Well drillers are responsible for sinking wells into the earth to tap natural water supply. They can drill agricultural wells used for irrigation, industrial, commercial use, or domestic use. A driller keeps records of several wells drilled. There are numerous water drilling companies at your service.
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How to Choose Well Drillers
In our own opinion, we consider various essential points when making decisions about hiring a specific well driller near me:
- Check for their licenses: A driller should be licensed and accredited to conduct drilling construction. Is the driller adequately insured? If the company is not properly insured or licensed, they can probably drill you the worst well. So you must be careful when selecting one.
- Reputation: Constructing a well is an expensive project, so you should choose a contractor with a good reputation. Do your research and get references and recommendations from different individuals to narrow down your selection preferences. You can rely on your neighbours past experiences. Do not depend on one opinion; ask around and then decide to choose the suitable contractor.
- The overall cost of the drilling project: Ask yourself if the driller is competitively priced. Don’t hire one based on a cheap estimate of drilling a well. Try to compare prices from one driller to another. After gathering several estimates that seem similar in terms of quantities and quality of service provision, then you can decide on hiring. Don’t hire drillers who cannot value their quality of work they do for you. Therefore, we advise you to choose a contractor who can solve most of your water problems. You should understand the difference between being “cheap” and “competitive.”
- Engaging the well driller contractor: Engage the contractor that you are planning to hire. Ask them relevant questions regarding the kind of water well they are proposing on boring and the type of water pump to install. If you ask the contractor pressing questions, it creates a good working relationship. A good driller serves most households in our area, so you have to look for that kind of well driller in your area.
- Expectations: Ensure that the contractor understands your expectations. Are you required to clear trees, level the site, pay some percentage before starting the boring process, or make the payment after completing the job? In our area, drilling a well costs much more than purchasing a vehicle. So ensure you can meet your contractors’ expectations by asking the relevant questions.
- Finally, we urge you to think of the long term objectives of drilling a well when making final decisions. The truth is your well will last forever, and you cannot regret investing your money towards upgrading your source of water supply.
Things to Remember Before Drilling a Well
Water is one of the most significant and natural commodities that most people take for granted. Life in rural areas might force you to own a well because it has many benefits and extra responsibilities. Before installing well, we advise you to think critically about some of the essential questions.
Here are some of the simple facts to remember before drilling a well:
1. A well can run dry
There are different existing technologies for drilling, different climates, and massive demand for water. Therefore, there is no reliable water well. When such a scenario happens, most of the homesteads are likely to be on their own. When a well runs dry, it becomes your problem to rectify the situation.
2. There are no Additives in Well Water.
When you own a private water source, you can control the amount of chlorine and other additives present in water. You can decide if you want to add some amount of fluoride to make your teeth healthy.
There are no chemicals found in well water unless you choose to add them, and a small amount of chemicals leads to a better tasting of the water. Remember that if something valuable is missing in the water, be proactive about getting it from someone else.
3. Well Contaminants Are Your Responsibility
Residue from various sources such as wastes from commercial crops, landfills, and poor landscape practices can seep into the water. Apart from the external contaminants, geology also plays a role in determining water quality. The common toxins in our area are radon and arsenic, so owners should be diligent in determining the levels of dangerous elements in the water.
Most toxins are treatable, but some require extensive mitigation tools. Therefore, it’s your responsibility to determine the hazardous elements and get effective water treatment. So before hiring a well driller near me, we ensure the water is adequately examined. This enables me to provide the best water treatment.
4. Well Water is Not Tested
Homesteads getting water from municipal utility companies often test their water while those in rural homeowners don’t. In our region, water testing is a cheap process. Consult relevant water officials to learn how to test your water.
5. Two Well Water Pumps Are Better than One Pump
Most homes have installed electric water well. Nevertheless, in case of power shortage, you cannot draw water. So it is incredibly convenient to install a hand pump for emergencies. It is also essential to store clean water in glass jars for human consumption.
Installation and Maintenance
Most homesteads are depending on wells for home water supply, and the number is rapidly growing. There are many benefits of installing it in your home, but the installation process seems quite complicated in the beginning.
Most people are interested in drilling wells in their homes but don’t understand the process of installing them.
To understand the process, read the following step by step installation guide:
Step 1: Picking the Right Spot
The initial step of constructing a well begins with a consultation. At this time, the contractor visits your home and determines the right spot for drilling a hole and installing it.
Step 2: Drilling Water Well
The first step is to drill into the ground after the construction process has commenced. The hole created becomes the actual well. The contractors make use of various drilling tools to conduct this job. Irrespective of the drilling tool used, the outcome is the same.
Step 3: The Casing
After drilling the well, installation of components begins, starting with the casing. The casing is a long metal inserted into the hole. The metal has a diameter of about 3 to 7 inches, which goes down into the aquifer from the surface. The aquifer is the underground water tapped into your well. A cap is used to seal the casing.
Step 4: Screens
Wells require screens and are fitted at the base of the casing to create an additional infiltration layer. Screens protect water against residues and dirt.
