Around 15% of the US population uses a private well as their water source.
There are many reasons why drilling a well for your water is a great idea. First of all, you have control over your water. You have the ability to test your water when you choose!
Secondly, you know exactly where your water is coming from.
Wells are a popular source of water in rural areas where city water may not be available. If you’re interested in drilling a private well, keep reading to learn more about the process.
A Guide to Water Well Drilling
Many homeowners get their water from a well.
To ensure that the well is safe and sturdy, consider hiring a trusted professional to build it. Keller Well Drilling specializes in creating wells for homeowners!
If you’re planning on using a well as your water source, it’s important to understand the basics of water well drilling. Here’s what you should know about well maintenance and drilling:
1. A Level Rig is Essential
After you’ve decided where you want to put your well, it’s time to start prepping the area.
The first step is making sure that the drilling machine is level. Outriggers will be the equipment necessary for this job. Professionals will have access to this type of equipment.
An outrigger will make the drilling machine point straight down, rather than at an angle. If the well isn’t drilled straight, you may face complications down the road.
2. Time to Start Drilling
Once you’ve made sure that the site is level, you can start drilling for your well.
Special equipment will create a shaft into the Earth. With a mixture of spinning and hammering, a large shaft will begin to make its way through the ground.
The goal when drilling a well is to reach the bedrock. In some cases, sand, gravel, and clay may be in the way, this will just have to be drilled through.
As the shaft reaches further into the Earth, water and air pump down, allowing the equipment to keep from overheating. When the shaft is done, it’s typically around 20 feet in length.
3. Casing Should be Installed
Once the shaft is dug, a casing must be installed within the shaft.
The casing for the well is a long pipe that’s placed along the shaft. The point of the casing is to keep the structural integrity of the well. The casing ensures that the wall of the well doesn’t collapse in on itself.
4. Cementing the Casing to Avoid Movement
Once the casing is in the well, cement is poured around it.
The cement keeps the casing in place and also prevents surface water from contaminating the groundwater. The cement is the last step before the pump is able to be installed.
Once the pump is installed, the homeowner can use the well as their water source!
Are You Ready to Install a Well?
Water well drilling is essential if you’re interested in using a well on your property as your water source.
Consider hiring a professional who has the necessary expertise and tools to ensure that your well is built safely.
If you enjoyed reading this post, check out our other content on home improvement!
