Dry wells are always a concern however it’s not an issue that lasts for long. Even if it’s not rained for weeks, it’s possible to repair dry water wells with techniques that can reach the water that’s still trapped deeper.
Take a look at your situation
Before you start looking for solutions, ensure that your well is actually dry and isn’t just having issues with the pressure tank or pump or a build-up of mineral scale which is restricting the flow of water. A trained well technician will determine the level of water and evaluate the condition of your well to pinpoint the exact cause.
In the meantime there are some indicators to be aware of. If your well begins to dry up You may notice a decrease in water pressure, sputtering faucets or even sediment in the water. The pump could be running but not draw water.
It’s not common for wells to remain dry for a long time. When the water table is replenished by rainfall and you’ll be able to get water. However, in the event that your well isn’t running because of extreme drought, the best option is to locate an alternative source of water till it starts to rain again. Employing a water delivery company is one option, however the water they deliver shouldn’t be poured through your well. In doing so, it could harm the well, and could contaminate the water supply.
The Water Pump
It’s likely that your well is still stocked with water that is below the pump’s current level. If the well is submersible pumps, the most commonly used type for residential wells, lowering it to the current water level can let you draw water once more.
However, this isn’t going to be possible if you’ve got an air jet pump. Your well should also have enough depth to hold additional pipe. Even with the best pumps and the right depths, if your well is producing less than no water, then lowering the pump could not be worthwhile to get the water that is left.
It’s possible to complete this task yourself if skilled in well development However, it’s always recommended to speak with a specialist in well drilling in particular in the case of wells that are over 150 feet deep. Though deepening is typically the most affordable method to repair an unreliable water source the cost of hiring a technician to do the work can cost more than $1000.
The technician first needs to determine the condition of the well. In certain situations lowering the pump could affect the cooling of the motor, and is not recommended. The technician will determine the depth of the well and intake of the pump, and then evaluate the two. Then, they’ll put in another pipe on highest point of the hole, allowing the pump to travel to an even deeper depth.
Hydrofracture the well
Also called hydrofracking, this method for rehabilitating your well makes use of high-pressure water to wash off sediment and silt that’s impeding the cracks in your aquifer. This will allow the flow of water to your well. This is only an option if your well is drawing water from an Aquifer.
If it is successful, hydrofracturing could increase the yield of your property by between 1 and 3 Gallons per minute, in the average. The rate of success is approximately 97 percent, however there are instances when the geological conditions aren’t able to support an increase in flow.
The price typically ranges from $2,000 and $5000, however it’s usually less expensive than drilling a brand new well. The first step is to remove the pump, pipes cables, and any other components within the well. They’ll then lower a spherical packer that resembles a huge balloon into the well to then inflate it. The area under the packer will then be filled up with water that is clean to increase the pressure until it abruptly decreases, which indicates the blockage is gone. Then, the well-pushing equipment is installed.
After 48 hours, technicians will conduct an yield test to determine whether the process was effective. Since a lot of water is utilized during the process of hydrofracking so a test to determine yield in the early hours will result in incorrect results.
To deepen the Well
The deeper drilling option could allow you to tap into a different aquifer still transporting water. This is usually the most suitable option when the well you’re drilling is small. That is, not more than 50 feet in depth. A deeper well will provide you a greater drought-resistant supply as well as better quality water.
For wells that are that are deeper than 50 feet drilling just 10 feet might suffice to access additional water. A technician for drilling wells will evaluate the location and tell whether it’s worth the effort to locate more water further down. Drilling can be costly particularly in areas with a lot of sand as well as on slopes, and you’re not certain that you’ll ever find the water.
If the casing of your well does not extend over the ground level, an engineer must extend it in accordance with the latest safety standards. Before drilling, technicians will dismantle the pump as well as other equipment for the well. They’ll set up a drilling rig on top of the well. They’ll then clean, or ream the borehole in order to get rid of any the debris. They’ll then attach an instrument to drill the borehole.
With the amount of work involved, drilling a well isn’t always less expensive than drilling a new one. The cost will vary based on the conditions that your well is in, as well as the surrounding terrain as well as the level of your water table, among other variables.
Re-pipe the well
While many wells provide water with reliability for longer than 50 years the average life span is about 20-30 years, excluding replaceable components. If the well running out of water is older than couple of decades, it could be time to get the well replaced.
Before drilling, your drilling professional will employ groundwater exploration techniques to find the perfect location, which means there’s a low chance of coming out empty handed. In addition to providing you with water supply by drilling a new well, it also allows you to rectify any issues you weren’t happy with in your previous well, like the construction issue storage tank capacity and yield.
Since the techs won’t require any equipment removal or cleaning tasks to perform prior to starting drilling for a new well can be cheaper and simpler than deepening one that’s already been dug. The price varies greatly based on the terrain you’re in and the amount of depth required however, it’s usually around $5500. Also, you’ll need to get your old well sealed in accordance with the local rules to safeguard your water supply and avoid accidents.
A well that is dry doesn’t necessarily have to be a disaster. When the dry spell is brief period, simply dropping the pump is usually enough to restore the water source that is dry until the rains come back. In the event of prolonged dry spells Hydrofracturing or extending your well can help improve the supply of water and boost your yield for the future as well.
