April 26, 2025 at 6:24 pm

Homeowner Let His Neighbors Use Their Well Water Because Theirs Dried Up, But He Eventually Got Tired Of It And Cut Them Off

by Matthew Gilligan

water well in a yard

Shutterstock/Reddit

How much is too much…?

Sure, we all want to help out our neighbors as much as possible, but you have to draw the line at some point.

That’s what this fella did and now he wants to know if he took things too far.

Check out his story and see what you think…

AITA? Our neighbor’s well dried up and we cut them off from using our water.

“We live in a suburban country neighborhood (USA). All the homes are on well / septic.

There are original 1960s ranches with a few newer larger 1990s homes sprinkled throughout.

We’re in a newer ’90s house and the neighbors are in one of the original homes.

We each have two low yield wells and one of theirs has been dried up since before they bought the home.

Sure, why not?

Last week their good well stopped working and they asked my wife if they could fill up buckets for their animals (more on this later) and garden.

In the vein of being a good neighbor she naturally said yes.

They’ve had a well company out and have been messing with both their wells on their own.

But these past few days there’s been no work being done and they’ve provided no update.

My wife asked what was up the other day and they said that they have basically been getting the run around by various well companies and they don’t have time to pursue this harder.

This is getting to be an inconvenience.

Every day it’s multiple 5 gallon buckets in the morning and evening that they’re filling with our hose.

Probably 20-30 gallons each fill up.

It’s 2 adults and 8 kids in their home, a large garden and a large (illegal) number of chickens and turkeys.

They’ve clearly brought this on themselves with heavy irresponsible water use.

They have a bunch of roosters that are not legal and are driving the neighborhood crazy.

So I’ve been kind of irritated that we’re supporting the obnoxious rooster operation.

Also obviously worried the increase use on our aquifer will mess our water flow up.

But it’s pretty cold to say “Hey you can’t fill up your buckets any more, you’re on your own” so we’ve been wrestling with what to do.

Yesterday they had an older lady walking around their yard yelling and praying for the wells to open up.

This was the last straw for us. In my opinion this is a serious problem that requires a serious, timely solution and they’ve got a lady basically doing a rain dance.

We’re done!

Last night my wife told the mom next door that we can’t provide water any more and that we could give them another 24 hrs of water use to figure it out.

The Mom got upset and walked away from my wife while she was speaking to her.

Which makes us feel better about our choice. Basically, ****  them, they’re rude and ungrateful but again still obviously we feel bad about cutting off a house full of kids from water use.

Also none of the other neighbors are going to help because they’re upset about the roosters so they’re on their own now.

AITA?”

Here’s what folks had to say on Reddit.

This person said he’s NTA.

Screenshot 2025 04 10 at 9.55.59 AM Homeowner Let His Neighbors Use Their Well Water Because Theirs Dried Up, But He Eventually Got Tired Of It And Cut Them Off

Another individual agreed.

Screenshot 2025 04 10 at 9.56.12 AM Homeowner Let His Neighbors Use Their Well Water Because Theirs Dried Up, But He Eventually Got Tired Of It And Cut Them Off

This Reddit user shared their thoughts.

Screenshot 2025 04 10 at 9.56.20 AM Homeowner Let His Neighbors Use Their Well Water Because Theirs Dried Up, But He Eventually Got Tired Of It And Cut Them Off

Another individual spoke up.

Screenshot 2025 04 10 at 9.56.29 AM Homeowner Let His Neighbors Use Their Well Water Because Theirs Dried Up, But He Eventually Got Tired Of It And Cut Them Off

And one reader chimed in.

Screenshot 2025 04 10 at 9.56.36 AM Homeowner Let His Neighbors Use Their Well Water Because Theirs Dried Up, But He Eventually Got Tired Of It And Cut Them Off

He got tired of the freeloading and he cut ’em off!

But he could have given them some warning.

If you liked that post, check this one about a guy who got revenge on his condo by making his own Christmas light rules.