The Basics of Well Drilling
Across the United States, millions of people use water drawn from wells. About 15 percent of the population rely on private wells for their water needs, while many more use municipal wells. Whether you’re building a new home, looking for an alternative way to become self-sustaining or just want clean, pure drinking water, a well can provide the perfect solution.
The Efficacy of Well Drilling
A water well is a hole that is drilled into the ground to extract water from underground sources. This can be done through a variety of methods including hand digging, drilling with manual tools and by using modern machines.
The most common method of drilling a well is with a rotary drilling machine, which can easily drill through solid rock. However, some drillers also use cable-tool drilling rigs. In this technique, a heavy bit is attached to a wire cable that is repeatedly raised and dropped into the ground.
These machines are able to penetrate large areas of solid rock and can create a large borehole through less-permeable materials like sand, silt or clay. These machines are also less expensive than other drilling methods and are often used in places where a large number of wells are needed.
There are a few things to keep in mind before you hire a well drilling company. First, you should consider the soil conditions where you live and what type of water table your location has.
Next, you should also decide on how much water you will need. This will help determine the size of the well and its cost.
It’s important to understand that a well needs to be drilled deep enough to reach the groundwater level (known as the water table). The depth of the hole will vary depending on how much water you need, as well as the soil conditions in your area.
Generally, the deeper your well is drilled, the less likely it will be contaminated with bacteria and other substances. This is because wells that are drilled to the surface of the water table are more vulnerable to contamination because they are exposed to a wider range of potential contaminants than a well that is drilled into the ground.
When you’re ready to start the process, your local well drilling contractor will come out to your property and take measurements of where to drill. This will help them accurately predict where the well will be drilled and how deep it should be.
Once your well is drilled, the drilling equipment will be removed and the well casing will be installed. This will allow the groundwater to circulate and prevent any contamination from seeping into the well.
Finally, a pump will be installed and connected to the well. This will enable you to draw water from the well for your consumption and to water your garden or lawn.
During the construction of your well, you will have to submit detailed reports about your well’s formation, the water-bearing zones, and other aspects of the project to your local well drilling permit agency. This will ensure that your well is properly sized and that you are complying with all local codes and regulations.