Frequently Asked Questions

If you are planning to have a well drilled, to buy a home that is on a well, or if you have questions about a well you are currently using, these frequently asked questions and answers are designed for you.  They are intended to give you the information you need to make informed decisions about well ownership and maintenance.

1.)  How do I choose a Well Drilling Company?
2.)  What responsibilities need to be defined?
3.)  How much will my well cost?
4.)  How do I finance my well?
5.)  Where do I start?
6.)  How do I get information on a previously owned well?
7.)  What is a well history?
8.)  Why do I need to know about my well?
9.)  Is it okay to use the water from a natural spring?

How do I choose a Well Drilling Company?

Interview prospective drillers as you would any professional whose services you want to use.

• Ask for References. Get a recommendation from former customers. Find out how long the company has worked in your area and how many wells they have drilled.
• Ask About Professional Qualifications.  Any drilling company you hire should be either certified, licensed, or registered with the State (Specific requirements vary from State to State.)  Ask drillers you interview for proof of proper credentials.
• Ask About Contracts.  A professional water well driller uses a written contract.  The contract should include details of the job and warranties or guarantees, if any.
• Ask About Local Geology.  An experienced driller knows about the geology of the area in which he or she drills.
• Ask About State & Local Laws.  A knowledgeable driller knows state and local regulations that govern well drilling.
• Ask About Insurance & Bonding.  A drilling company and its personnel should be insured.  Some States require bonding, some do not.  Find out what the law requires.
• Ask About Maintenance & Repair.  Timely maintenance and repair services are important to well owners. A full service company can make life easier for you.

What responsibilities need to be defined?

Develop a clear understanding of the following.

• Permits, Site Visits, Fees etc. The homeowner or his/her representative should get whatever permits are necessary.  A driller can tell you what agencies to contact and what fees must be paid.  The driller coordinates site visits by inspectors and coordinates construction activities.
• Well Location. In most States, strict regulations govern location of the well.  A competent driller knows the regulations and will tell you if health officials or other regulators must be present during the well location process.
• Well Capacity. The driller can estimate the water requirements for your household.  Help your driller by discussing things like the number of bathrooms, the number of people in the household, or anticipated water use for ‘extras’ such as irrigation of lawns and gardens, spas, whirlpool baths or pools.
• Water Quality & Quantity.  The quality and quantity of water from your well depends on the geology and hydrology of the area.  Well water comes from underground aquifers, which exist throughout the ground at different depths.  These “storage spaces” contain different amounts of water.
• Well Records. Your driller should make a construction record (well log); ask for a copy.  If the law requires an inspection, keep that report as well. Keep repair bills and information on equipment purchases.  Well records are very useful for maintenance purposes.  Some States require the driller to submit records to regulatory agencies.  Ask the driller what your state requires.
• Other Issues.  Before construction begins, ask the driller what will be done if water is not reached at the estimated depth.  Ask what options are available if the water needs some form of treatment.

PLEASE NOTE:  A DRILLER CANNOT TELL YOU EXACTLY HOW DEEP HE/SHE WILL HAVE TO GO TO GET WATER.  AN ESTIMATE CAN BE BASED ON OTHER WELLS DRILLED IN YOUR AREA.  A DRILLER CANNOT PREDICT THE EXACT QUALITY OF THE WATER THAT WILL BE TAPPED.   WHAT A DRILLER CAN DO IS MAKE REASONABLE JUDGMENTS ABOUT WATER QUALITY BASED ON PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE.

How much will my well cost?

The cost of a well is determined by several factors, including those below:

• Depth of Well. The depth of a well is a determining factor in figuring the basic cost of pipe, since most driller charge by the foot. A driller will base estimates on what experience shows is an average depth for your area.  If the water first tapped is adequate for your family, then drilling can stip. If not, then drilling may have to go deeper.
• Materials & Equipment.  A complete well includes casing material, pipe, a pump, a tank, and usually grout to seal the well.  Choosing superior quality products can improve the efficiency and longevity of the well.  In well drilling the old say “You get what you pay for,” is true.
• State Regulations. Most states require specific construction practices designed to protect health and the groundwater.  Some States prohibit use of certain construction materials.  Ask the driller how State construction requirements may effect cost. 
• Labor.  Labor is usually figured into the charge-per-foot for drilling a well.  However, there may be labor costs for installing the pump and tank or for performing repairs on an existing well.   Experience teaches a driller to anticipate problems that may occur.  However, nature is full of surprises, some of which even the most experienced driller cannot anticipate.
• Long Term Costs.  Over the long term, the cost of water from your well will be pennies per day.  Even factoring in construction and routine maintenance, a private well is still cost effective when compared to rates charged for the use of water from public systems.

