Summer Well Water Demand Tips

San Diego's summer puts your well system to the ultimate test. From May through October, water demand can increase 3-5 times over winter levels. Irrigation, pools, livestock, increased household usage—your well works harder than any other time of year. This guide will help you manage peak summer demand, protect your pump, conserve water, and ensure reliable supply when you need it most.

☀️ Summer Survival Quick Tips

• Irrigate early morning or evening—never during peak heat
• Give your pump rest periods—avoid continuous running
• Monitor pressure readings—catch problems early
• Consider a storage tank if demand exceeds well yield
• Fix all leaks—they waste more when running constantly
• Schedule maintenance BEFORE summer starts

Understanding Summer Water Demand

Before you can manage summer water demand effectively, you need to understand the numbers. Here's what typical San Diego properties face:

Usage Category	Winter Daily	Summer Daily
Household (4 people)	150-200 gal	200-300 gal
Lawn irrigation (1/4 acre)	0 gal	300-500 gal
Garden/orchard (small)	0-50 gal	100-200 gal
Horse (per animal)	10-12 gal	15-20 gal
Pool (evaporation/splash)	20-40 gal	50-100 gal
TYPICAL RURAL PROPERTY	200-300 gal	700-1,200 gal

This 3-5x increase in demand is why so many well systems struggle in summer. A well and pump sized adequately for winter may be overwhelmed during peak season—especially during heat waves when evaporation soars and irrigation needs spike.

Know Your Well's Limits

The first step to successful summer well management is understanding what your well can actually deliver:

Key Numbers to Know

Well Yield (GPM)

How much water your well produces per minute. A 5 GPM well produces 300 gallons per hour, 7,200 gallons per day maximum (if run continuously—which you shouldn't do).

Recovery Rate

How fast your aquifer replenishes the well after pumping. This determines how much you can sustainably withdraw over time.

Pump Capacity

Your pump's output in GPM at your well's depth. Should be sized to well yield—not more (wastes energy) and not less (limits delivery).

Pressure Tank Capacity

How much water stored between pump cycles. Larger tanks reduce pump cycling and provide buffer during high-demand periods.

📊 Find Your Well's Specs

Your well completion report (filed with San Diego County when drilled) contains yield information. If you don't have it, we can perform a flow test to determine current production. Learn more about understanding GPM and flow rates.

Smart Irrigation Strategies

Irrigation is typically the biggest summer water demand. Smart irrigation practices can reduce consumption by 30-50% while maintaining healthy landscaping:

Timing Is Everything

⏰ Optimal Irrigation Schedule

Best Time

4:00 - 7:00 AM

Lowest evaporation, calm winds, plants absorb well

Good Time

7:00 - 10:00 PM

Lower evaporation, but moisture overnight can promote disease

Avoid

10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Up to 50% loss to evaporation, competes with household use

Irrigation Efficiency Tips

Cycle and soak: Run irrigation in multiple short cycles rather than one long cycle. Example: 3 cycles of 5 minutes beats 1 cycle of 15 minutes—soil absorbs more, less runoff
Zone your irrigation: Water high-need areas (vegetables, new plants) separately from established drought-tolerant landscaping
Check for waste: Walk your property while irrigation runs—look for runoff, overspray, broken heads
Mulch heavily: 3-4 inches of mulch reduces watering needs by 25% or more
Convert to drip: Drip irrigation uses 30-50% less water than sprinklers
Use smart controllers: Weather-based controllers skip irrigation when not needed

Coordinate with Well Recovery

For wells with limited yield, match irrigation to your well's recovery cycle:

Example Schedule for a 5 GPM Well:

4:00 AM: Zone 1 irrigation (30 minutes = 150 gallons)
4:30 AM - 5:30 AM: Well recovery time (1 hour)
5:30 AM: Zone 2 irrigation (30 minutes = 150 gallons)
6:00 AM - 7:00 AM: Well recovery time (1 hour)
7:00 AM onward: Household use priority

This alternating pattern prevents drawing down the well faster than it recovers.

Protecting Your Pump in Summer

Your well pump works harder in summer than any other time. Here's how to protect it:

Avoid Continuous Running

Pumps need rest periods to cool down. Continuous running for more than 1-2 hours can overheat motors and shorten pump life dramatically.

✅ Healthy Pump Operation

• Runs 15-30 minutes, rests 15-30 minutes
• Total daily runtime: 4-6 hours typical
• Cycles on/off normally
• Builds full pressure each cycle

🚩 Warning Signs

• Running continuously for hours
• Never reaching cut-off pressure
• Running hot (control box warm/hot)
• Cycling every few seconds (short cycling)

Upgrade Your Pressure Tank

A larger pressure tank is one of the best summer investments for your well system:

More stored water: Reduces how often the pump runs
Buffer for high demand: Handles simultaneous shower + irrigation
Extends pump life: Fewer starts means less motor wear
Maintains pressure: More consistent water pressure throughout home

Learn more about how pressure tanks work and pressure tank replacement costs.

