Moving To The Country Qs

[urneighbour]

I could certainly use some input from those with some experience living on a country property with their dogs. We've been casually looking for a while now but in our price range there is usually some big obstacles like: nice property falling down house/nice house extremely irregular shaped lot/nice house-nice property way to secluded from civilization, etc.

This weekend we saw a home that had alot of the things we were looking for. The house was quite nice, close enough to a fair size town that we would have cable and internet services and be only 10 minutes away from groceries, hospital and a vet. We would have to get use to living with only 1 full bathroom and 1-3pce (we currently have 3 full bathrooms and 1-2pce) but it is doable, I think, afterall both my husband and my families grew up with only 1 full bathroom until we were teens and a bathroom was added to the basement.

Here are my well questions...the well is a dug well and the property is surrounded by farm land - shouldn't one be concered about fertilizers seeping into the well since the well is not as deep as a drilled one? There is presently a UV and a filter hooked up. Generally, is that all it would need? Another well question we have is how do you ensure that this drilled well has the capacity to provide enough water for our family's needs...we asked the owner who answered that she hasn't had a problem however she is one person living on her own...and then again, generally speaking - does a seller have to disclose that their well has a very limited water supply?

**So how does one go about verifying the volume of water in a dug well?

Another concern: the property is almost 3 acres and shaped like a triangle with the house at the wide end and the v shaped paddocks and small 3 stall barn on the other 1/2 of the property. The lot is about 750 ft. long and fronts a somewhat busy paved roadway. I would estimate about 20 cars a minute were driving by on a Sunday afternoon...and usually going over the speed limit. The house only sits back from the road about 80 ft. The paddocks and the property frontage along the road are fenced off in rail fencing that is only about 4.5 feet high.

**What kind of fencing do you use on acreages to keep your Newfs safely on your property?

 

[twright1231]

We lived on a property in the country that sounds a bit like you describe. I would certainly include a well (and septic, I assume) inspection as part of your conditions on the offer. The well inspector should be able to tell you the condition and capacity of your well.

We lived in the country pre-newf. We had an English Mastif that was never interested in leaving, so fencing wasn't an issue really. One day she got out and was home all day alone, outside. Plenty of opportunity to leave, but didn't.

Good luck!

 

[new_2_newf]

try this site, it might help.

http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/buho/buho_003.cfm

I would defiantly put in an escape clause in your offer on both well and septic, just in case.

I would have both the well and septic inspected by a qualified contractor, not just a home inspector. In Ontario, home inspectors are not really liable for anything that isn't obviously wrong. I can open my own inspection business without any real skill or knowledge, so it is hard to know what you are getting there. A licensed or certified contractor/electrician/plumber/contractor has at least had some education and put their professional accreditation on the line when they say something is fit or unfit.

You can also take in a water sample to the local public health unit to have it tested....I think it only takes a few weeks and it is a very nominal fee. Grab a few from different taps around the house. My dad does bathroom(s), kitchen(s) and any outdoor taps. Basically anything that someone might drink or cook with. We watered our garden with the out door tap and we as kids used to drink from it, so he always treated that one like a kitchen tap of sorts.

 

[urneighbour]

I have called a well inspection company in the area this morning and was informed that this time of year it is difficult to do a complete inspection of the well. They could inspect the outside area and measure off distances to farmer's field, septic, road run off, etc. but an inside ispection of the well will be difficult because of snow, frost, etc. And the only way to really test for the quantity of the water is to run the well dry and then see how long it takes to refill - something many sellers will not be willing to do as it is an inconvenience and often disturbs the sediments on the bottom of the well. He informed me that sellers are required by law to truthfully disclose problems with the well when/if asked.

 

[new_2_newf]

well poo....i was a nutter when i bought my house and had people looking at everything, but it was in the summer so it was much easier. I'd probably still want them to come out and see whatever they can see, and run the well dry. To me you might want to almost see the sediment at the bottom...put some of that in a jar and get it tested Good luck with the whole process and keep us posted!

 

[CMDRTED]

I will be interested in seeing what happens. When I retire we will be looking for something like this where there is some land, so I can grow tomatoes, vegis, and Newfs. So if I can learn some of the things involved that would be a help.

 

[urneighbour]

We are going back for a 2nd look at the property this weekend to ask some more questions about the well/septic/etc. It is pretty worrisome for us newbies who have never had to worry about well water, septic systems and have no experience with propane heating. I will keep you posted.

 

[ozzysma]

having lived in the country area near you i would say that there is probably a reason for the uv light and filter???? propane is used quite often in the country near me, as at one time they were talking gas was going in but it never did. it has gotten quite expensive. in wet areas a dug well is plenty. my last house had a dug well and we never in 10 years ran out of water, i even filled a water bed without stoping with it. although the more you use a dug well the better it works. i have heard of people going into homes that have had one person using a well and it takes a bit to really get the well working to a good capacity. i am going to send you a pm.

