SOME "DO'S" TO GUIDE YOU IN GETTING A GOOD WELL

 Check in advance on best possible water sources: i.e. neighboring wells.
 Select a reputable established water well drilling contractor and then have confidence in his judgment and recommendations.
 Insist on a written contract.
 Insist on full coverage insurance.
 Compare all hidden costs and materials rather than "per foot" charge.
 Locate the well properly from the standpoint of safety, sanitation and convenience.
 Insist on both a certified well log (the Ministry of Environment well record) and an invoice of work performed and materials used.
 Have the well casing extended a minimum of 2' above ground surface and the well properly grouted to prevent surface contamination.
 Select the proper type of pump recommended as best suited to your needs and capacity of the well, and have the pump installed by qualified pump person.
 Select a water system and all equipment, including piping, fitted to the capacity of your well and your water requirements.

What to look for when choosing a drilling contractor?

 Well drilling contractors who enjoy good reputations, use good equipment, high quality materials, modern techniques, and are proud of their profession. They belong to the Provincial Ground Water Association and learn the most modern techniques and methods. They understand and appreciate the need for better and safer wells, and have technical knowledge of the efficient and proper use of groundwater.

How much water is needed?

 Consider all present and possible future uses.
 Household - for all modern conveniences and appliances
 Whirlpool tubs or spas
 Lawn and garden irrigation
 Air conditioning
 Groundwater geothermal heat pump for year-round heating and cooling.

Water requirements

 Rule of thumb is 100 gallons per person per day for suburban living
 500 sq. ft. garden requires 35 gallons per day - mostly as rain
 Dairy Cow - 35 gallons
 Beef Cow - 10 gallons
 Sheep - 1-1.5 gallons
 Horse - 10-12 gallons
 Sow - 5-6 gallons
 Hens - 3-5 gallons per 100 birds  

Where should the well be located?

 Sanitation is the most important. Always locate the well at a higher elevation than the barnyard, septic tank and other drainage. Wells should also be located away from highways, as road salt is a potential contaminant in some areas. The well should be at least 100 feet from a septic field (yours or neighbors) and 50' from septic tank.
 Convenience for use of water, for installation of pump, and later maintenance of well and pump. DO NOT put the well in a basement, under a paved driveway, under power lines or under the eaves of a building.
 100 feet from septic subsurface tile fields
 50 feet from barnyard or septic tank

How do I prepare my site for drilling?

 The drill site should be cleared of all over hanging trees and bushes. It also needs to be fairly level with reasonable road access.

Low yield wells

 In some areas, the aquifers do not produce the quantity of water expected from a domestic well (1/2 - 10 gallons per minute). With a proper storage tank (or storage in the deeper wells), wells producing as little as 1/2 gallon per minute can be adequate for domestic needs.

How can we manage if our well only has a low yield?

With a deep bedrock well, there will be water stored in the borehole of the well as the water rises up to the static level (The level at which the water stands in the well when no water is being removed, either by pumping or free flow). In a 6" well each foot of water depth in the well is equal to 1.5 gallons. A well with 300' of water will give a storage capacity of 450 gallons, or the ability to pump the well at 4 gallons per minute for 100 minutes.

 1 gallon per minute = 1440 gallons per day
 1/2 gallon per minute = 720 gallons per day
 500 gallons per day = .35 gallons per minute
 1' in a 6" well = 1.5 gallons of water storage

Groundwater facts

 Groundwater is preferable to surface water. Groundwater from deep, drilled wells is naturally filtered and is clean, clear and pure. Some shallow wells can have contamination problems. Less than 1% of all groundwater is contaminated and in most cases is easily and affordably treated. By contrast, most surface water (lakes and rivers) is polluted and must be treated.

 Groundwater is a renewable, reliable resource. Deep-drilled wells recharge themselves. A deep drilled well will not normally fluctuate with the seasons and will provide a constant, steady supply of water.

Please feel free to contact us for any further information.