Summary: By knowing a few key factors about New Mexico, you can increase your changes of a successful well dig on your first attempt.
Over 90 percent of the water supply in Mexico comes from ground water. This ground water is replenished by precipitation, both immediate and historical. Some of the water contained in the underground aquifers is hundreds of years old. Out of the annual precipitation, 97 percent is consumed by plants or evaporates. It is easy to see how water conservation is so important in New Mexico. It is also easy to see how important it is to know exactly where to drill, the first time, in order to get the best functioning well for your area. The cost of drilling a water well increases when you encounter unexpected issues or predicaments. The more knowledge you have before you drill, the more money you will save during the process.
Artisan Aquifers
An artesian aquifer is an aquifer that contains water that is under constant pressure. When you are drilling for a well and tap into one of these aquifers, you create a new opening for the pressure to release. The result is water that rises to the surface quite readily. The water flow on these types of wells are controlled through the structure that is placed over drilled well. These wells are more costly to drill then the traditional water well. If you accidently encounter and artisan aquifer while drilling, you can see a dramatic increase in the overall cost for your well drilling site and completion.
Permits and Licenses
All permits and licenses need to be obtained prior to drilling your underground well. Permits will expire one year after being granted. If your well is not completed during this time frame, you will need to apply for a new permit. If are you unsure about the area where you will be drilling, you can apply for an exploratory permit. If your drill is successful, you can then apply for a permit to use the well. Each additional permit applied for will increase your overall cost to drill your well.
There are required distances around previous structures that must be adhered to when drilling a new ground water well. It is important to be familiar with these distance requirements before you start the physical process of drilling your well. It is illegal to drill a water well in New Mexico if you are not a licensed well driller. While you are allowed to repair and maintain the pump on your own well, you must hire a licensed well driller to drill and construct the initial structure.
Well Placement
The location of your well is extremely important. You will want a drinking water well to be located in close proximity to your home. An irrigation well should have easy access to your crops and fields. All wells need to be in an area where its access is regularly maintained. There is a delicate balance between finding a good location for your well and drilling a well above a good flowing aquifer. A good well will be a good flowing well with a high yield of water, but still be located within a close distance to its intended area. A successful driller is a drill that finds this type of well on the first attempt.
We help you achieve this type of success by locating the best spot to drill and finding the depth and yield of the water. By knowing where to drill and what to expect, you can have that successfully drilled well on the first attempt. At American Water Surveyors, that is the type of result we love to see. Why spend extra money on unforeseen circumstances? Let us show you the best spot to drill your well, on the first attempt.
