- What do I do if I have a low producing well?
- What if I do not have a well log?
- How will I know how much water my well is producing?
- How do I get the water to my home?
- Do I need water treatment on my well?
- Should I have my water tested?
- What should I know before I hire a driller?
- I have decided to drill a well. What can I expect?
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What do I do if I have a low producing well?
The well log you are given when the well is drilled is very important for determining any future work to be completed on your well. This is the road map to your well. The options available to you will depend on the type of well you have. If you have a bedrock well you may be able to deepen it, hydro fracture it or do both. If neither of these options are available to you, you may want to consider a storage system or if you have two wells, using both wells with an alternator system.
The well log you are given when the well is drilled is very important for determining any future work to be completed on your well. This is the road map to your well. The options available to you will depend on the type of well you have. If you have a bedrock well you may be able to deepen it, hydro fracture it or do both. If neither of these options are available to you, you may want to consider a storage system or if you have two wells, using both wells with an alternator system.
What if I do not have a well log?
A down the hole video camera is instrumental in diagnosing a well problem. It allows the driller to inspect the casing, the well seal, rock formation and fractures.
A down the hole video camera is instrumental in diagnosing a well problem. It allows the driller to inspect the casing, the well seal, rock formation and fractures.
How will I know how much water my well is producing?
When your well is being drilled, the flow is being measured by the driller using compressed air with the rig. Water is measured by the flow as it is airlifted out of the well and by the rate of recovery. The most accurate method of testing is a pump test. The amount of time the well should be tested for is determined by the driller who knows depth and estimated rate of recovery. If you are buying a house, the well should be pump tested for a four hour time period to determine the exact flow. Some municipalities and bank have this requirement as well. Water levels should ideally be taken and the well should be allowed to stabilize ( if Possible) before the four hour pumping period officially begins. If the well runs out of water, the rate of recovery must be tested to determine how much water the well actually produces.
When your well is being drilled, the flow is being measured by the driller using compressed air with the rig. Water is measured by the flow as it is airlifted out of the well and by the rate of recovery. The most accurate method of testing is a pump test. The amount of time the well should be tested for is determined by the driller who knows depth and estimated rate of recovery. If you are buying a house, the well should be pump tested for a four hour time period to determine the exact flow. Some municipalities and bank have this requirement as well. Water levels should ideally be taken and the well should be allowed to stabilize ( if Possible) before the four hour pumping period officially begins. If the well runs out of water, the rate of recovery must be tested to determine how much water the well actually produces.
How do I get the water to my home?
Ideally a submersible pump is installed in the bottom of your well. The water is pumped from your well through underground lines and into a pressure tank located in the basement of your house. When you are talking to contractors get itemized estimates. Find out exactly what kind of materials are going to go into your well.
Ideally a submersible pump is installed in the bottom of your well. The water is pumped from your well through underground lines and into a pressure tank located in the basement of your house. When you are talking to contractors get itemized estimates. Find out exactly what kind of materials are going to go into your well.
Do I need water treatment equipment on my well?
Some wells may need some kind of system to treat for hardness, iron, sulfur etc. New wells should be used for at least four to six weeks before installing a treatment system. A new well continues to develop itself for a while and composition may change.
Some wells may need some kind of system to treat for hardness, iron, sulfur etc. New wells should be used for at least four to six weeks before installing a treatment system. A new well continues to develop itself for a while and composition may change.
Should I have my water tested?
Your well should be tested for total coliform before being used. If a well is properly constructed, you should not have a problem with bacteria in the water. Wells should be chlorinated on an annual Basis. Vermin proof well caps should be installed on the well at completion and the well head should be left 12” to 18” above ground.
Your well should be tested for total coliform before being used. If a well is properly constructed, you should not have a problem with bacteria in the water. Wells should be chlorinated on an annual Basis. Vermin proof well caps should be installed on the well at completion and the well head should be left 12” to 18” above ground.
What should I know before I hire a driller?
