear. I've updated it.

Would your town put in municipal water in your neighborhood? Suggest to call town, our neighbors had to replace septic system and town sewers put in 2 years later

[schildi]

Jun 29, 2020 17:38:53 GMT -5 jerseygirl said:

Jun 29, 2020 16:05:25 GMT -5 schildi said:

That's correct.

The limit is 3 houses sharing one well. There is no limit on the number of wells.

I re-read my previous post and I agree, I was not very clear. I've updated it.

Would your town put in municipal water in your neighborhood? Suggest to call town, our neighbors had to replace septic system and town sewers put in 2 years later

That's not likely to happen in the next 100 or so years. We are a little too far out.