we could not buy a water meter at our first place, the water was there but they would not let us hook up. Have the seller either buy a meter or somehow put water in the contract.
talk with the neighbors before you sign a contract, they will most likely tell you the truth about the land, power lines, eminent domain, oil or gas pipelines, bad water or no water, trash service.........
try and find a book in the library, "Finding and buying your place in the country"