UV water purifier vs. well pump: running cost
An UV water purifier is cheaper to run: about $63 a year versus $92 for a well pump at typical use and 17.99¢/kWh, a $29 difference.
| UV water purifier | Well pump | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical watts | 40 W | 1,400 W |
| Watt range | 15–100 W | 800–2,500 W |
| Typical use | 24 hours a day | 1 hour a day |
| Energy per year | 351 kWh | 511 kWh |
| Cost per hour | 0.7¢ | 25¢ |
| Cost per day | 17¢ | 25¢ |
| Cost per month | $5.26 | $7.67 |
| Cost per year | $63 | $92 |
| Per year in Hawaii (43.51¢) | $153 | $222 |
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What drives the difference
- UV water purifier: Whole-house UV systems for well water run their lamp 24/7 at about 25-60 W, so they use 220-500 kWh a year.
- Well pump: A 3/4 hp submersible well pump draws about 1,200-1,500 W; a household using 300 gallons a day at 8-10 gpm runs it about 30-60 minutes a day, or roughly 400-700 kWh a year.
Ways to cut either cost
A unit matched to your flow rate avoids overpaying for a larger lamp.
See options on AmazonFewer, longer pump cycles reduce start-up energy and wear.
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Frequently asked questions
Which costs more to run, an UV water purifier or a well pump?
At typical use and the U.S. average rate (17.99¢/kWh), a well pump costs about $92 a year versus $63 for an UV water purifier. That's $29 more, or 1.5× as much.
How many watts do UV water purifier and well pump use?
An UV water purifier typically draws 40 W (range 15–100 W). A well pump draws 1,400 W (range 800–2,500 W). Watts alone don't decide cost. Hours of use, cycling and standby matter just as much.
Rates: EIA, 12 months ending 2026-07. Methodology.