If you’re looking to drill a well, it helps to have a basic understanding of the process and what to expect. In this article, we’ll be answering some frequently asked questions about drilling a well, with insights from a professional plumber who has years of experience in the field.
When planning to drill a well, it is important to:
- Consider the purpose of the well and the water volume or flow rate required
- Understand the water table depth and geology of the site
- Identify any underground utilities that need to be avoided
- Determine the well yield; choose the appropriate type of good construction
- Assess what type of water treatment system
As a professional plumber responsible for well drilling, the following are some considerations that Plumbing Dunn Right takes into account:
Q. What is the purpose of the well, and what is the required water volume or flow rate?
Answer: The purpose of a water well is to distribute water in rural areas/ country living to dwellings, residents, homes, farms with livestock, and farms with agriculture such as greenhouses, tree farms, milk farms that are not in the urban communities with access to city water lines. Small cities/communities all over Ontario use municipal wells with water towers to provide water to the residents. The volume required to provide adequate water to a single-family dwelling or a small community will depend on the occupancy and demand. Depending on demand determines whether a single well without a reservoir or water tower will be adequate to supply potable water. In a lot of single-resident applications in our Halton region area, a minimum flow rate of 3gpm is not adequate for a modern home. We then use a cistern to store the water until peak demand and then distribute to the household from the storage tank.
Q. What is the water table depth and geology of the site?
Answer: Understanding the water table depth and geology of the site will help determine the depth of the well needed, as well as the type of casing and grouting required to protect the well and aquifer from contamination.
Q. Are there any underground utilities, such as gas or electric lines, that need to be considered?
Answer: Yes, it’s essential to identify and avoid any underground utilities to prevent damage and ensure safety.
Q. What is the well yield, and how will it be determined?
Answer: The well yield refers to the water the well can produce. This can be determined through flow pumping tests, recovery tests, or by analyzing well logs and other data.
Q. What type of well construction is needed, such as driven, drilled, or bored?
Answer: The type of well construction needed will depend on the geology of the site and the water table/ aquifers that are available.
Q. What type of water treatment system will be required for the well water, if any?
Answer: This will depend on the quality of the well water, the potable water test from the ministry, as well as the well owners’ preferences on what’s acceptable for their bathing/drinking water. Generally, a good recommendation in well water is to have a softener, prefilter, and UV disinfection system. Most rural commercial facilities will have to follow the local regulations and health department requirements for their water distribution and potable water.
Q. What is the estimated cost of the well drilling project, including any necessary permits and fees?
Answer: A cost estimate should take into account all necessary permits, fees, and the cost of materials and labor.
Q. Who will be responsible for the maintenance of the well and pump system after installation?
Answer: The well owner or a designated service provider should be responsible for ongoing maintenance to ensure the well and pump system continue to operate effectively.
Q. What are the local, state, and federal regulations that need to be followed for well drilling?
Answer: Regulation 903 is used for all water well drilling, contracting, and licensing in Ontario and it is overseen by the ministry of environment under the water resource act.
Q. How will the quality and safety of the well water be monitored after installation?
Answer: The quality and safety of the well water can be monitored through regular water testing, as well as ongoing monitoring of the well and pump system to ensure they are operating effectively and safely. With annual maintenance of your prefilters and ultraviolet disinfection units, we can ensure that there is good potable water to the residence.
If you intend to drill a well, let Plumbing Dunn Right help you ensure it is done correctly. We have the experience and expertise to make sure that your well-drilling project is completed safely, efficiently, and in accordance with all applicable regulations. Contact us today for more information about our services.