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What You Should Know About Drilling a Well
W.S.
Heitman Drilling & Pumps
What you should know
about drilling a water well on your land
Whether you are
thinking about drilling a water well on your property or about buying land and
would like to know the potential for drilling on that property, you should
consider many things.
There are no simple
solutions, no detailed maps of ground-water presence, and no guarantees.
But information is
available that can be helpful when making a decision about whether to drill, or
where to drill.
To further your
understanding of the available information and why some areas provide water and
others do not Understanding Ground Water Systems
Ground Water on the
Move:
Ground water is defined as underground water found in the pore space of rocks.
Ground water does not
stay underground forever, and it does not lie still waiting for us to draw it
from a well.
Ground water moves as
part of the hydrologic cycle, the endless circulation of water from the
atmosphere onto the surface and into the subsurface regions of the earth and
then back from the surface to the atmosphere (fig. 1).
Precipitation becomes
surface water, soil moisture, and ground water.
Like surface water,
ground water flows toward and into streams, rivers, marshes, and lakes.
Ground water circulates
back to the surface in this way, and, from the surface, water returns to the
atmosphere through evaporation and transpiration (plant respiration).
The process by which
water from rainfall and melting snow seeps into the soil and percolates into
the saturated zone is called recharge.
Places where recharge
occurs are referred to as recharge areas.
When this water
reappears at the ground surface, this is called discharge.
Besides flowing into
streams, marshes, and lakes, ground water also may discharge in the form of
springs and flowing wells.
Ground Water and
Aquifers:
Many terms are used to describe the nature and extent of ground-water
resources. The level below which all the pore spaces in the ground are filled
with water is called the water table (fig. 1). The entire region below the
water table is called the saturated zone, and water in this saturated zone is
called ground water.
 |
| Figure 1 – |
The hydrologic cycle. Precipitation falls
to the earth’s surface, runs off or infiltrates the ground, then moves back to
the surface and into the atmosphere through transpiration or evaporation.
The alluvial aquifer
is the cross-sectional area shown in yellow and labeled alluvium.
An aquifer is an
underground formation of permeable rock or loose material that can produce
useful quantities of water when tapped by a well or as discharge via a spring.
Porous media aquifers
consist of aggregates of individual particles such as sand or gravel. Ground
water fills and moves through the openings between the grains.
Porous media where
the grains are not connected to each other are unconsolidated.
For example, an
alluvial aquifer consists of loose sand, gravel, silt, and clay deposited in a
stream valley or floodplain, and it is hydrologically connected to the stream
flowing on its surface (figs. 1 and 2).
In consolidated
aquifers, such as sandstone aquifers, grains in the porous media are cemented
together.
Figure 2 – Confined
and unconfined aquifers and how they affect water levels in wells screened in
each type of aquifer.
Fractured aquifers
are rocks in which ground water moves through cracks, joints, or fractures in
otherwise solid rock.
 |
| (fig. 2) |
Unconfined aquifers
are bound by the water table; that is, they have no confining rock layers over
the top of them.
A well sunk into an
unconfined aquifer will encounter water when the well reaches the water table,
which is the approximate level at which water will stand in the well.
Some aquifers,
however, lie beneath layers of impermeable materials.
These are called confined
aquifers, or sometimes artesian aquifers. A well in such an aquifer
is called an artesian well.
The water in these
wells rises above the top of the aquifer because of confining pressure; the
level to which it rises is called the static water level.
If the water level
rises above the ground surface, a flowing artesian well occurs.
Drilling a well into
an unconfined aquifer is often easier and less expensive than drilling into a
confined aquifer.
Unconfined aquifers
are generally nearer the surface, so wells are shallower.
Also, many unconfined
aquifers are unconsolidated (for example, alluvial aquifers), thus more easily
drilled, whereas confined aquifers more often are reached by drilling through
hard rock.
On the other hand,
near-surface, unconfined aquifers are more susceptible to contamination than
confined aquifers that are sealed off from surface contaminants.
Most well water is good
quality because of the filtering process in the soil and the long travel time
underground between the water occurring as rain which eventually reaches the
well.
However, in addition
to possible pollution from agriculture, industry and transportation, even
contamination sources in our homes can pose threats to ground water.
Incorrect disposal of
common household chemicals (polish, thinners, paints, etc.), excess use of lawn
chemicals, pesticides and garden chemicals, faulty or overladed septic tanks,
or an accidental spill during an automobile driveway oil change, can wreak
havoc with drinking water safety.
