Unlike a municipal water connection where a utility handles monitoring and maintenance, a private well is entirely your responsibility. The EPA recommends that private well owners conduct an annual inspection — but what does that actually mean in practice? And what aspects are specific to Southern Utah's unique conditions?
This checklist is organized by inspection category. Some tasks are genuinely DIY-friendly; others should involve a licensed well service professional. We have noted which is which throughout.
💡 Best Time to Perform Your Annual Check: Spring — specifically after any hard freezes have passed but before the summer irrigation season begins — is the ideal time for a Southern Utah well inspection. You will catch any freeze damage before peak demand, complete water testing before summer pathogens peak, and ensure your pump system is ready for its heaviest workload.
Section 1: Visual Wellhead Inspection (DIY)
Start at ground level. Your wellhead is the visible cap and casing sticking out of the ground. This inspection should take 10–15 minutes and requires no tools.
Wellhead Visual Checklist
Wellhead cap is securely in place — not cracked, loose, or missing
Vent screen on wellhead cap is intact (prevents insects and debris from entering the well)
Casing extends at least 12 inches above ground level (code minimum; 18–24 inches preferred)
Ground slopes away from the casing in all directions (no pooling near wellhead)
No cracks or deformation visible in the surface casing
Grout seal at surface appears intact (no cracking or settlement gaps)
No evidence of insect nesting (wasps, ants) in or around the wellhead cap
Minimum 50-foot radius around well is free of chemical storage, fuel tanks, septic components
UV degradation on wellhead components? (Cracked plastic? Brittle insulation?)
⚠️ Southern Utah UV Alert: Southern Utah receives some of the highest UV radiation levels in the continental United States. Plastic wellhead components, wire insulation, and rubber seals degrade significantly faster here than in most other states. Inspect any exposed plastic components carefully each year for cracking, brittleness, or sun-bleaching, and replace components that show UV degradation before they fail.
Section 2: Pressure System Inspection (DIY)
The pressure tank and pressure switch are visible, accessible components in your pump house, mechanical room, or utility area. These checks take about 20 minutes.
Pressure Tank & Switch Checklist
Record current static water pressure when no water is being used (note the reading)
Pressure falls within expected cut-in/cut-out range (typically 40/60 PSI)
Pressure tank pre-charge air pressure is 2 PSI below cut-in pressure (check with pump off and system depressurized)
No waterlogging: tank should feel hollow/resonant when tapped, not fully solid
No rust staining or corrosion on tank exterior
Pressure switch contacts visible without burn marks or carbon deposits
All pipe connections to tank and pressure switch are dry (no drips or mineral deposits indicating slow leaks)
Section 3: Annual Water Quality Testing (Professional Lab)
Water testing is the single most important annual maintenance task for a Southern Utah well owner. Unlike equipment inspections, water quality problems are invisible — you cannot see arsenic, bacteria, or nitrates. Annual testing is the only way to know your water is safe.
Annual Water Quality Test Panel
Total Coliform bacteria (basic safety test; required after any flooding)
E. coli (indicates fecal contamination from septic, livestock, or surface water)
Arsenic (especially critical in Washington and Kane counties — Navajo Sandstone geology)
Nitrates (critical in agricultural areas — Beaver, Iron, Garfield counties)
pH (should be 6.5–8.5 for most household uses)
Total Hardness (calcium and magnesium; hard water is common throughout Southern Utah)
Iron and Manganese (staining, taste, and appliance damage if elevated)
Fluoride (naturally elevated in parts of Garfield and Kane counties)
Uranium (test every 3–5 years; relevant in Kane, Garfield, Beaver county wells)
💡 When to Test More Frequently: Test immediately after: any significant flooding near your property; completion of any well work; noticing any change in taste, odor, or water appearance; a new infant in the household (nitrate testing critical for formula-fed infants); or after a nearby septic system failure or agricultural chemical application.
Section 4: Electrical System Check (Professional Recommended)
The electrical components of your well system — motor, control box, wiring, and breaker — should be checked by a licensed electrician or well service professional. Homeowners can do the basic checks, but anything involving opening the control box or measuring motor amperage requires proper training and equipment.
