Should I connect to city water or drill a private well?

It depends mostly on what is available at your land. If a public water system or rural water supplier serves the property, connecting usually means paying connection or impact fees and installing the line from the meter to the home, after which the utility treats and tests the water. A private well avoids monthly water bills, but the owner becomes fully responsible for its safety: the EPA notes private wells are not regulated by EPA, so testing and upkeep fall to you. In Texas a well may also need registration with the local groundwater conservation district. Get quotes for both paths and ask the utility what it charges to extend service to your lot, because rules and fees vary widely by provider and county.

Check your local rule. This varies by state, county or city. Your permitting office has the final word; the official lookup pages below show you who that is.

Sources

• Protect Your Home's WaterU.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• New Service ConnectionsCity of Austin, Austin Water
• Groundwater Conservation DistrictsTexas Water Development Board (TWDB)