The
desired depth of a well determines the overall cost of the project.
The depth depends on various factors, most of which are out of your
control. Below are some of these factors.
Water
Table Fluctuations
The
water table is the upper limit of underground water. Water saturates
the ground below the water table, while the ground above is
unsaturated. The well will draw its water from the underground water
so it should be deep enough to reach the water table.
Unfortunately,
the water table is not a static line. The water table varies by:
- Season
- Location
- Local groundwater
use
Your
well should be deep enough to reach the lowest possible level of the
water table. Otherwise, the well might lack water during some parts
of the year.
Surface
Contamination
The
presence and nature of surface contaminants also determine the depth
of the well. The well must be deep enough to avoid contamination.
Potential contaminants include:
- Chemicals, such as
nitrates, from fertilizers
- Microorganisms,
such as bacteria, from septic systems
- Chemicals, such as
ammonia, from household cleaning products
- Contaminants in
surface water that feed underground water
Proper
siting of the well should help avoid such contamination, but that is
not always the case. The deeper the well is, the more contaminants
will filter out by the time the water reaches the well.
Water
Quality
Underground
water tends to accumulate in aquifers, large underground rocks
permeable enough to accumulate water. The quality of underground
water tends to vary by aquifers. For example, some aquifers contain
more mineral contaminants than others.
If
you have poor quality aquifers in your area, your well must be deep
enough to avoid the contaminated areas. That way, you can bypass and
case off the poor-quality aquifers so that they don't contaminate the
well water.
Aquifer
Yield
Your
well should also be deep enough to provide your required water
quantity. The quantity of water a well can produce depends on:
- The depth of the
well
- The diameter of the
well
- The vertical
distance from the bottom of the well to the water table
Underground
water quantity varies by location and depth. You don't have to dig
very deep if an aquifer is permeable enough and properly saturated
with water. The required depth increases if the aquifers in your area
don't carry enough water.
Desired
Water Quantity
The
drilling depth also depends on how much water you expect from your
well. Your expected water quantity depends on how you plan to use the
well. For example, you may want your well to provide water for:
- Everyday use in the
house, such as drinking, cooking, and plumbing needs
- Landscaping water
- Swimming pool use
- Your animals
The
more water you need, the deeper the well should be. Otherwise, you
might run out of water prematurely every day or on days of heavy
usage. Get an estimate of your water needs, and your driller will
calculate the appropriate water depth.
Government
Regulations
The
government has a say on how deep your well can be. Most of the
regulations specify the casing depth. Adequate well casing helps to:
- Maintain the
structural integrity of the well
- Confine groundwater
to its zone
- Prevent well water
contamination
For
example, if the casing requirement is 30 feet, then you well must
exceed that depth to meet the casing requirement.
The
calculation for appropriate well depth involves many factors. Action
Well and Pump has over three decades of experience in well drilling,
servicing, maintenance, and restoration. If you want to drill a
well, contact
us
today
so that we can help you get clean, safe, and adequate water for your
home.
