Supply your property with a consistent off-grid water source, and save a bundle of cash, by drilling your own well.
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Drilling a well by hand is a lot of work, but it can be done with the right equipment. Whether you're looking to drill a shallow or deep well, this skill is perfect for those seeking self-reliance.
Wells are normally drilled on private land where city or rural water isn't available. It's possible to hire a licensed professional to provide this service but you can expect to spend several thousand dollars. If you want to save money, you can do it yourself, but prior to getting started, you need to research local regulations.
Each state or county will have its own list of requirements and regulations. These can be found online or at your county courthouse. When asking about these regulations, make sure you explain that you will be drilling the well yourself and on your own land.
Once you receive a green light to move forward, it's time to learn more about your land. Go to the county agriculture extension office to find out what soil type you have. This could include sand, clay, rock, or a combination.
The local courthouse may also have well drilling logs from professional well drillers. These will include things like when they hit first water, what type of soil condition they encountered, and how deep they drilled the well. This could be helpful information but do remember that every property is different. The very first step might be determining how deep you need to drill.
On most North American homesteads, water is typically present about anywhere you would dig, though in some areas that depth will be deeper than others.
Things to consider when choosing a well location are: convenience, a power source, and location. It's very important the well be uphill from any septic system or barn runoff.
The final thing to do before drilling is to contact utility companies to make sure you don't hit any underground pipes or lines. Sometimes this information can be found on your original land plot, but it's always good to double-check.
Drilling a shallow well is a pretty simple task, going down about 25 feet or so when you hit first water (at least in my location). This type of well could be drilled in a weekend by hand using a general purpose, extendable post-hole auger.
This type of well can be cased off with a manual pump and used for irrigation. This would be more of an emergency setup that could also provide water needs at a weekend cabin in the countryside.
Shallow wells have a difficult time keeping up with average water usage. It's estimated each person uses between 80 and 100 gallons of water a day. Imagine storing 20, 5-gallon jugs a day per person.
The majority of our water usage comes from flushing toilets and bathing. If you multiply that by a family of four, it's easy to understand you would need a deeper well to keep up with demand.
Professional well diggers will often recommend a depth of 200 feet or more, but remember, for hundreds of years every well in this country was hand-dug and that's how people survived.
Also remember, licensed well diggers get paid by the foot, so sometimes they drill further than they have to. So, if you decide to hire this out, do your research and make sure to write down where first water is normally hit in your area. And keep in mind that first water may not be the best, can dry up in some years, or may not be able to keep up with demand; all of these things need to be considered.
A pneumatic drill is like a giant eggbeater driven by compressed air. This tool can drill a 200-foot well in a matter of days or weeks, depending on the soil type, and can be purchased online.
In addition to the drill, you'll also need a very powerful air compressor to run the equipment. These can easily cost two or three times as much as the drill. A couple of ways to keep costs down include purchasing a used compressor, or purchasing a new one and then after the project is completed, selling the almost-new equipment for a few hundred dollars less than what you paid.
You can choose between, gas, diesel or electric-powered compressors. An electric compressor will cost you less to run and be more dependable. We chose a compressor powered by gas because our well project was several miles away from the homesite.
Wait to schedule time off work for drilling until all the equipment has arrived and everything is set up and working correctly.
Supply list for a 100-foot well
This brings us to the drill setup. This will require a day of planning before drilling begins. Most home improvement stores will carry almost everything you need.
Step 1: After purchasing the necessary supplies and choosing the drill location, begin digging the main drill hole with an auger or post-hole digger. Dig about 4 or 5 feet. Then, if necessary, cut the 8-inch PVC to fit the hole, allowing 4 inches to stick above ground. In the side of the PVC pipe aligned with the settling pond (see Step 2), drill a hole large enough to insert the 2-inch connecting PVC pipe.
Step 2: Dig a shallow settling pond 10 feet behind the well, no less than 4 feet across. Then dig a shallow 8-inch ditch connecting the pond to the well hole. Connect these spaces with 2-inch PVC pipe and cover. This pipe will transfer clean water from the pond to the drill hole. The pipe opening in the pond will need covering with netting so debris doesn't flow back into the well.
Step 3: Insert the 55-gallon drum at the edge of the pond, secure with stakes, and face the opening toward the well. The drum catches water from the well and empties into the pond where clean water will flow from the pipe back into the well.
Step 4: Attach 1-inch PVC pipe to the pneumatic drill using PVC glue and secure with duct tape to prevent leaks. Use a marker every 5 to 10 feet so you can keep track of how far down you have drilled. Rest the other end of attached PVC pipe in the 55-gallon drum. While the drill is running, mud and water will enter the pipe through small holes above the drill and be pushed up by the compressed air, traveling through the pipe into the drum and settling pond to be cycled back into the well hole.
