Three Things You Absolutely Need When Water Well Drilling

1 February 2021
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If you are a company or industrial facility looking for a source of water outside of typical municipal sources, then you may be considering water well drilling. Water well drilling is similar to drilling for any other material or fluid, but it requires certain things before you begin. You need to have the right to use the land you'll be drilling for a water well, as well as EPA regulatory permission to drill. Finally, you need the right well construction method to keep your water safe and clean.

Land Usage Rights

The first part of starting a well is to find usable land to drill in. You will need to find land that has water available to collect and is in the right zone for industrial and manufacturing use. You can either buy this land or lease it, depending on the owner's wishes, but the zoning ordinance at hand is typically inflexible. It's important to note that many water wells are less expensive in the long run compared to municipal water supplies, even given the up-front costs, as a well can supply water without relying on the local water supply used for the rest of the city. 

EPA Regulatory Permission

Many of the EPA regulations around wells are meant for injection wells, where industrial or drilling waste is disposed of, rather than water wells. However, the EPA still regulates the usage of water wells by industrial or manufacturing facilities, and you will need to ensure that the construction and continued usage of the well is environmentally safe. For example, you may want to use an Aquifer Recharge or Storage and Recovery system in conjunction with your water well. This can help mitigate the effects of your well usage, and keep your facility free from EPA fines.

The Right Well Construction

Finally, you need to construct your well. Water well drilling requires not only excavating earth with the right drills and tools but also constructing the upper layers in a way that prevents contamination. Drilled wells are made with percussion or rotary-drilling machines and generally go much deeper than residential wells, hand-made wells, or shallow drivel well. These machines will either break up the rock underground (percussion) or those that "chew" away at it (rotary), or auger drill bits if the ground lacks rocks. Once the earth is removed, the well is cased with metal, pipe, brick, or other casing to prevent contamination. Other well construction methods may be insufficient for an industrial facility.

If you need a water well constructed or drilled, contact a water well drilling company, service, or contractor today.