Ground-water Quality
and Contamination:
Water is never found in a pure state in nature.
Both ground water and
surface water may contain many constituents, including minerals,
microorganisms, gases, and inorganic and organic materials. Some are present
naturally, and others are human-induced.
The chemical nature
of water continually changes as it moves through the hydrologic cycle.
Although ground-water
chemistry depends, in part, on the initial chemistry of the precipitation and
recharge water, the most important natural changes in ground-water chemistry
occur in the soil.
Ground water may
dissolve substances it encounters or it may deposit some of its constituents
along the way.
The eventual quality
of the ground water depends on the kinds of rock and soil formations through
which it flows.
Thus, ground water in
some areas may be too salty or contain too much bicarbonate of soda for
domestic use or irrigation.
Iron content can be
very high in some settings, which usually does not render the water unusable,
but it can be a nuisance because of rust staining of plumbing fixtures and an
undesirable taste and smell.
It is advisable to
have the water in a new well tested to determine its quality and suitability
for use.
How to protect your
water source:
With the property
owners help, the professional work of ground water specialists like W. S.
Heitman Drilling & Pumps along with the regulation and technical work of
government agencies, can help to ensure safe drinking water.
What you know, and
what you do about contamination risks are important for the safety of water in
homes and communities throughout the US.
What you should
know
§ The source of your
drinking water
§ How contamination
occurs
§ What to do to
prevent problems
What you should do
§ Handle domestic
chemicals responsibly
§ Protect against
automotive fluid spills
§ Properly maintain
septic systems
§ Use lawn &
garden chemicals
§ Safeguard the area
around wells
§ Always use licensed
contractors for water wells
§ Routinely check and
maintain wells to prevent contamination
What communities
should have
§ Land-use policies
§ Agricultural best
management practices
§ Water resource
management plans
§ Programs protecting
aquifers and wells
§ Well abandonment
programs
§ Ground water
education and consumer awareness programs
Drilling:
The hole for most
home wells is usually drilled at a diameter between 6 to 8 inches.
The drilling method
will depend on the geologic formations, the required water yield and the type
of drilling equipment used.
Drill rigs are
expensive (often up to $800,000) and their use requires considerable skill.
All wells require
casing to protect them from possible contaminants at or near the ground
surface.
A liner may be used
in place of casing in hard rock formations.
For most home wells
it is not necessary to undertake extensive testing.
The experienced
drillers at Heitman Drilling will have a good idea of the well’s performance
from the drilling and development process.
The yield potential
is important for selecting the right pump. It is very important to understand
the well’s limitations.
Ideally water will
flow into the well at the same rate that it’s removed by the pump.
There are three
important pieces of information that impact the design of an efficient water
system
§ The static water
level
§ The water level
after pumping a known volume
§ The time it takes
for the well water level to recover once pumping stops
For low-yield
wells, to insure the pumping system is suitable for the customers needs, an
extensive pump test is recommended to determine the draw down and recovery rate
of the water in the well.
Some sites may not
be capable of producing the amount of water normally expected for domestic
supply (30 gallons per minute [gpm]).
However, with an
adequate storage tank, a well producing as little as one gpm can be sufficient
for domestic needs.
In many wells,
several hundreds of gallons of water are already stored in the well column.
Every foot below
water level of a 6-inch diameter well contains 1.5 gallons of water.
Here’s the math:
There are 1,440 minutes in every day.
If a well produces
1 gpm, 1,440 gallons can be pumped in a storage tank daily.
Assuming that each
member of a family of 4 uses 75 gallons per day, that’s a total of 300 gallons.
Total consumption for the entire family is less than 21 percent of the stored
water.
The well would be
required to produce water for a total of only 5 hours a day in order to
replenish the tank.
Generally, 5
gallons per minute for 2 hours is considered the minimum acceptable yield in
any 24-hour period.
Wisely planned, a
dependable water well can supply all the water you need now and into the
future.
A rule of thumb is
to allow between 75 to 150 gallons per person per day.
You need to take
into account the peak demand, for example when there may be extra guests for
holidays and weekends.
Outside use of
water can pose much greater demands. You need to calculate the required well
yield if your well is needed for additional water uses such as swimming pools,
irrigation, fire protection, heating & cooling, etc.
Water from properly
constructed wells is normally potable.