Keep Pump House Cool

For properties with above-ground pump systems, summer heat inside the pump house can exceed 120°F:

Ensure adequate ventilation—add vents if needed
Keep vents clear of debris and spider webs
Paint exterior light colors to reflect heat
Consider adding a small exhaust fan ($50-100 investment)
Shade the pump house with plants or shade cloth
Insulate the roof to reduce heat transfer

When Demand Exceeds Supply

If your well can't keep up with summer demand, you have several options:

Install a Storage Tank System

Storage tanks are the most common solution for wells with limited yield but high demand:

🏗️ How Storage Tank Systems Work

1. Accumulation: Your well pump slowly fills a large tank (1,500-5,000+ gallons) at the well's natural rate
2. Storage: The tank holds water for peak demand periods
3. Delivery: A second "booster" pump delivers water to the house at higher flow rates
4. Result: You can use 20 GPM even with a 3 GPM well—the tank provides the buffer

Typical cost: $3,000-$8,000 installed depending on tank size and configuration.

Reduce Demand

Sometimes reducing demand is more practical than increasing supply:

Convert lawn to drought-tolerant landscaping: Reduces irrigation needs 50-90%
Reduce irrigated area: Focus water on priority plants only
Install low-flow fixtures: Reduces household usage 20-30%
Fix all leaks: A dripping faucet wastes 3,000+ gallons/year
Use pool cover: Reduces evaporation by 95%

Consider Well Improvements

In some cases, improving your well is the best long-term solution:

Well rehabilitation: Cleaning and developing can restore lost production
Hydrofracking: Can increase yield in hard rock formations
Deepening: Reaching lower aquifers may increase production
New well: Sometimes drilling a new, better-producing well is most cost-effective

See our guides on well rehabilitation and hydrofracking costs.

Summer Monitoring Checklist

Stay on top of your well's performance throughout summer with regular monitoring:

Weekly Summer Checks

Record pressure gauge readings Listen to pump during operation Check water clarity and taste Verify pump cycles normally

Inspect for leaks (check meter if equipped) Walk irrigation system for problems Check pump house temperature Note any changes from last week

Emergency: What to Do When Your Well Runs Dry

If you push your well beyond its limits, you may experience temporary "dry well" symptoms:

🚨 If Your Well Runs Dry

1. Turn off the pump immediately — Running dry destroys pumps within minutes
2. Wait 4-8 hours — Allow the aquifer time to recover
3. Check water level — If recovered, pump will work normally
4. Reduce usage significantly — You exceeded sustainable withdrawal rate
5. Call a professional — If problem persists, you may need system evaluation

Important: Repeatedly running your well dry can cause permanent damage to the pump and may indicate need for system upgrade.

Regional Considerations

Summer water challenges vary across San Diego County:

Inland Valleys (Ramona, Valley Center)

Higher temperatures = more evaporation. Wells in decomposed granite may see seasonal fluctuation. Agricultural demand peaks June-August.

Mountain Areas (Julian, Alpine)

Hard rock wells more consistent but lower yield. Fire season increases firefighting water needs. Evacuations may affect well access.

Desert Edges (Borrego, Ocotillo)

Extreme heat affects equipment. Deeper wells common. Aquifer recharge limited—conservation critical.

Riverside/San Bernardino

Agricultural areas face competing demand. Heat waves particularly intense. Groundwater levels closely monitored.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much more water does my well need to produce in summer?

Summer water usage typically increases 2-5x over winter usage for San Diego properties with irrigation. A household using 200 gallons daily in winter may need 600-1000+ gallons daily in summer when watering landscaping, filling pools, or irrigating gardens and animals.

Can my well pump run too much in summer?

Yes. Well pumps need rest periods to avoid overheating. Continuous running for more than 2 hours can damage pumps. If your pump runs constantly during summer, your demand may exceed the well's production capacity or pump capability. Consider a larger pressure tank, storage tank system, or reducing demand.

What's the best time to irrigate using well water?

The best irrigation times are early morning (4-7 AM) and evening (7-10 PM) for several reasons: lower evaporation loss, less stress on the well during peak household usage times, cooler pump motor operating temperatures, and time for the aquifer to recover overnight.

How can I tell if my well is struggling with summer demand?

Warning signs include: pressure dropping below normal, sputtering or air in the water, pump running much longer than usual, water becoming cloudy or sandy, reduced flow from fixtures, and the pump failing to build full pressure. These indicate you're exceeding the well's recovery rate.

Should I install a storage tank for summer water needs?

Storage tanks are excellent for wells with limited production but high summer demand. A 1500-2500 gallon storage tank allows slow well recovery to accumulate water for high-demand periods like irrigation. This protects your pump and ensures consistent water availability.

How do I protect my well pump from summer heat?

For above-ground pump houses: ensure good ventilation, add shade or insulation to the structure, keep vents clear, and consider a small exhaust fan. For submersible pumps, adequate water level above the pump provides cooling. Never let the water level drop below the pump intake.

Can drought conditions permanently damage my well?

Extended drought can lower aquifer levels, potentially requiring your pump to be lowered or the well to be deepened. However, most San Diego wells recover when normal rainfall returns. The bigger risk is running your pump dry, which can cause permanent pump damage requiring expensive replacement.

What summer maintenance should I do on my well?

Summer maintenance includes: monitoring pressure regularly, checking pump run times, inspecting for leaks (higher usage reveals small leaks), keeping wellhead area clear of debris, checking pressure tank air charge, and watching for signs of over-pumping like sediment or air in the water.

Prepare Your Well for Summer Success

Don't wait for a mid-summer crisis. Southern California Well Service can evaluate your system, test your well's yield, and recommend improvements to handle peak summer demand. Serving San Diego, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties with over 20 years of experience.

Call (760) 463-0493 Request Evaluation