The amount of water required depends on the size of the household and any special equipment or activities that consume a lot of water. For the average household, a figure of 110 gallons per room per day is often used. In addition to the total daily load, there is also the question of peak load: can the supply meet the simultaneous demands, for example, of the dishwasher running while someone is taking a shower?

The minimum acceptable level for most single-family homes is 5 gallons per minute, the rate required by many mortgage companies.

With a little storage, this allows occupants to run two appliances or medium-sized appliances at the same time, meeting typical peak demand.

Flow rates in excess of 10 gallons per minute will meet most household requirements without storage. However, wells with flow rates as low as 2 to 3 gallons per minute can provide adequate pressure and flow by adding a larger-than-normal pressure vessel, a storage tank used in most modern well systems.

GOOD PERFORMANCE
As a provider of well services, we understand that well performance is a key factor in determining well efficiency. Once the well has been drilled, a yield test is carried out to determine how much water it can supply continuously over an extended period. The test is usually carried out over 48 hours or more to see how quickly the well can be replenished from the aquifer and provide a “sustainable yield”.

If the well’s yield remains unacceptable, options include drilling deeper in the hope of obtaining a better yield, drilling a second well on the property, and either combining the yields of both or decommissioning the first well. Be aware that some municipalities stipulate a minimum well yield in order to sell a property.