The first professional water well driller was a man by the name of Levi Disbrow, who in 1823 began digging water wells. Disbrow came from the salt industry and moved from the West Virginia and Ohio area to begin his drilling expeditions in the Potomac River.
If your well water is considered hard water, having excess calcium in it, you may want to find a solution for softening it. Hard water may lead to urinary issues including kidney stones, as well as build up in and on household pipes and cause plumbing issues as well.
Before drilling a water well, contact the county health department to find out what permits are required and what regulations must be followed. There may be setback requirements for potential sources of contamination such as septic systems, livestock, landfills, or agricultural runoff.
What is a GHEW? Good question. The acronym stands for geothermal heat exchange well and refers to wells drilled specifically for the purpose of delivering heat to or providing cooling for homes and buildings.
The top part of a water well is usually lined with plastic or steel well casing, with the space between (known as the "annulus" being filled with grout to prevent polluted surface water from migrating downward and contaminating the aquifer.
The most popular drill bit type is the drag bit. This bit features three short, strong drilling blades, each tipped with a carbide cutting edge. They have a cutting action that allows them to dig quickly through sand, clay, and soft rocks.
Because water was once seen as having healing properties, primitive folks would often make offerings to the spirits in the well and ask for blessings. This eventually gave rise to the notion of a "wishing well."
Did you know that the United States began digging water wells mechanically in 1808? The Ruffner Brothers near Charleston, West Virginia drilled the first well successfully at this time.
Water wells should be checked regularly for efficient operation and water quality. Can you guess how often the experts recommend having a private well inspected by a pro? If you guessed once a year, you're right.
Wells hit the mainstream at the beginning of the Iron Age around 1200 BC, and have been commonplace ever since. Most wells built in ancient history used wooden shafts and were lined with wickerwork or stone to prevent cave-ins.
In general, wells need to be able to produce about eight gallons of water per minute to cover the daily water usage of a family of four in a home.
Did you know that well water traditionally tastes much softer than city-filtered water? Many people prefer the softer taste that makes well water more refreshing than city water.
When it comes to drill site selection, remember that a 30 to 40 foot boom must be raised in the air to drill the well. Thus, such obstacles such as trees and power lines need to be taken into consideration, as well as other nearby utilities.
Can you name the three U.S. states with the largest number of irrigation water wells? If you guessed Texas, California and Nebraska, you're right. Crop irrigation currently uses the highest volume of groundwater reserves.
Did you know that by having a well drilled on your property (for private use) can earn you some money from Uncle Sam? In fact, numerous tax breaks, many of them quite handsome, exist for property owners who choose to have a well professionally installed!
Collecting opinions: Just purchased a new work truck in black. Do we keep it black & use a combination of silver & blue lettering? Or do we paint it blue like the one we are replacing?
Get a written contract from your water well contractor. The contract should specify the materials being used, disinfection methods, and cleanup procedures. Insurance information, guarantees and warranties, projected starting date, and itemized labor and materials charges must be included as well.
Did you know that over 15 million Americans get their water from private wells? Most of this is safe to drink and cook with but it’s important to test periodically to make sure there are not any hazardous chemicals or minerals.
Make sure your well materials meet or exceed the recommended standards for your area, and for community water supplies. Have your well inspected and water quality tested on a regular basis.
Over thirteen million households get their water from private wells, and about 800,000 wells are drilled each year in the U.S. for agricultural, household, and commercial uses. More than 7000 businesses employ over 30,000 workers to drill and service water wells in the United States.
Artesian well water is not naturally filtered by the aquifer, even though some may claim it. The water coming from an artesian well only states that the well it was collected from was under pressure which isn’t naturally filtered.
Water is typically extracted from a well by a pump (such as an electric submersible pump, mechanical pump, or hand pump). For some wells, the water is drawn up manually using buckets or other containers.
In 1934, the first relief well was created using controlled directional drilling. In Conroe, TX, a 170-foot crater swallowed an oil rig, spewing 6,000 barrels of oil per day. A directional relief well was drilled and mud was injected to “kill” the well.
We'll provide you a complete estimate for your well equipment after the well is drilled. This is because water depths and quality can never be guaranteed. We will design the pump system depending upon the characteristics of the well and your needs.
Mud motors are specialized downhole motors powered by the flow created from liquid drilling fluids, called drilling mud. Water-based mud (WBM) and non-aqueous or oil-based mud (OBM) are two common types. Drilling fluids keep the drill bit cool and move debris past the bit.