Before hiring any contractor get at least three estimates. Ask for references and check for proof of workers Compensation and Liability insurance. Did you know you may personally be responsible if the contractor you hire is not properly insured and there is an accident on your property. All Water well contractors in New York State must be registered with the Department of Environmental Conservation. Our registration is 10002. We must register annually. There must be one licensed well driller or pump installer on site working on your well. Registration & licensing requirements are available through the DEC website.
Before hiring any contractor get at least three estimates. Ask for references and check for proof of workers Compensation and Liability insurance. Did you know you may personally be responsible if the contractor you hire is not properly insured and there is an accident on your property. All Water well contractors in New York State must be registered with the Department of Environmental Conservation. Our registration is 10002. We must register annually. There must be one licensed well driller or pump installer on site working on your well. Registration & licensing requirements are available through the DEC website.
Well Expectations:
Considerations on Your New Well
Considerations on Your New Well
1) Drilling Time: A well can take anywhere from 1-3+ days to drill: depending upon site conditions, geology and depth of the well.
2) Expect a mess: The two trucks (drill rig and rig tender) each weigh >65,000 pounds and tend to leave tracks/ ruts in the yard: more-so when the ground is soft. Also, while drilling, the rig is continually lifting the drill cuttings out of the well and these are deposited on the ground as a slurry.
a. Access to the site must be provided: In addition to the weight, the rigs are 35 feet long and 8 feet wide each, and the rig is 35' tall with the mast up. Occasionally, we are restricted from getting onto the site and will require interventions, including: waiting until the site is dry or frozen (solid), using mud tracks ($400/hour), or even needing the customer to build a road.
b. Cleanup: Hawk Drilling Co. Inc. is not responsible for cleanup after the job is complete. this being said, we will do our best to limit the mess by using the drill cuttings to fill the water line ditch during pump installation. The yard will not look exactly the same afterward as it will be just "rough" grade. We would be happy to provide recommendations for yard cleanup and "finish/mower ready" grade, if the customer would like them.
3) Actual Well Depth: Your estimate is only an estimate. We take great care in our estimates, but you can never really know what the well will be until you start drilling.
4) Pump Installation: The well and pump installations are not done at the same time. As noted above the well may be different than estimated. W will need time to update the pump estimate(s), get your approval, and schedule excavation.
5) Chlorination: As per NYSDOH (Department of Health) regulations we chlorinate every well during the pump installation. We encourage the owner run the water via an outside faucet (or off the Pressure tank) to clear, before using the water in the house. This can take anywhere from 20 minutes to a couple hours (depending on well depth and yield). You may notice the chlorine as either a smell or a red tinge to the water. Once these are gone, feel free to use the water normally.
6) Clearing the Well: Some wells need time to clear sediment or cloudiness/color. This can take anywhere from a couple hours to weeks. We encourage you to take daily samples in separate clear bottles to be able to evaluate changes and settling. As a general rule, if it swirls, it settles- which means that it will likely clear from the well. If the cloudiness does not go away or settle, there is treatment available to filter the water. This issue is locational and is related to the strata the well is drilled through. Typically shale wells require more time to clear. There is no way to tell whether a well will need treatment, prior to drilling.
8) You may need Water Treatment: Not all wells need treatment, but water sources, locationally, can have elevated amounts of naturally occurring elements and compounds that may benefit from treatment. You can contact your local drilling company or talk with your neighbors (who have drilled wells) about potential water problems in your area. See our services page for water treatment options.
9) When to call:
a. Gritty sediment in the water (you can feel it when you rub it between your fingers),
b. No Water or Low Pressure,
c. Leak at the fittings,
d. Bursts of air when you turn on your faucet,
e. You would like to discuss Water Treatment,
f. Any other questions or concerns you have with your new well.
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Location & HoursHawk Drilling Company Inc.
354 Stone Church Rd. Ballston Spa NY 12020 (518)-885-7952 MONDAY - FRIDAY 8am - 4:30pm SATURDAY-SUNDAY Closed |