Our Expert Well Drillers Answer Your Frequently Asked Questions

Well drilling involves drilling into the earth to locate a water source for various applications such as family homes, irrigation, agriculture, municipal, and industrial needs. It's necessary because not all locations have access to a municipal water supply or other sources to meet their water needs.

Typically, you must first obtain a permit, after which the local health department will identify a suitable drilling area on the property. This area is chosen based on setback rules from various considerations, such as septic fields, buildings, property lines, livestock fields, and more. Once an area is designated, other factors must be considered, including nearby trees, the terrain, and proximity to power lines. While dowsing is sometimes used, it is not a precise method. Additionally, extensive local knowledge and experience, like our company's 30 years in the field, also play a crucial role.

Once a spot has been determined, the area should be secured. The drill rig is then leveled, the tower is raised, and the support water truck connects the water line hose to the rig's pump, ready to begin. You have to start with a bit device wide enough to allow for proper grouting annular space, according to the casing size you've selected. Drill down using different methods to keep the overburden hole open until you reach solid rock, usually taking a drill foam to help do this. In some cases, you have to dig a pit and make up a circulating mud to use a mud-rotary technique to keep the hole open long enough to set the casing of the well; this takes different tooling and is a more laborious method. Once you have the casing in and determined you have a good seal, you can then put a hammer or different tool bit on to drill through the hard rock. At this point, you can grout the well casing in or at a later time during the drilling process. Then you drill down until you hit a water vein fracture or sometimes underground rivers or caverns that hold water. Once the driller thinks he has hit water, he will cut the support truck's water off. Then the team will construct a small dam around the back of the rig and they will install a weir at the low end of the dam. The driller then turns the air on only and blows the water out, which collects in the dam, then as the water runs through the weir overspilling, you can determine what the gallons per minute or GPM of the well is. Once the well is determined to have a sufficient amount of water, you can then size a pump, tank, and wire to install down in the well to pump the water to the said application. Of course, a power supply is needed to run the pump system unless you put in a hand pump or choose a solar system.

The depth of wells can vary significantly, ranging from as shallow as 30 feet to over 1,000 feet deep. The required depth often depends on the specific water needs. For instance, in 2023, the average depth for wells drilled by our company was approximately 325 feet. This variability in depth is dictated by factors such as the geographical location, the level at which groundwater is found, and the volume of water required.

Water quality in new wells is tested using both field tests and laboratory analyses. In the field, a sample of water is collected and tested for various parameters such as pH, hardness, iron content, and total dissolved solids (TDS). However, certain contaminants require more sophisticated testing methods that can only be conducted in a certified laboratory. These include substances like arsenic, lead, volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), and radionuclides. The division of testing between on-site and laboratory settings ensures a comprehensive assessment of the water quality in new wells.

The costs associated with drilling a well include permits, pump grouting, labor, casing costs, price per foot of drilling, and fuel. In some cases, there may also be mobilization fees for transporting equipment to the site. Once the well is drilled, to extract and distribute the water, you'll need a pump, submersible wire, drop pipe, a well seal, an accessory installation kit, and the necessary electrical supplies such as disconnects and a breaker. Additionally, you'll need to do some trenching to lay the wire and pipe that will carry the water to its intended location. The final steps involve passing an inspection and, depending on your water quality results, possibly installing water testing and filtration systems.

The time it takes to drill a well and install the pump can vary significantly, ranging from as little as 6 hours to a couple of days. Typically, if everything goes smoothly and we start early, it’s possible to drill the well, install the pump, and trench to the application all within one full day.

It's important to have your well components checked at least once a year. Additionally, the water should be tested annually. If you have a filtration system, it's recommended to check it quarterly or semi-annually. The well should also be chlorinated at least once a year. We provide a maintenance plan that covers all these aspects. Please contact us for a consultation tailored to your specific system. Remember, every well is different, and conditions can change unexpectedly due to daily earthquakes and new drilling activities. Mother Nature is always changing, and so are the conditions of our earth.

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