PLEASE NOTE: HOMEOWNERS OFTEN TRY TO SAVE MONEY BY BUYING AND INSTALLING AN INEXPENSIVE PUMP SYSTEM.  YOUR ENTIRE SYSTEM SHOULD BE INSTALLED BY A SKILLED PROFESSIONAL AS A PART OF THE WELL CONSTRUCTION PROCESS. A CHEAP, POORLY INSTALLED PUMP SYSTEM CAN JEOPARDIZE THE OPERATION OF THE WELL AND THE WELLS SAFETY.

How do I finance my well?

A well is an investment.  One advantage of a well-based system is that you can design a system to meet your needs and pay only for your system – not for the pipelines, water treatment, system expansion rate increases, etc. of larger centralized water systems.

Examine available financing options, including:

• Your Local Bank.  A local bank can include a well in a home building or remodeling loan.
• Your Mortgage Company.  You can use home equity loans to upgrade an existing well.
• The Drilling Company.  Some well drillers have financing programs.
• Federal Subsidies.  Some federal grants and loans are available to the elderly and to low income families.

Where do I start?

Before construction, check on the following:

• Your Home Builder. If you are building a new home, ask your builder to include you in the selection of a driller.  You want to be sure any driller who is hired meets the criteria in the sections entitled “Hiring a Well Driller” and “Defining Responsibilities”.
• Your Contract. If you are buying property where a well will be used, include language in the purchase offer that uses words such as “Purchase based on the ability to develop a water well yielding water sufficient to buyers (your) needs.”
• Well & Septic Regulations.  The location of wells and septic systems is usually governed by strict regulations.  Decide approximately where on your lot you want your dwelling.  Then have the well and septic system located. The location approved for your well and septic may require adjustments to your chosen home site.

PLEASE NOTE:  DO NOT BEGIN CONSTRUCTION OF YOUR HOME BEFORE YOUR WELL AND SEPTIC SYSTEMS ARE LOCATED.  DOING SO MAY CAUSE SERIOUS CONSTRUCTION PROBLEMS.

How do I get information on a previously owned well?

When buying a home with a well, be sure to learn all you can about the well.  For information consult the following:

• The Seller. The seller should have the information you need, especially if the seller is the original owner.  Ask for their Well Log.
• Previous Owners. If the seller doesn’t have the information you want, try to locate and interview previous owners.
• The Driller.  If you know the name of the company that installed the well, they should have the records you need.  If you cannot identify the drilling company, a local regulatory agency may have records indicating who drilled the well.  They may also have other useful information.  If those sources donut work, consider hiring a well contractor to inspect the well, determine its depth and water capacity, and to test the water.

What is a well history?

A well history or well log is an important tool for well owners.  If a history doesn’t exist, you may have to re-construct it yourself.  Use this list of questions to develop a history of your well:

• What is the well’s diameter?
• What casing material was used?
• How deep is the casing?
• How old is the well?
• How Deep?
• What repairs and maintenance have been done? How often? Who did them?
• What is the well’s storage capacity?
• What is the household water pressure?
• When was the well last tested? What were the results?
• Is there a treatment system? Why? Where is it? What kind? How old is it?

Why do I need to know my well history?

A well history can help you make decisions.

Anticipating Future Costs.  Factual information on your well can help you anticipate future costs.  Knowing the age of the well, the purchase date of the pump and other specifics will give you a basis on which to anticipate repairs, regular maintenance, etc.

Getting a Water Test.  Use the well history to learn when the well was last tested.  If there is not a very recent test, have it tested before closing.  If a first test shows signs of bacteria, have the well disinfected and retested.

Is it okay to use the water from a natural spring?

NO, Please click here to be taken to a very informative pdf file produced by the Department of Health & Community Services Regional Health & Community Boards & the Department of Govenment Lands.