Your well and septic system, explained plainly.
Independent, source-checked guides and calculators for American homes 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, the warning signs and what pumping costs. Read the guide
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 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.
Well waterCloudy, milky or sandy well water: causes and what to do
Milky water that clears in seconds is usually air. Grit that settles is sand or silt from the well. How to tell them apart and when to call a well contractor.
Well waterMy well tested positive for coliform bacteria. What now?
A positive coliform test means germs may be getting into your well. What it means, what to drink meanwhile, how to disinfect, find the source, and E. coli.
Well waterOrange, brown or black stains from well water: iron and manganese
Rust-colored stains point to iron, black ones to manganese. How to confirm it, when manganese matters for health, and which treatment fits your levels.
Well waterWhy does my well water smell like rotten eggs?
A rotten egg smell in well water comes from hydrogen sulfide. Find where it starts, from the water heater to the well, and which fix works at each level.
Septic systemsHow often should you pump your septic tank?
How often to pump a septic tank depends on tank size, household size and a garbage disposal. Use the extension chart and calculator to find your interval.
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- 01
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.
- 02
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.
- 03
Nothing to sell you
We don't sell filters, softeners, tests or pumping. When something needs a professional, the guides say so plainly.