Routine testing is
performed on new wells for bacteria, mineral content, Ph, and turbidity.
All of our well and
pump installations are thoroughly disinfected using chlorine to kill bacteria
that may have been introduced from the drilling and pump installation process.
While the
chlorinated water may be a temporary inconvenience, once pumped out of the
system, it will provide the best chance for a potable water supply.
Local and state
jurisdictions, together with some lending institutions, may require additional
testing for other potential contaminants – such as arsenic, radon and various
man-made chemicals.
It is Heitman
Drilling’s recommendation to test your well water for potability at least once
a year to insure it’s safe for you and your family.
The names of local
laboratories which we use in your area are available from your W.S. Heitman
Drilling’s project manager. These labs are state certified and prompt.
Because of the
nature of well drilling, W.S. Heitman Drilling cannot provide an exact quote or
estimate.
The final cost of
the well and pump installation is based upon the actual feet drilled, casing
used and water obtained to satisfy requirements.
Here is a breakdown
of items that may be included in the cost of a water well system:
§ Permits
§ Drilling per foot
by diameter of casing and liner
§ Grouting annular
seals
§ Pumping equipment
The American Ground Water
Trust recommends that a written contract be executed prior to
the start of any well drilling.
This will give you
an itemized list of expected costs. W. S. Heitman Drilling will inspect your
site and prepare a printed agreement form that will reduce the chance for
misunderstandings by identifying liabilities, responsibilities and uncertainties.
Far too many
homeowners have paid dearly for using amateurs or part-time, non-specialists
for water well and pump installation work.
W. S. Heitman
Drilling is fully licensed, certified and insured for all the work we do.
The AGWT
cautions homeowners against high pressure sales or scare tactics and “bonus”
offers to get your business.
Property owners can
become involved in litigation involving uninsured water well drillers.
If an employee of
an uninsured contractor is injured on your premises, you may be responsible for
any resultant injuries or disabilities.
In addition, you
probably have no protection in the event of damage to your property or the
property of others by the drilling company or pump installer during the course
of the work.
The AGWT warns
not to base your selection of a well contractor on price alone.
Your well system is
permanent and future changes may be much more expensive in the long run.
Make sure that bids
and estimates are “Apples-to-Apples” and that they are for comparable quality
materials, service and guarantees.
The lowest bid is
usually not the best value. Be sure your contract contains:
§ The contractor’s
business address and state license number
§ A written proposal
that details:
§ what work is to be
done
§ materials to be
used
§ the charge for
drilling per foot
§ the type of
equipment to be installed
§ terms of contractor
or manufacturer guarantee on the well and well equipment
§ the expected start
and completion dates
§ payment schedule
§ details of client
and contractor responsibility for site access and site clean-up
§ responsibility for
obtaining all permits
§ Proof of the
contractor’s liability insurance while working on your job to protect against:
§ personal injury to
you or others
§ damage to your
property
§ damage to the
property of others
§ Proof of Worker’s
Compensation insurance to protect the contractor’s employees or sub-contractors
while working on your job.
Be assured that W.
S. Heitman Drilling & Pumps, as Northern California’s most reputable well
drilling company, adheres to all of these recommendations by the AGWT.
Wes
Heitman,
founder and president of W.S. Heitman Drilling & Pumps, was born and raised
in Red Bluff, Ca. Heitman Drilling is based out of Red Bluff and serves the
entire north state
In 1976
Wes then bought his first drill rig, a mud/air combination. In 1977 he bought a
new Schram T64 and mounted a Tigra Tierra casing hammer, this being the first
on a Schram in the state. Serving locally, it quickly became the #1 drilling
and pump com any and still is today. The credit for the lofty position of being
#1 goes to the loyalty of our many, many customers who appreciate our
unwavering position of honesty and our high standards or material and
workmanship. In this same respect, our employees honor these parameters, many
of which have worked for Heitman Drilling 20 years and more.
W.S.
Heitman Drilling & Pumps is a family owned and operated company which was
founded in 1976 and incorporated in 1978. All of or our equipment and our yard
is located in Red Bluff with two more offices in Chico. We are members of
the National Groundwater Association and
the California Groundwater Association.We
attend yearly conventions for both and attend seminars to continue our
education and to stay on top of all the changes and advancements in the
industry.
Wes
Heitman (founder and president) is an executive board member of the California
Groundwater Association.
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