Poolesville is not on WSSC Water: the Town of Poolesville supplies its homes from its own municipal wells, and the county lists the area as served by town and onsite systems, so some properties in and around town have private wells. Town customers have no pump of their own, while private-well owners do. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Poolesville.
Poolesville is a small historic town in western Montgomery County, surrounded by the county's Agricultural Reserve and about 26 miles from downtown Washington. Its water is groundwater only, pumped from Town wells drilled 285 to 800 feet into the New Oxford Formation Aquifer and disinfected with chlorine. Those deep wells and pumps belong to the Town. A home on Town water has a meter, not a well pump, but some properties in and around Poolesville rely on a private well and are responsible for every part of it.
What to do first
- Figure out which you have. A Town water bill means Town service; a pressure tank, switch and yard well cap mean a private well.
- On Town water, if a main breaks, a line leaks at the street or the sewer backs up, call the Town's emergency numbers, 240-286-3389 or 240-286-3359. Town staff can shut the valve at the street connection.
- On a private well, check the pump breaker and reset it once. If it trips again, leave it off.
- Read the pressure tank gauge and listen at the switch for rapid clicking or a pump that never stops.
- Hold off on laundry and long showers until the system has been checked.
Symptoms and causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| No water, private well, breaker on | Failed pressure switch, control box or pump |
| Pump cycles every few seconds | Pressure tank has lost its air charge |
| Pump runs with all taps closed | Leak or a failed check valve |
| Cloudy water or grit on a private well | Sediment, a worn pump or a well problem worth testing |
| Low pressure on Town water, neighbors fine | Valve, fixture or a leak on your line |
| Whole street without water | Town main issue; call the Town |
Cost factors
Above-ground well parts, such as switches, gauges and tanks, are the simpler repairs. Pulling a submersible pump depends on depth and access, and replacing the pump, tank and switch together often makes sense on an older system. Poolesville's median home was built in 1985, so many original well components are well into their working life. Town Hall issues building and zoning permits, while plumbing permits go through WSSC Water Permit Services; your plumber can confirm what the job requires.
Well Pump Repair questions in Poolesville
My town pumps its water from wells. Does my house have a well pump?
How often should private well water be tested?
Can a plumber handle a submersible pump, or do I need a well driller?
What happens to my water when the power goes out?
More plumbing services in Poolesville
Well Pump Repair nearby
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