How Deep Does a Well Need To Be?

 

Many people ask how deep their well should be. After all if there is water at 30 feet, shouldn’t we stop drilling? Let's find out.

 


How deep should a water well be? According to the Water Systems Council’s Wellcare program, the average consumer water well ranges between 100 and 800 feet, but some do reach over 1,000 feet deep. The purpose of drilling a water well is to find water, but there several things to consider when drilling.

1.     Contaminants

There may be water very shallow under the surface. The issue with this is there may be any number of contaminants from the surface accessing that water. Road salt, car exhaust, or anything else may seep into that water. Also, in times of drought, a shallow well is more likely to run dry.

2.     What Is In The Ground

When drilling, a contractor can go through several different layers of soil before hitting bedrock. There may be water available at a relatively shallow layer of soil, but this soil could be made up of clay, silt, or mineral deposits that will make your water harder and full of physical contaminants. This water can be made better by a filter in a water pump, but these contaminants will wear down said filter at a heightened rate.

3.     Lack Of Water

There may not be water until hundreds of feet down. Wells are usually estimated based on the depth of other wells close by. This allows a contractor to estimate where there is likely to be water, but there is no guarantee that your well will produce the same amount of water at the same depth as your neighbor across the road. When you receive an estimate for a well, make sure you budget for having to go deeper than expected while staying within your budget.

So the answer to how deep your well should be is, it depends. What is most important is that you find a trustworthy contractor who will only drill as deep as necessary to achieve the results you are looking for.

If you are looking for a well drilling contractor look no further than Amber Well Drilling, your water drilling professionals. For more information go to AmberWellDrilling.com or click HERE.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Difference Between Dug, Driven, and Drilled Wells.

Image
  If you have a private water well for drinking water, then it falls into one of these three types: dug, driven, or drilled. Take a look at what the difference between these wells are, and some key things you should know about them.   Dug Wells Dug wells are dug by shovel or backhoe before being lined with a casing to prevent the well from collapsing. This casing is typically made of stone, brick, or tile, but other materials can be used. These wells have a much wider diameter than the other two and are relatively shallow in comparison, stopping around 30 feet deep. These are what you likely imagine an old well looks like, with a bucket and rope or chain used to draw water. These wells work by digging below the water table so that the well is filled to the same level as the water table. Dig deeper and the well will completely fill or even overflow. Driven Wells Driven wells are created by driving pipe into the ground, ending around 50 feet deep. These wells are cased continua
Read more

Buying a Home with a Water Well

Image
  So you've found your dream house, the perfect size in the perfect location.  A beautiful property with scenic views, a large garage and maybe even a pool! But, the property is not connected to municipal water and relies solely on a private water well to supply all the household water needs. No worries; with proper attention, maintenance and inspection, well water can be cheaper and cleaner than city water! Water wells tap into groundwater found deep under the surface, under layers of soil and rock. These layers provide the first round of natural filtration, while also adding a higher mineral content to the water that public water supplies typically have. Well water is considered 'Hard Water', as it contains a higher mineral content than public water, which causes a build up of minerals and scale. A water softening system will remove some of the excess minerals from your groundwater and reduce the amount of scale.  Proper maintenance is the key to keeping your well in good
Read more

So You Need a Well on Your Property, Now What?

Image
Whether it's an old farmhouse or new construction, some properties are just too far from a town to be connected to a public water supply. Having a well drilled will provide you and your family with a reliable source for clean, potable water. The first step is to choose a location for your well. This should start with a site survey from a licensed drilling contractor. You will need firm and level ground that is at least 50 feet away from your septic tank (and your septic system drain fields should be at least 100 feet away from your well), in an area that is accessible to drilling equipment. This location should be close enough to the house that a pump will not struggle to move the water to the home. Your licensed drilling contractor should be able to give an estimated drilling depth to find water, based on data of existing wells in the area. Please remember that these are just estimates and you will never truly never know where the groundwater level is until it is reached. Next you
Read more