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How to find the best place to drill your well

Published 31 May - Admin - Water Well Drilling well drilling kit

A do-it-yourself water well kit lets you build a private well without hiring a contractor.

It’s a cheaper option as you won’t need to pay professional service fees for the project. However, you may need some assistance in determining the best location for your private well.

You will have to learn how to find an ideal spot before drilling the ground on your property. And this article will guide you in selecting a place for your private well.

Ideal Location Factors for a Private Well

These are the vital considerations when finding a location for building a private well:

Sufficient Water Source

Groundwater for a well is located deep underground in porous layers of soil and rocks called aquifers. The gravity pulls water from different sources deep into the ground until it reaches the rock layer. This pull also makes the water seep through pores, cracks, and spaces between the rocks, where it stays.

You must locate ideal aquifers that are easy to drill and contains sufficient groundwater for your well. The problem is that aquifers lie at varying depths from the surface.

Here’s how you may find aquifers with sufficient water supply:

Consult with the US Geological Survey

The agency has intensive information about aquifers in the country. They can provide essential information about the aquifers in your place, like:

  • Location
  • Depth
  • Water level

Check Nearby Wells

Checking other private wells in your area helps you get a rough estimate of the aquifer condition underground. Even the US Geological Survey uses this method by maintaining thousands of testing wells all over the country.

For example, you may ask a neighbor if their private well provides enough water for their household. If yes, ask how deep they drilled for constructing the well.

Soil Type

Soil type directly affects the efficiency of drilling a well.

So, remember to avoid boulders on the ground’s surface as they often indicate more large rocks underground. Digging through hard rocks means you need to break them with heavy machinery, which could increase your well water construction expenses.

It’s also an excellent idea to hire a land surveyor for accurate information about soil types on your land property.

Moreover, you may have to hire a professional well driller if you can’t avoid drilling through layers of rocks for your project.

Distance from Contaminants

It’s also essential to ensure the cleanliness and safety of your water supply. You should thus find a location away from contaminants like septic systems and petroleum tanks.

Ideally, your private well must be:

  • 50ft away from septic systems
  • 100ft away from petroleum tanks and manure storage
  • 250ft away from manure stacks

You can consult your local health department to determine the location of septic systems around your place.

On a side note, be sure your private well is at least 30ft deep to avoid contaminants from the surface, like:

  • Industrial chemicals
  • Rainwater and snow
  • Garbage

Underground Utility Lines

Many utility lines run underground, and you must avoid them while drilling a private well. You thus need to determine the correct location on your property to prevent hitting utility lines like:

  • Gas pipes
  • Septic pipes
  • Water pipes
  • Power lines
  • Phone lines

Hitting any of these could cause damage and lead to unwanted accidents like hazardous gas leaks that put your life at risk. 

So, remember these points before drilling a well:

Call 811

Always remember to call 811 before you dig. It’s the dedicated line maintained by the Federal Communications Commission to help anybody determine the location of underground utility lines.

You must call them at least 48 hours before starting the project. The representative will contact the utility companies in your area to collect the information you need.

Hire a Utility Locator Service

You may also hire a utility locator to determine the exact location and position of underground lines in your place.

They will use advanced equipment like metal detectors and radiolocation devices to find different underground utility lines. However, it’s still vital to connect with local utility companies for additional assistance.

Use a Do It Yourself Water Well Kit to Drill a Private Well in the Ideal Spot

Finding the correct location for your private well is crucial for getting a steady and safe water supply. So, always remember the four tips above to determine the ideal spot before drilling.

After that, you can safely use a do it yourself water well kit to start building your well.