I had a large water filtration system installed at my farm - here's what it cost

I bought my 6.74 acres of land not knowing the quality of my water. Although it was safe for drinking without a filtration system, I needed an extensive solution to preserve my water heater long-term.

When I bought my 6.74 acres of land in 2023, I knew the land came with a well that did indeed have water in it. That was about all I knew. The seller told me the water had been tested and cleared to not be toxic or contaminated - but never having built a structure or connected the well to the structure - the seller didn’t know anything else.

With this being my 6th real estate transaction, I am no stranger to the risk incurred with buying land and structures. Still, I felt good knowing the land at least had a functioning well with 20 gallons of water per minute (that is a TON of water and ideal for running a farming operation) that was not going to kill everyone who touched it. That was enough of a start for me.

Once the well was connected to my barn in June 2024, the Amish plumbers tasted the water right in front of me that day.

“Tastes fine - you’re in good shape,” they said. I was in shock that they so fearlessly drank water I had yet to test! We all laughed.

Later that week, I took a water sample to the environmental lab in my county. I paid for the largest testing kit to ensure my water was safe to drink. Everything came back in the safe zone as far as human consumption was concerned.

However…

The water had a very, very high mineral content, specifically iron, that began to corrode my sinks and pipes. Additionally, being part of the Hudson River water table, as well as in Saratoga County (Saratoga is known for mineral water springs everywhere), the lab and the company that installed my well let me know it is common to find traces of bacteria in the water from about May to October when the water table warms up.

Between the bacteria in the summer and the hardness of the water, my water heater wouldn’t have made it another year. Since my water heater also powers the heat in my barn (in-floor radiant heat), I couldn’t have that happen. Therefore, I set up a consultation and subsequent appointment to have the company that put in my well install a water filtration system. Here are the details and what it cost me.