Location, Location

One of the first things you need to know is the exact location of the property and its legal land description. In most cases, you’ll need to know the section, township, range and quarters of the property in order to access land and well records through your state’s geological survey.

Cost-Benefit Analysis

The next step is to determine whether drilling a well is a more costly or worthwhile endeavour than simply connecting to a public water supply. You’ll need to assess the risks involved: what are the chances of finding an inadequate water supply upon drilling or water of sub-par quality? What are the initial and ongoing costs of drilling and maintaining a well? How long do you have to wait before you can connect to a public water supply?

If you determine that the benefits of drilling a well outweigh the costs, then it’s time to do some research. Ask around: have your neighbours drilled any wells? Do they know of groundwater supplies? People are a great resource and source of information, so make sure you use them!

Save money by knowing the depth and yield of a water source before you drill so you don’t wind up paying for a dry well.

On the Record

American Water Surveyors does the research to determine which wells have been drilled in your area. How deep are they? What is the quality of the water? How much did it cost? The answers to these questions will most often indicate what you can expect to find on your own property. That said, results can vary widely in some areas. To cover your bases, then, for a more accurate estimation, have a seismoelectric survey conducted prior to drilling by American Water Surveyors.

Map It

We access geologic and topographic maps in addition to well-drilling records. Geologic maps will help us get a general idea of the location of aquifers, as well as the rock formations in your area. Topographic maps, on the other hand, will show the surface features of your area and their corresponding elevations, and can be used to strategically plot the location of your well. Consulting both types of maps will help you determine whether an area has sufficient groundwater to make drilling a well a viable option.

It’s important that you know which features, rock formations and elevations indicate the presence of clean groundwater. To this end, consult with a professional who understands geological surveying.

Get Permission

If you do decide to drill a well, make sure you drill it legally. Find out which permits you need to obtain before drilling and any associated regulations. You may have to check with both municipal and state agencies to ensure you have the right permits.

For more information on drilling wells, e-mail American Water Surveyors at [email protected] with any questions or concerns you may have. You can also visit our website at www.wefindwater.com or call us at 877-SEISMOI (734-7661). We are more than happy to respond to all of your inquiries and look forward to hearing from you!