Step 5: Grouting
There is a small gap that exists between the casing and the drilled hole. You can fill this gap with some special kind of grout.
Step 6: Developing and Cleaning
The process of cleaning water after it has been drilled is called developing. This is when contractors use water and air to blast out excess residues at the bottom.
Step 7: Installation of Water Pump
To complete the installation process, you need to install a water pump. The pump is used to suck up the water and supply it to your home. You can also install a pressure tank for water storage and control the functioning of the pump.
At this point, you can test the water to determine its quality before it is fit for human consumption.
Maintaining Water Well
To ensure a sufficient water supply, you should maintain it regularly. You should test water annually for coliform bacteria to improve its quality. Additional testing is recommended for pH and dissolved water solids after every three years.
You should inspect the well for any signs of damage and contamination. Ensure the area around 150 feet of the well is clear of residues that can pollute water flow. Ensure it is inspected by the contractor after every ten years and keep the records.
Average Cost
Drilling a well is one of the most critical aspects of most home projects. Its cost varies in terms of the water project’s size, scope, and location. It can cost $6,000 for an average depth of about 200 feet.
Most drilling projects always range between $2,000 and $13,000. People who want to construct wells on rough terrain expect to pay a range of $20 and $35 per foot. For shallow depth, it cost between $15 and $30 per foot.
You need a drilling permit, and the fees are between $250 and $550, depending on the state. Preparation of the site is priced depending on the custom basis. If you have a grader on location, drilling a well can be less expensive, and it saves you money.
You can drill your well for numerous reasons, such as drawing water for agricultural and domestic use. Drilling can also draw geothermal fluids to provide heat in your homestead. Boring water is a massive project that requires the immediate assistance of a professional well driller.
Services in the U.S. Industry
The U.S. industry’s well-drilling services undertake a broad range of critical design, construction, and water supply maintenance. The demand for water services is connected to high levels of investment in the public and private sectors.
The revenue collected in the U.S. industry’s drilling services is anticipated to have risen over the past five years. These improvements have been witnessed in both the building and non-building construction industries. The contractors provide water supply construction services in various building construction industries.
In 2019, water drilling services in the United States (U.S.) estimated $3 billion. Drilling services provide constant water supply in residential homes. And the services are provided to different industry sectors such as agriculture, commercial sector, education sector, and other potent significant industries.
The drilling industry experienced some business loss due to a lockdown scenario caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The U.S government suspended water supply activities to several households by constructing wells to protect the people from infection. Therefore, demand for drilled water was low due to the pandemic in different sectors such as agriculture, education, and other sectors.
The health problem negatively affected the growth of water drilling services, restricting the market and other U.S. industries’ development. There are several well drillers across the United States. You have to be careful when choosing the right contractor near you.
Some Recommendations
Having a constant water supply free of chemical treatment is an essential thing in most households. One of the perfect ways of addressing this critical issue is drilling your well to tap the underground water supply.
Underground water is pure because it has been filtered thoroughly by the earth through rain and then drained down into the water table.
Check with your local survey office to identify suitable soil conditions for drilling a well. They can determine if you can construct your well or hire a contractor. Therefore, the following recommendations can help you in drilling one of your own:
- Measure the depth of groundwater supply: The depth of groundwater supply varies from one area to another. In our area, the groundwater is a few feet below the earth’s surface. The depth of groundwater determines how and if you can drill your water well. You need to go at least 40 feet underground to get to an adequate water supply.
- Check permit requirement: Liaise with the local building department to see if a drilling permit is needed. The permit is required because constructing a well for water supply is a matter of public health.
- Check if there exist any sewer lines, septic systems, and old cisterns on your land. If the local building department laws, construct your well 60 feet away from sewer lines to prevent water supply contamination.
- Regulate the nature of groundwater supply: Wells are relatively easy to drill when groundwater forms the underground water reservoirs. Groundwater supply always exists in layers of porous silts and sand. The drilling process is complicated, so you should determine the nature of the underground water supply.
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Conclusion
Constructing your well is possible with the right soil conditions and a suitable level of water tables. When the soil conditions are unsuitable, the best answer is to search for the best contractor around you to construct your well to deeper levels.
In our opinion, if you read through this article, you can make the right decision in getting an ideal well driller close to you.
Thanks for the tip to get references and recommendations to help us learn about the reputation of potential well drilling contractors. My brother and his wife mentioned they want to have a well drilled to use as a water source for their new cottage-style home. Following your advice should help them find a local well drilling contractor they feel confident about hiring!
Thanks for pointing out the right spot for your water well is being determined when a contractor visits your home. My husband and I are interested in having our own water well. We always experience water shortage and drought in our area, so it is essential for us to have a different source of water. We will be sue to hire a drilling contractor so we could start the project, soon. Thanks!
My mom and dad want to have a well drilled on their property so that they can have access to fresh water. I liked learning that you can narrow down your search for a well drilling service by asking for references and getting recommendations. I’ll have my parents ask their trusted friends and family for suggestions on the best drillers to hire.