If enough geothermal wells existed in the US, there'd be sufficient geothermal capacity to generate 100 gigawatts of energy a year. To put that in perspective, 1 gigawatt delivers enough energy for roughly 700,000 homes.
Well water can be treated by means of a filtration system, which physically filters out impurities, or a distillation system, which boils the water and condenses the steam as purified water.
A deep well costs more to drill, but it can save you time, headaches and money in the future. How so? Deeper wells provide greater protection against surface contaminants entering the water stream and are less likely to fail in times of drought.
Did you know that water wells can draw water using several different pumps? Some common ones are an electric submersible pump, trash pump, vertical turbine pump, hand pump, and mechanical pump.
Did you know if you drink five glasses of water daily it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%? Not only that, but it can reduce the risk of colon cancer by 45% as well as a 50% less chance of developing bladder cancer!
Until recent centuries, all wells were hand-dug, which means that people used shovels to dig below the water table. In some developing countries, these wells remain an important source of potable water.
Even though a water well will get you off city services, you are not completely off the grid since the pump operates on electricity. To prevent against surprise outages, it is a good idea to have a backup generator available to keep the water flowing.
Drilled wells can be drilled so deep that sometimes pumps are needed. Pumps are put at a certain depth in the wells to push the water up.
Diamond drilling tools helped construct the pyramids (2550-2315 BC). The Chinese drilled wells 2,000 feet deep and 14 inches wide as early as 600 BC. In Europe, the Carthusian monks started drilling water wells 1,000 feet deep in 1126 AD.
Your well casing should be at least 12 to 18 inches above the well, and the top of your well should be sealed with a secure well cap that is vented.
Before any drilling can begin, experts conduct extensive geological surveys and soil tests to determine the type, stability, and density of the material to be bored. This helps ensure boring can be completed safely, effectively, and efficiently.
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.
Springs are also called "risings" or "resurgences." These natural water sources exist were aquifers meet the ground surface. When you dig a well, you're replicating this situation, creating a direct line from the surface to an aquifer for water to flow through.
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.
Did you know that abandoned and unused wells pose a potential source of groundwater contamination, since they provide a direct access from the ground surface to the groundwater source? It’s important that you have any wells you are no longer using properly sealed up.
A cable tool drill, or "pounder" uses a heavy bit to pound its way downward into the earth. This process is slow, as the driller has to stop regularly so the broken rock can be bailed out of the hole.
How deep should your water well be? In most instances, it’s wise to look at water level fluctuations over a period of years and have the well drilled to the lowest expected water table level.
Well drilling so as to access deep-buried water isn't always accomplished using a drill. Though less effective, driving and boring is also used. In the past, well drilling was really well digging, and reaching drinking water was done by digging using any means necessary: e.g., shells, rocks, and by hand.
When you have a water well dug on your property to provide you with drinking water, the use and disposal of cleaning agents and other chemicals need to be closely monitored. If you use chemical fertilizer, it can leach into the ground water, creating a health hazard.
Geothermal wells use geothermal energy, such as hot springs, to heat and cool homes. Heat is either released into the home or pulled out of it.
There are actually three basic types of water wells, and all have to do with the way they're created. Can you name the three different techniques? If you guessed: drilling, driving and digging, you're right.
Depending on the formation at the bottom of a well, a screening device, filter pack, slotted casing, or open bore hole will be left to allow water to flow into the well.
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.
Did you know that having a water well can actually save you money on water costs? Not only can you receive several tax breaks, but you also have no water-usage fees.
