The Water Well Planning Process
Drilling a water well is an important process because
a house with a poor water supply, is worth very little.
The planning process takes some time and requires you to
consider a number of factors. Read on for a list of considerations.
Do I need a permit?
Before
you even think about drilling a water well, you must find
out if a permit is required. There are two simple ways to
do this: consult with your local government regarding permits,
or if you are using a contractor, ask him/her about all
legal requirements including building and drilling permits.
Be sure not to skip this step as drilling without a permit
will seriously delay your construction and may result in
a hefty fine.
Don’t forget to look ahead
When drilling water wells, it is crucial to think
ahead in order to consider any future changes that might
affect your water supply. For example, will there ever be
another family on the farm, or are you planning to expand
the farm and include other sources of food production? You
may not know this information now, but if you have an inkling
that significant changes may be made in the future, you
should include these possibilities in your water well planning
process.
The quantity of water is key!
Drilling water wells is a process that involves
exploring underground to determine the quality, but also
the quantity of water available. Completely dry holes are
uncommon, but locating wells that actually yield little
water is a relatively regular experience. Some of the causes
of low-water yield include interference from other wells,
natural geologic conditions and/or a low natural or seasonal
water table. Regardless of the reason for a shortage of
water, you do not want to build a well where there is not
enough water! The material found under the ground surface
can give you an indication of the quantity of water available,
and an experienced contractor should be able to help you
assess the situation.
Only the best water will do!
Besides ensuring that the supply of water available
is adequate, you must also know that the quality of water
is up to standard. Be aware that even drilled wells are
susceptible to contamination and so proper location and
design of the well is very important as well as plugging
up abandoned wells, runoff controls, fencing and installing
a grass cover around the dugouts.
Next: The
Basics of Water Well Drilling
