The Importance of a Well Cap

The well cap on a well is a small piece of a water well system overall but is one of the most important.

A properly installed well cap keeps potential pollutants out of the well and most importantly out of the drinking water.  The cap should be tightly secured and sealed at all times.  It sheds off rain and snow.  Keeps out bugs and vermin that can crawl inside a well and cause bigger issues in a well.

Here is more information about well caps a small component that can make a big difference in water quality.

The well cap is the cover on top of the well casing that sticks out of the ground.  Caps are usually aluminum, cast iron, or thermoplastic.  There is also a vent screen to keep the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the well equalized when water is pumped.  The cap’s main function is to keep contaminants out of the water supply.

Well caps that are properly sealed protect against many types of contamination.  It is the first line of protection from non-point source pollution Non-point source pollution includes runoff of pesticides and herbicides, soil erosion, and elements from the street.

Well caps also keep out insects, such as earwigs.  Insects can cause major problems in a well.  bacteria levels can rise from their droppings and sometime the bugs themselves can get trapped in the wells, die, and decompose in the well water.

It is important to inspect a well cap from time to time.  When inspecting make sure it is sealed tightly, look for evidence of tampering, and very important, look for cracks.  If your well cap has a lock, check to see if the lock has been tampered with.

Safe water habits should be practiced.  Do not landscape around the well cap.  If landscaping make sure there is not a low area near the well where rain water could collect.  Rain water can carry pollutants that can seep into a well.  When working with solvents, oil and gasoline or mixing herbicides and pesticides, do so over concrete so spills cannot seep into the ground.

If your cap is in need of replacing check out our full line of quality well caps here.  Be sure to check local codes before ordering.