 

[newf&basset]

We have a dug well, and it's been a great well for us. Was dug at the same time our house was built, over 100 years ago. It has ran dry once.. for 2 days. Saying that, we have some chloroform issues with the water and need a UV filer on it to make the water safe. You can have the water tested at any time of the year, I suggest that you make them do it.
As for the septic. We just had to have another one dug.. the old one was over 20 + yrs, and was pretty much dead. A new septic system cost us over $6000.
A great person to ask about Newf fencing would be Sandra. I know that she has an outside dog paddock.
HTH!

 

[KodysGrandma]

We've been in the country on septic for over 30 years. Never had to move the tank although we have had new drain fields built and attached. Now we have 3 and you can move from one to another. The old one clears itself after a few years. In FL. there are lots of small water co. that service semi rural areas so we have had "city" water for about 25 years, so can't address that problem. There are treatments for septic tanks that you should put in about once a month. In the states the most popular in our area is Rid-X. Any plumber or general store ought to be able to help. Do that, don't overload with sudsy water and you should be fine.

 

[ardeagold]

You need to ask how DEEP the well is. The deeper the better...that means the water is cleaner, and you'll be less likely to run the well dry. Ours is 250 feet deep. Some here are only 100 and many go dry during a drought. It also means you'll have far fewer "surface" contaminants getting into the aquafir, and into your water.

Also...ask where the septic tank/field is, and when was it cleaned last? Have it checked out. That means someone has to go and check it to make sure it's not leaking hard waste....or soap. That's how they can often tell. Run soapy water through the system (like from a washing machine) and see if it comes out as soapy water. It shouldn't. The septic fields are usually a certain required distance from the well.

As far as water flow on a well...there IS a way to do that. It's called a Well Flow Test and there's a Well Yield Test:

http://www.apecs-inc.com/serv_well.htm

You DEFINITELY need to have the water tested in the well, and the well should be chlorinated to disinfect it first:

http://www.harfordcountymd.gov/health/ViewPage.cfm?Sub2ID=125

We had to do ALL of these tests before we could move into our home. (Actually the seller had to do them, but they needed to be done. County regulations.)

We use livestock fencing around the back of our property. 6' tall. In the front, where you can see it...we have 6' vinyl gates (double so we can get the tractor or riding mower in the back)...on both sides of the house.

The other areas, where we needed a gate...in the back...on either far side...we have normal chain link gates, and keep padlocks on the latches to make sure they stay closed.

 

[urneighbour]

Thank you for sharing your insights into country living, wells and septic...unfortunately, while I was doing all my research on wells and septic and even contacting the by-law office to verify that the town bylaw restricting us to two dogs per dwelling did not apply to rural residences (apparently unless the property is almost 10+ acres (4 hectares) we would not be allowed to have more than two dogs unless we applied and were approved for a private kennel license and met their codes which is a bit funny since the current code allows for up to 3 horses on the property!! And if there is another kennel registered within 3 km we would be refused the private kennel license and have to appeal the decision and go to a hearing!!! We definitely would like to have another dog and possibly do some fostering eventually)... Anyway, while trying to muddle through everything I need to check and making arrangements to do our 2nd peek at the house before we put together an offer....I learned the HOUSE SOLD the day after the open house. :darn:
Apparently, according to my agent, one needs to jump in really fast in the housing market in this area or risk losing out!!!

Thanks again for all the info and links...I am ready now for the next house we come across with a well and septic!!!

 

[twright1231]

Well (no pun intended), that just means a better one is waiting for you.

 

[Blacknewfs]

Oh Poop! I was just about to send you a long-winded note about well water, septic tanks and fencing! LOL!

What part of the province are you looking in? In the Brooklin area still?

 

[urneighbour]

We are looking at a 30 minute driving radius around Brooklin. We were out again today doing a few drive bys of some properties but we didn't get excited about any of them. The "one" I wanted was just north of Port Perry....the home is sold conditional on financing so nasty us are hoping the financing does not get approved!!!

 

[Windancer]

Well, I would not take the advice to 'jump on' anything.....that could be bad...IF you had to go in and replace well and septic..geesh.....also...did you say 20 cars a minute? I don't call that the country...! lol....Also, I would be very leaary of a dug well...is it lined? It just can't be very deep, and they say our water table is going down......Just my thoughts knowing nothing about your area....good luck !

 

[newf&basset]

We have a 20 foot dug well. We also have 2 pumps. A submersible and a regular pump in the house. Our well is amazing. We have 4 adults, a toddler and numerous animals living here, and it hasn't run dry in years. Saying that, we are right near a waterway, and have a really good water table around us. If you do find another house to buy, perhaps you can be sneaky and talk to the neighbours!

 

[KodysGrandma]

The lay of the land makes a great difference to water availability. Our VA property has a creek that runs around two sides. The creek did not run dry during western VA's worst drought several years ago. We thought that water must be up under the hill from that creek. Had them dig the well in from the creek but at the foot of the hill and they found 100 gals a minute- a regular geyser!.