Technological advances have made drilling a well for domestic water needs easy. It used to be that you needed a large truck, a crew of professionals and expensive equipment. Now however, it is a one-man operation. The most common method for drilling a well is called rotary drilling. This involves a tungsten drill bit propelled by a drill pipe. This machine grinds into the earth through sand, clay or rock, flushing out broken pieces via a viscous liquid called drilling mud that fills the hole above the bit. Does this Spark an idea?
Considerations
Designate a location for the well. Do not dig within 50 feet of any septic systems or outhouses. You must be aware of underground cables so you do not damage them during the dig. The slope of the land plays a factor in determining the prime location; you do not want your well to fill with rainwater. Consider overhead obstructions such as power lines or tree branches. No matter what type of drilling equipment you use, unless you are really old-fashioned and dig with only a shovel, you are apt to hit these overhead objects when you remove equipment after hitting water. It is not recommended to dig a well with a shovel as the risks for a cave-in and death due to asphyxiation are high. Think about the geology of your property; is it rocky, full of clay, sand or gravel? Water sources can be found in all types of geologic formations, but being aware of the type you are dealing with prepares you for those specific conditions.
Equipment
You can call in a professional team of drillers or you can rent a rotary drill to do the job yourself. A tool called a Hydra-Drill makes rotary drilling simple. If you have problems, there is a special team of Hydra-Drill experts that can assist you with a quick phone call. This lightweight system involves a quick assembly following step-by-step instructions, requires no previous experience and only requires one additional piece of equipment: a garden hose that can produce running water at 20 to 40 psi. The majority of wells do not have to be dug more then 200 feet down, with many less then half that. You'll know when you've hit a water vein because the hole will fill with water above the bit.
Finishing Up
After you have struck a water vein and remove the drill you will need to insert a well casing made of either metal or plastic to ensure that the well does not cave in. At the bottom of the well you will install a filter so that you do not get water that is full of particulate matter. The bottom half of the casing should be surrounded by pebbles and the top half should be surrounded by concrete; this prevents water contamination. Rinse out the casing, install the pump and after a few days maximum, you should have a clean, reliable water source.
Tags: drilling well, fill with, rotary drilling, should surrounded, water vein