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.