Electrical Inspection Checklist
Circuit breaker is the correct amperage rating for your pump motor
No tripped breakers or evidence of repeated tripping (scorch marks, worn breaker handle)
Control box exterior shows no rust, moisture intrusion, or pest damage
All conduit and wire runs to the wellhead are intact (no cracking, UV degradation, mechanical damage)
Motor running amperage is within manufacturer spec (professional with clamp meter required)
Insulation resistance test on pump motor (professional; detects motor winding degradation before failure)
Pump performance monitoring is your early warning system. Changes in pump output, pressure recovery time, or operating characteristics can signal developing problems weeks or months before catastrophic failure.
Pump Performance Checklist
Time how long it takes for pressure to recover from cut-in to cut-out after a flush test — compare to previous year
Maximum flow rate at a full-open hose bib is consistent with prior year (note GPM if measurable)
No unusual sounds (grinding, rattling, vibration) during pump operation
Pump does not short-cycle (turn on and off rapidly in under 30 seconds)
Static water level depth (from surface) measured and recorded — compare to prior years to detect aquifer drawdown
Drawdown test: measure water level during sustained pumping to assess well yield
Section 6: Water Treatment System Service (DIY + Professional)
If you have any water treatment equipment — reverse osmosis, whole-house filtration, softener, UV disinfection — it requires annual service to function correctly. A neglected water treatment system can actually make water quality worse by becoming a habitat for bacteria or losing its treatment effectiveness.
Treatment System Maintenance
Replace reverse osmosis pre-filters and post-filters per manufacturer schedule (typically every 6–12 months)
Test RO output for arsenic or target contaminant to confirm membrane is still effective
UV disinfection bulb replaced annually (output degrades even if bulb still illuminates)
Water softener salt level checked and replenished; resin bed inspected if performance has declined
Whole-house sediment filter cartridges replaced
Treatment system drain lines and brine discharge verified to be functioning
Section 7: Southern Utah Seasonal Considerations
Southern Utah's climate creates specific maintenance timing needs that are different from most of the country:
Monsoon Season Preparation (June–September)
Southern Utah's summer monsoon season brings intense but localized rainstorms. Flash flooding can carry surface contaminants into poorly protected wellheads. Before monsoon season each year:
- Inspect and clear any drainage channels around your wellhead to ensure surface water flows away from the casing
- Confirm the wellhead cap and vent screen are properly sealed
- Identify any new construction, road work, or agricultural activity upstream that could affect runoff toward your well
- Test for bacteria after any flooding event that brings water within 10 feet of your wellhead
Winterization Prep (October–November)
Frost risk in Southern Utah is highly elevation-dependent. St. George area properties below 3,000 feet rarely experience sustained hard freezes. Cedar City and Brian Head area properties at higher elevations face genuine pipe and wellhead freeze risk.
Winterization Checklist (Elevation-Dependent)
Above-ground pipe runs insulated with foam pipe insulation — replace any cracked or UV-degraded sections
Heat tape on exposed pipes checked and confirmed operational before first hard freeze
Wellhouse or pump house heating source (if any) confirmed functional
Backflow prevention devices verified and functioning (prevent frozen water from back-siphoning into well)
Irrigation system blown out and winterized before first hard freeze
Section 8: Maintaining Your Well Records
Good record-keeping is an underappreciated aspect of well ownership. It protects you in property transactions, helps diagnose problems, and documents the well's history for future owners.
At minimum, maintain a well file that includes:
- Original well completion report (from UDWR or the original driller)
- All water quality test results with dates
- All pump service records, including motor amperage readings and any component replacements
- Annual static water level measurements (date and depth)
- Any treatment system service records
- Permit documentation (domestic exemption certificate or water right number)
Schedule Your Annual Well Inspection
Utah Water Well Alliance performs comprehensive well inspections across all of Southern Utah. Let us handle the professional checks so you have peace of mind year-round.