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


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 will want to plan a good day to drill. While you can drill in the rain and during the rainy season, it does complicate the process as wet soil tends to slide around and collapse the hole you have started. There is also the possibility of rainwater flooding the well and potentially contaminating your water source. If possible, try to plan your drilling for a drier time of the year.

Winter is actually the best time to drill! With the ground frozen there is much less damage to the ground from the drill rig tires, plus minimal amounts of mud to wreak havoc. Another benefit to drilling in the winter are lead times. Most well drillers are busiest in spring, summer and fall. Scheduling your service for winter months can mean shorter wait times! 

Finally, we need to clean up. All that earth that was just bored into has to go somewhere, and it comes to the surface! Drilling is a messy process that creates a lot of clippings (dirt, mud, rock, etc.). Are you handling clean up yourself to save money, or is the drilling contractor cleaning up? These are things that need to be addressed prior to the start of the service. This waste can be spread flat for grass to regrow, buried in a pit, or even completely removed from the site. 


For more information or advice on well drilling preparation, contact AMBER Water Pros, LLC

Licensed by the New York State DEC (NYRD No. 10967) | Certified members of the National Ground Water Association

315-484-5959 | 607-218-8744 | 518-323-6959 

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