Get down and dirty with DIY well drilling
Digging a well by hand isn’t easy, but it can definitely be rewarding (and earn you bragging rights) if you do it correctly. However, this isn’t a DIY for everyone. In fact, if you don’t have extensive experience in similar projects, you should probably leave this one to a pro. A tiny misstep can leave you with a huge, hazardous hole in your yard and unclean drinking water. If you're confident in your abilities and have some experience, here’s how to dig a well by hand.
Water quality can have a big impact on personal health, which is why some jurisdictions require you to get permits or mandate that the job be done by a pro. You’ll also want to get information about nearby septic systems, utility cables, and other important underground systems on your property. Most states have an 811 call-before-you-dig hotline to help you with this process.
Permit requirements and local laws got your head spinning? Call in a pro just to be safe. They’ll have no problem pulling the required permits and ensuring the job is up to code. Drilling a well costs $3,000 to $9,000 when you hire a pro to do it.
Your well can’t go just anywhere. To find a spot that’s both easiest to drill and has high water yield, steer away from large rocks and boulders. Heavy sand and gravel deposits typically have high water yield and are easy to dig, and areas with dense vegetation or with nearby bodies of water can hint at water sources below the surface.
The location is very important because it determines the quality of your water. If you make a mistake here trying to DIY a well, you may not have safe water after all the work you’ve put in. It’s always safest to hire a pro to dig a well for you.
For access to fresh and clean water, ensure your well’s location is far away from any unsanitary areas, such as septic drainage fields, sewage lagoons, or animal pens. Bacteria can seep into the groundwater in these areas and contaminate the well, which can result in serious illness. The exact distance varies depending on your property’s soil type, the direction of the groundwater flow, and other factors, but most professionals recommend at least 100 feet between your well and contaminated areas.
Once you’ve determined the right spot for your well, it’s time to start digging. You can choose between a hand auger or a well point for this task, both of which should create a hole just wide enough for your well pipe to fit in the ground. You’ll use some of the dirt later to pack in the well, but you can otherwise repurpose it for your landscaping, garden, or other parts of your home. The actual depth of your well depends on the terrain and other factors, but most shallow wells range from 10 to 30 feet.
To dig a hole with a hand auger, start by turning the device in a clockwise direction in the ground to displace the soil. Remove and empty the auger when it’s full, then continue this process until you reach your desired well depth. If your auger is too short, you can extend it with a drill rod.
The well point method requires fewer tools than the hand auger method. Using a PVC well pipe and a sharp well point attached at the end of the well screen, drive the well point down into a small pre-dug hole. Depending on how tough the soil is, you can use a rubber mallet, hammer, or wrenches to drive the pipe into the ground. As you screw the well point into the ground, add pipe extensions by screwing the joints together.
After you dig the well, you can install the well pump. If you opt for the well point method, the PVC pipe will already be in position in the ground. If you use an auger or another method, you’ll need to position your PVC pipe in the ground. Before you lower it into the ground, make sure you have a cap on the bottom to reduce sediment as well as a foot valve to create a one-way water flow. To secure it in place, you can choose to pack the area around the pipe with excess dirt, gravel, cement, or a bentonite and sand blend.
Installation can vary between different types of pumps or manufacturers, but they follow the same general guidelines. With an adaptor on the pipe, attach the well pump and make sure it’s fitted to be air and watertight.
Before you start enjoying your fresh well water, take a few samples to send to a local lab to test and verify that no bacteria or other contaminants are present. You can also purchase home testing kits that allow you to periodically check on the quality of your well water. Finally, install a well cover that can protect your water and well from weather, pests, and other hazards.
Some jurisdictions may not allow DIY well digging, and it can take substantially longer when compared to a professional. Digging a well by hand also limits you to shallower depths—any deeper than 30 feet, and you’ll probably need a drill to safely do the job.
Hiring a local water well driller can be more costly, at $3,100 for a 50-foot well, but it comes with its own advantages. Professionals are familiar with legal and safety requirements and have the right toolkit of equipment and experience to install your well safely and efficiently. This is especially true if you want a deep water well that requires a drill for installation. Keep in mind that factors such as the soil type, well pump size, and type of well can influence the final cost.
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