Drilling A Well On Private Land
If you have purchased land in a rural area or plan on purchasing property, it's a huge benefit to know if well drilling is a possibility. In some cases, there may be water under the ground, but it may not be sanitary enough for anything other than agriculture. The following will help you better understand ground water systems and the process of evaluating the potential for a sanitary drinking well.
Ground Water Systems
Ground water is available in great abundance in many places but not everywhere. Regardless of if you're evaluating land or have already purchased it, you can save yourself valuable time and money by studying the facts before you start any well project. Well drilling is a task best left to professionals, but you need to know the facts beforehand, especially regarding the safety of ground water.
Where Does Ground water Come From?
Ground water wasn't always in the ground. It's part of a constantly moving system called the hydroelectric cycle. Rivers, swamps, lakes and rainfall contribute to ground water accumulating, but all these sources are exposed to possible pollution. This is why certain steps have to be taken to ensure that the area that a well can be drilled is free from pollution.
Natural and Human-Induced Pollution
Water is never pure. Just like water, other liquids can soak through to the underground water supply. minerals, gasses, and waste can all contaminate a water supply. It may not be at the site of your proposed well--anything in the area affecting the water supply will also affect your well. This may not be of concern to you if agriculture is the main reason for the well. If a well is to be used for drinking water possible contamination sources should be evaluated.
Is a Well Worth The Money?
This depends on the location of your land, how difficult it would be to access city water, and the cost of ongoing maintenance.
Cost-Drilling a well can be pricey initially depending on where the water is located underground. Factor in the cost of electricity to pump the water up and ongoing maintenance.
Risk-No matter what a well contractor tells you, there's no guarantee that the water pumped to the surface after drilling will be usable as drinking water. Spending the money to connect to your local water district eliminates this risk, but makes you dependent on a public water source.
Drilling a well on your own land, when done properly, can lead to a great sense of self reliance and provide you with access to a valuable resource that won't run dry.
For more information, contact Sizer Well Service or a similar company.
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