Well - Technology, Systems and Costs

After I read through this, I’m actually not so keen on the idea of having a well in the garden anymore....

On the other hand, we would also need to have an extra pipe laid to bring irrigation into the garden, because the tap point owed to us by the construction company on the terrace wall only helps us to a limited extent with our 1,085 m² property.

We might possibly have a conduit laid under the garage in advance to build the later garden irrigation with sprinklers, etc. on it. The structural builder asked what diameter pipe he should lay for us. He would normally lay a PVC pipe with a diameter of 10 cm. I don’t know if that’s enough. Such a pipe costs €600 right away. But a well probably isn’t worth it anyway, as I can read here.

I also checked the construction service description again today. While a tap point is owed on the terrace, it apparently isn’t the case on the building front. But I think we have to commission that separately, because having no water at the building front is also not good.

For the area, I would consider an irrigation system. That works quite well as a DIY project. For us, a well costs 300€ plus a pump, and then you have peace of mind for years. Honestly, I would never think of using drinking water for the garden. A bit of electricity and the matter is settled.

At that time, I had a well drilled when the subgrade was finished (so before the base slab). The well is 12 m deep and is basically under the garage. I installed a deep well pump. Thus, the setup is quite silent. On the courtyard and street sides, there is an outdoor water tap and additionally empty conduits inside on each side, through which my garden/lawn irrigation will be carried out later. The advantage of having the well in the house is that it does not need frost protection during the cold season. I initially wanted to supply the toilet and washing machine as well, but I abandoned that due to the water quality.

Would a landscape gardener also plant something like that?

Does a landscape gardener also install something like that?

Depends on the landscape gardener, but most rather not.

Cisterns are probably the new solar thermal systems in terms of economic calculations.

First, I would find out what your rainwater infiltration system needs to look like. Maybe there are really synergies possible there. I would start by planning how much water you roughly need. 400m² is not really a lot. If it's all going to be lawn, then you don't need much water. If 200m² of it is planted with flowers or a vegetable garden, then it looks quite different.

In our municipality, exemption from wastewater charges for the outdoor tap is not possible. It doesn't really make sense since our rainwater infiltrates directly or drains into a stream, but the municipality has the authority to decide. Here, starting this year (also in Lower Saxony), fresh water costs €2.21 and wastewater €2.26. That makes about €4.50 and around 35m³ costs roughly €160.
If the costs really stay under €1,500, I would personally install a well or a cistern. However, there are certainly investments that pay off better or sooner.
I also have relatively many plants and shrubs that are exposed to southern and western sun all day. At the beginning of last July, I watered the garden for at least 1 hour every evening, largely skipping the lawn.

Depends on the landscape gardener, but most rather not.

That would mean it's better to go first to a landscape architect and have the outdoor areas fully planned? Because the first thing we have to tackle is, of course, the front area with access and driveway....