Get matched with top land surveyors in Harlan, IA

Professional well contractors may use electromagnetic mapping to look for places with a high likelihood of water. Water access can vary significantly, even on the same property, so it can be difficult to know where to drill if you don’t have specialized tools to look for water.

Depending on the type of land survey, the report will mark the boundaries of your property, the topographical changes of the landscape, as well as major natural and added structures to the plot. A more detailed survey, like an as-built survey, will note the measurements of the structures and landscape following major construction. A topographic survey will also help your contractor determine the cost of land development projects.

There are a couple of ways you can determine the depth of your well. One method is to use a device called a well sounder. This tool has a long measuring tape containing a sensor to alert you once the end reaches the water. 

Or you can DIY it by using a long tape measure with a half-filled bottle of water attached to it. Lower the tape measure into your well. Once you feel tension on the tape, you’ll know the bottle has reached your static water level. This will give you an approximate idea of your well’s depth.

Prior to excavation, you should prepare the dig site and call 311 before you sign anything.

To get your site ready for excavation, you should move anything in the area that isn’t affixed to the land. You can save money on the excavation by removing hardscaping, including walkways, decks, concrete patios, and paver patios.

Before you carry out any digging, you should call 311 to confirm that there are no utility lines running through your excavation site. Skipping this step could lead to severe injury and property damage if your excavator hits a water, sewage, or gas line.