The earliest documented windmills used to pump water were built in eastern Persia in the 9th century. Quite different from the windmills of today, they sat horizontally rather than vertically. They served a dual purpose: drawing water and grinding grain.
Well water is stored in a layer of underground rock that's often described as water bearing. By what other name is this type of underground water reserve called? If you guessed an underground "aquifer," you're right.
Most home water wells are only 6 to 8 inches in diameter, and are typically 10 to 60 feet deep. However, the wells in some areas can go as deep as 3,000 feet.
A dewatering well is drilled to lower groundwater levels in excavations so building footings and foundations can be constructed. Dewatering wells are more common in areas where the aquifer lies relatively close to the surface.
A standby well can be particularly useful during periods of drought. Often, it can be used as-is for irrigation and stock watering, or it can more easily be upgraded to meet drinking and household water needs.
One type of the modern water well is a driven well. Driven wells are created by driving a pipe into soft ground until it reaches clean water. A pump is needed to bring the water to the surface.
A water well extracts groundwater from an aquifer, which is a wet underground layer of water-bearing permeable rock or unconsolidated materials (sand, silt, or gravel).
A standby well can be particularly useful during periods of drought. Often, it can be used as-is for irrigation and stock watering, or it can more easily be upgraded to meet drinking and household water needs.
Typical wells that are used for extracting water from the aquifer are known as production or pumping wells. Smaller wells used to monitor or sample the groundwater are known as monitoring wells or piezometers.
Wells drilled solely for the purpose of accessing water intended for irrigation or to provide water for livestock are classified as agricultural wells. In most states, the standards for agricultural wells are less stringent, so the wells are less costly to drill.
A Master Ground Water Contractor (MGWC) is the highest level of well driller certification for water well construction and pump installation, and you should look for that designation in your area.
Finding the right spot to drill for a new water well can be tough considering the state and local requirements that you may have in your area. It is also important to make sure the well is far enough from other things like buildings, septic systems and possible sources of contamination.
Most wells today are drilled, but driven wells are still common. A pipe is driven into sand or gravel with a screen at the bottom to filter out small debris. Driven wells can only access water that is nearer the surface.
When performing caisson placement operations through dense or hard strata, we can bring in equipment for rotary boring in order to facilitate the construction and installation of piles with large diameters.
When your well is complete, you will be provided a well construction record. Keep the record, and pass it on to any future owners of your home.
When inspecting a new well for safe operation, it's always a good idea to check the surrounding area for potential sources of pollution, like: runoff from livestock pens, the presence of pesticides or fertilizer, or nearby underground tanks, like gasoline holding tanks, that could leak.
Did you know that drilled wells are the most sophisticated type of water well? The two main methods used to create these are simple hand-drilling methods or machine drilling.
There are several factors that need to be looked at before digging a well on a particular property. This includes the location of existing buildings' septic systems, buried gas or power lines, and any future building and construction sites.
Make sure you always maintain access around your well. Don't build near your well, and don't plant trees near your well, as you'll always need to have access for maintenance.
Care to guess the approximate number of water wells in the United States from all sources? If you guessed 15.9 million, you're right. Together they supply about 80 billion gallons of water each and every day.
Did you know that well water is better for you than chemically filtered water is? This is because it gives your body all the benefits of water without any additional chemicals that could pose health risks.
The filtration system used in well water is much more environmentally friendly than that of large water plants in urban areas, since water wells decrease chemical and industrial pollution during the filtration process.
