Can I drill a well in my area? (Jurisprudence and Geology)
Nothing beats the taste and quality of fresh clean water; many decide they want to drill a well on their property, and today I will answer if you can.
All in all. Yes, you can certainly drill a well in your area. However, the legal aspect of drilling a well depends on the location of your property. Certain water rights allow property owners to access groundwater sources below their property. However, they may vary by state.
In addition, drilling in urban areas may be limited due to pollutants and runoff into the water.
Below we will detail the aspects to consider when planning to drill a well in your area.
Legal aspects
The most important question about building a private well is whether it is legal.
Generally, property owners can legally build a private water well. There are general water rights that all states follow and that allow it. Learn more about these rights and other legal grounds for building a well.
Groundwater rights
Every state in the US must respect the same general water rights.
Wells are more connected to groundwater than surface water, so we will focus on groundwater rights.
Doctrine of absolute dominion
This doctrine allows property owners to use the groundwater present in their property for as long as they wish. The doctrine does not address its impact on other aquifers within the same aquifer.
Many states have ignored this doctrine because it allows industries to continuously pump large volumes of water without regard to groundwater supply.
Doctrine of correlative rights
The correlative rights doctrine states that aquifer property owners and those who wish to divert an aquifer have equal access to it.
This doctrine is mainly used for areas with a limited supply of groundwater.
Reasonable Use Doctrine
The wise use doctrine applies to almost all private well owners.
This doctrine states that the owner of a property has access to all groundwater under his property, as long as it is used "reasonably".
The definition of "reasonable" use varies by state. But the main principle underlying this is the responsible use of water resources without excessive waste. Most household uses, such as indoor and garden use, fall under the "reasonable" use category.
What groundwater rights apply to you?
There are many more groundwater doctrines, but those mentioned above are the most important legal considerations for private wells.
Most private wells are subject to the Reasonable Use Doctrine. You will respect most water rights if you operate within the wise use doctrine.
Please note that the legality of building a private well is mainly determined by the state in which you live. Check the regulations of your local health department and government agency to confirm if you are allowed to build one.
Permits and licenses required
A permit is required for anyone who wants to build a well.
You can apply for permits through the State Department of Water or Environmental Protection. The permit requires information such as the planned type of well, depth, amount of water, and purpose of the well. Some states charge a fee to apply for a permit.
In addition to the general permit, some states may require additional paperwork and special permits. Check with your local government or health department for any requirements.
Some states require a license before a well can be drilled.
The main reason for this is the dangerous underground conditions. Another reason is that the well is too deep for unlicensed personnel to dig. If your state requires a license, the best option is to hire a licensed contractor to take over the well construction process.
Can I drill a well in my area?
The most important stage in the construction of a well is the confirmation of the presence of groundwater.
Some locations are more suitable for drilling a private well than others. The general location of the property is a good starting point for determining if there is a drinking quality groundwater supply nearby. From there, you can determine the exact location to place the well with the help of maps and expert geologists.
Check the location of your property
Rural areas, especially near valleys, often have groundwater deposits hundreds of feet deep.
These water resources, called aquifers, are under layers of soil or bedrock. The groundwater quality from these springs is clean and unaffected by chemicals, making them excellent sources of drinking water. Many houses in the countryside have wells to collect clean drinking water.
Urban areas use piped water to supply the entire area with drinking water.
Unfortunately, it is difficult to provide private underground water supply in city property. Groundwater in urban areas has been filled with industrial chemicals and pollutants for years. In addition, household chemicals (such as weed killers) often end up in surface water sediments.
Well drilling at sites in urban areas is generally not allowed. Even if you have access to groundwater and have obtained the necessary drilling permits, you still need to set up a water treatment system to remove chemicals from the water.
Properties in rural areas are more likely to have access to a reliable source of groundwater and be officially approved by the local government.
Check for nearby wells
The easiest way to confirm the presence of groundwater reserves is to look for nearby wells.
Water sources, such as aquifers, extend hundreds of feet. Many communities and private estates use it to build wells. It is known that in some cities public wells are being built, where people fill their containers with fresh clean water. The presence of these wells is a simple sign of an underground water supply in your area.
If there are none nearby, you can try to look for decommissioned wells.
Geological survey records and government well drilling records allow tracking of previously exploited wells. These reports contain information about the depth of the well and whether it has access to groundwater. These records can show you if your property is under the water table and at what depth.
Property owners can access these records through their local government in person or online.
Consult maps and experts
Let's say you can't find the nearest wells. In this case, checking geological maps is a great way to locate groundwater resources.
Look for geological and topographic maps of your area. They show the geological features of the area, including aboveground and underground. Check these maps to determine if your property has adequate access to groundwater.
If you need more specific information or are looking for specific water resources, it is best to contact an expert geologist.
They have access to more recent and accurate information about the location of groundwater sources. Geological experts can also run water quality tests to make sure you get a safe groundwater quality.
Well drilling process
Let's say you have confirmed the presence of groundwater, and all legal considerations are in order. The next step is to build a well.
The actual drilling of a well is a simple process.
The well is located in an accessible and clean place on the property. The well should be located away from any potential contaminants such as animal pens and waste disposal systems. As a general rule, wells should be located at least 5 feet (1.5 meters) from the main building. You should consult your local government guidelines for other well placement guidelines.
Wells can be dug with abundant surface water, with little or no dense rock bed. Shovels and simple power digging tools are used to create a hole deep enough to access plumbing. Wells created by digging are usually no deeper than 25 to 30 feet (7.62 to 9.15 meters) and are called "shallow wells".
Wells that reach a depth of 300 feet (91.44 meters) or more are called "deep wells". To create them, the help of drilling rigs and other heavy equipment is required. For these types of wells, the state requires the employment of a licensed driller.
A casing pipe is inserted into a dug or drilled well to prevent contamination of the water supply.
The body is usually made of Grade 40 PVS or steel. It is already the diameter of the well. The hull is sealed in place with cementitious materials such as concrete or clay. Filters are inserted into the body to prevent sand and gravel from contaminating the water.
Pumping systems are part of the design of modern wells. This pressurizes the water and allows it to pass up the casing and into the pipelines. The property owner can choose between manual or motorized water pumps.
Finally, the well is closed with a sanitary seal. This cover is a sealed rubber gasket that prevents contaminants such as leaves, insects and other small animals from entering the well. (1)
Summing up
The short answer to the question of whether you can drill a well in your area is yes.
When drilling a well, there are many geological, legal and technical aspects. Conduct research on the geological structure of your property and regulatory water rights in your state. This information is critical during the well planning phase. (2)
Once you have checked all the considerations, access to high quality groundwater is just a matter of building a well.
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Recommendations
(1) contaminants - https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/observations/contam/
(2) geological structure - https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/geological-structure
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