Posted: 9/18/2026 11:16:52 PM EDT
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We are looking at a house in a sub division that says it has a community well. Can anyone provide any insight as to what a community well entails? What questions should we be asking? My fear is Jim bob, Jethro and sally mae decide they want to fill their Walmart pool with 10k gallons and I don't have water. Crazy or rational? |
RIP:LTC D.Cabrera/SGT C.Newman-29OCT11-OEF
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FL, USA
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Community systems in Florida are regulated by the FDEP, not sure what regulations apply to well you are referencing. There is no problem with a community well that is in compliance and regularly tested for EPA drinking water standards. Ask to see the well maintenance records and the regulatory certifications for the well. |
"Everybody gotta die sometime Red."
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I’ve known several people with shared wells. I’d be more interested in knowing if it’s a subdivision well, presumably in an HOA type of place, or a shared well between a few houses….usually 3 houses max although that certainly can vary. Is the well on community property or one person’s property? Is there funds in an account for maintenance and repairs? If so, then does everyone on the agreement pay into it? Some states have restrictive laws on cutting off residences who don’t pay for their part of a shared well….meaning you can only place a lien on their property but can’t cut them off. |
"It behooves every man to remember that the work of the critic is of altogether secondary importance, and that, in the end, progress is accomplished by the man who does things."
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
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Friend had a well that was shared between three houses. I had never heard of it until then. He never had any issue, but the well didn’t need any work for as long as he lived there. I would be hesitant since funding maintenance or repairs could become a major headache. Make sure you know what you’re getting into. |
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It will likely differ from state to state. Here in CT any group of houses served by a single well is treated as a public utility with a whole mess of regulations for testing and so forth. Needs to be run by a licensed outfit. In the end it adds cost . monthly or yearly dues and a general pain in the ass. At the very least look at the deed to see if there is any type of agreement. Is there any way to opt out and pay for your own well? Any time one is part of a shared use agreement with multiple neighbors be it well , power or other utilities along with driveway easements it is a situation that might run fine or can turn to shit in a heartbeat . Some common well use happens because one lot has had problems in the past , bad water or low supply so they go in with a neighbor . |
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Where I live, it's my late Moms little house on a well with 5 other homes. Multiple people are or used to be way behind, in the hundreds of dollars for the monthly water bill that is only $15 a month. It's not run by anyone other than one of the tenants here. Mom used to handle all the bookkeeping and getting testing and repairs done but tired of the same few people not paying and handed it off to the old lady next door. One previous landlord that owned a house wanted to hire a company to run it but most of the people (probably the ones owing hundreds on the bill) said no. The woman's son next door moved in with her after his divorce, and he put out a letter to everyone telling them we need to pay up if we are behind, and thanking the very few that are paid up or have paid in advance for the year. I need to ask her if anyone ever paid off their bills are if they're still behind. |
I'm pink, therefore, I'm Spam.®
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Don't repeat DO NOT buy a house with a shared well period. in case you didn't get the point DO NOT BUY, DO NOT BUY, DO NOT BUY a house with a shared well period it will be nothing but headaches and hassles when someone runs the well dry or there is no water pressure because everyone is using water at the same time. There will also be the problem of someone not paying their share when it comes to the power bill or repairs. This should be a hard NO for you but in case you didn't understand the first 5 times DO NOY BUY A HOME WITH A SHARED WELL PERIOD. |
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Originally Posted By JosephTurrisi: Don't repeat DO NOT buy a house with a shared well period. in case you didn't get the point DO NOT BUY, DO NOT BUY, DO NOT BUY a house with a shared well period it will be nothing but headaches and hassles when someone runs the well dry or there is no water pressure because everyone is using water at the same time. There will also be the problem of someone not paying their share when it comes to the power bill or repairs. This should be a hard NO for you but in case you didn't understand the first 5 times DO NOY BUY A HOME WITH A SHARED WELL PERIOD. Little dramatic eh? If you love the house, buy it. Then, drill your own well. If the well is on your property, do your own research before buying. Properly set up shared wells aren’t a problem. Improperly set up wells agreements are not a good thing. |
"It behooves every man to remember that the work of the critic is of altogether secondary importance, and that, in the end, progress is accomplished by the man who does things."
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
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It could be a community co-op well, which is what I have lived with for over 20 years. Not long after we moved here, the President and Secretary (father/daughter) left the co-op to drill their own well. My wife volunteered to be Secretary and has been until just recently. If set-up properly, it is no different than just being a customer of a small water company. Our Co-op serves @30 homes, and after over 20 years of being in it, can't really complain.. |
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Originally Posted By Mbsk01: It could be a community co-op well, which is what I have lived with for over 20 years. Not long after we moved here, the President and Secretary (father/daughter) left the co-op to drill their own well. My wife volunteered to be Secretary and has been until just recently. If set-up properly, it is no different than just being a customer of a small water company. Our Co-op serves @30 homes, and after over 20 years of being in it, can't really complain.. Friend of mine lives in a small, older HOA near a lake. The HOA handles the roads and the community water system. Zero issues. |
"It behooves every man to remember that the work of the critic is of altogether secondary importance, and that, in the end, progress is accomplished by the man who does things."
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
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Originally Posted By ColtRifle: Little dramatic eh? If you love the house, buy it. Then, drill your own well. If the well is on your property, do your own research before buying. Properly set up shared wells aren’t a problem. Improperly set up wells agreements are not a good thing. No, not really, I can still remember the problems my wife's parents had with their neighbor and the shared well which was on the neighbor's property. They were always having to call the cops because the old woman would shut their water off for one BS reason or another even though they had deeded water rights and easement to and from the well for repairs. I also have friends who are on share wells, and they always have problems with one person not paying their part. If it's a legit water company that is one thing but if it is just an agreement between several neighbors stay away. |