Monthly cost of well water: about $3.50 in pump power

Running a well pump costs about $3.46 a month for a family of four, on pump supplier R.C. Worst's example of a 1/2 hp pump running 48 minutes a day at $0.15 per kWh. The larger costs are irregular: a yearly water test at $20–$112 and a pump replacement every 8 to 15 years at $1,000–$4,000.

^1,2,3,4

Key figures

Item	Figure
Pump electricity, example household (About $41 a year at $0.15 per kWh)	$3.46 a month¹
Annual coliform and nitrate test	$20–$112^2,3
Pump life, submersible	8–15 years⁴
Pressure tank life	10–15 years⁵

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The electricity math

R.C. Worst gives the formula: the motor's power draw, times hours run per month, times your electric rate. Its example is a 1/2 hp motor drawing 960 watts and pumping 10 gallons a minute for four people using 120 gallons a day. That is 48 minutes a day, or 24 hours a month, which at $0.15 per kWh comes to $3.46. Use your own rate from your power bill; the result scales with it and with how much water you use.

Sources¹

A year of costs

Yearly well costs, sourced figures
Item	Cost	How often
Pump electricity (example)	about $41	Every year
Coliform and nitrate test	$20–$112	Every year
Pressure tank, plumber-installed	$800–$1,800	Every 10 to 15 years
Pump replacement, installed	$1,000–$4,000	Every 8 to 15 years

Spread over their lifespans, the tank and pump add roughly $55–$500 a year. Treatment equipment, if you need it, adds its own filters or salt; see the filtration cost guide.

Sources^1,2,3,5,4

What we left out

The electricity example dates from 2018 and assumes one rate and one household. We found no agency worksheet for well operating costs, and we have no sourced figures for softener salt or filter cartridges, so they are not in the table.

Sources¹

Common questions

Is well water cheaper than city water?

Month to month, usually, because there is no water bill. Over time, the pump, tank and testing are yours to pay for.

For the cost of a finished well in your state, see what drilling a well costs.

Sources

How much does it cost to operate my submersible well pump , RC Worst & Company. Accessed November 9, 2026. 2018-01-25
Well Water Testing , Indiana Department of Health Laboratories. Accessed November 8, 2026. Undated. $10.00 for bacteria; $10.00 for nitrate.
Environmental Services Fee Schedule (approved 2025-09-19) , Westchester County Department of Laboratories & Research (NY). Accessed November 8, 2026. Total coliform and E. coli P/A $32.10; nitrate as N $80.25; Well Water Package A (Private Well Testing Law) $583.10.
How Long Should My Submersible Well Pump Last? , R.C. Worst & Company Inc. (pump supplier). Accessed November 9, 2026. 2018-11-02. Residential 3-wire 10-15 years; 2-wire 8-13 years; 50+ cycles a day under 10 years; extreme sediment under 2 years, no sediment 15+ years.
How Much Does a Well Pressure Tank Cost? , Mid Atlantic Water LLC (water-system supplier, nationwide). Accessed November 8, 2026. Updated 2026-10-14; prices live as of 2026-09. Tank replaced by plumber $800-$1,800 all-in (20-44 gal); labor $200-$500; submersible pump job $1,000-$2,500; tank plus pump $2,500-$5,000+. Supplier, not an installer.

How these figures are built: methodology. Updated November 2026.