Step 5: The air compressor will need to be set up and connected to the drill. Use duct tape to secure the air hose to the PVC pipe to keep it out of the way while drilling.
Note: Depending on your soil type, you may not need the 8-inch PVC. Our soil, for example, is hard clay and stable enough to keep the hole from collapsing without the pipe.
Drilling a well with this tool can take anywhere from 15 hours to weeks depending on the soil type, so make sure a chair is handy and you're working with at least three people. One to operate the compressor, another to drill, and a third for breaks.
The air supply to the drill should never be turned off while the drill is underwater. If this happens, you'll have to stop drilling and clean the motor before starting back up. This can take time and delay progress, which means it's important that your drill team understands the process from start to finish.
Begin by filling the well hole with water. Turn the drill on before inserting, and then begin drilling. The bit will drill through all soil types, but when it hits clay or rock the process will slow down. Don't get frustrated, just keep drilling and, before you know it, first water will be hit.
Move the drill in an up, down, and side-to-side motion as this will help the drill drive through the soil. The motion should be constant but not forceful; the drill will do the work. When you reach the point of needing to add more pipe, pull the running drill from the hole and, once it's out of the water, turn the air pressure off. As you add pipe, secure each addition with PVC glue.
Add the next several feet of pipe and start again. Once the desired depth is reached, it's time to case off the well. Casing is a matter of inserting SDR 35 pipe and securing in place with pea gravel and concrete. To do so, drill a hole through both sidewalls of the first piece of pipe, 2 or 3 inches from the bottom so you can attach the rope to lower the pipe into the well. When the top of the pipe is even with the ground, apply PVC glue and attach the next piece of pipe. Let dry for 15 minutes and then continue to lower down and add pieces as you go to meet the depth of the well. The last piece of pipe will be cut about 3 feet above ground level and capped off.
Pour pea gravel between the casing and the dirt. Next, mix the concrete and pour between the ground and casing. This will prevent the well from becoming contaminated from runoff. Once this is complete and you've added a well pump, you'll need to run the well for a couple of days until the water is clear, and it's always a good idea to get the water tested before using it for drinking.
Drilling a well can be a long process, but if you can save money and learn a new skill at the same time, why not give it a try? It's a matter of getting back to basics and doing more for yourself.
Related:From wells to rivers, check out these options for supplying water to your off-grid homestead.
Carole West is a freelance writer, photographer, author, and founder of the blog Garden Up Green. She lives in the north Texas countryside with her husband, Robert. They live a peaceful life where they spend most of their time establishing Quail Grove, a tiny homestead community.
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See full bioWhether you live in a rural area or simply prefer getting your water from a private source, installing a well on your property has numerous benefits. You won't have to pay a monthly water bill, and you'll have some control over your water's mineral and chemical contents. However, drilling deep enough to access clean water can be expensive, and you'll need to store and purify the water once it gets to the surface.
On average, drilling a water well costs $3,500'$15,000, depending on several geological and technological factors. You may be able to dig a shallow well yourself, but it's best to hire a professional contractor for a well that will provide water for an entire home. This guide outlines the well installation process and its costs.
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GET QUOTEWells require maintenance and occasionally require repair. Here are signs that you may need a professional well company to do an assessment. You may only have to pay a service fee if your
home warranty covers well pumps
or well systems.
There's low water pressure or no water at all.
Your well yields are discolored, foul-smelling, foul-tasting, or contaminated water.
The pump continually turns on and off, even when you aren't using your well.
You've been through a dry season, and the water flow to your home is sputtering.
It's been more than 10 years since your well pump was installed.
The pump is making loud noises.
There's visible damage to the well.
Your electric bills rise due to an overworking pump.
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Though $3,500 to $15,000 is a wide range, it's hard to narrow it down without knowing the specifics of your property. The cost of your project depends on the following factors.
You'll need hardware to create a functional water well system, which increases cost.
The deeper your well needs to be to reach water, the more it will cost to drill and install.
Installation processes that require specialized or powerful machinery are more expensive.
Different types of wells serve different functions and have different costs.
The deeper you need to dig, drill, or drive, the longer the job will take and the more labor it will require. Most residential wells need to be at least 50 feet deep and have an average depth of 300 feet, but how far you need to drill to hit water depends on geographic factors. Accessing state and local geological surveys and learning about existing wells in your area will give you a better idea of the depth you'll need. The table below includes price ranges for various depths.
Depth in FeetPrice Range50
$1,775'$3,060
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100
$3,550'$6,120
150
$5,325'$9,180
200
$7,100'$12,240
250
$8,875'$15,300
300
$10,650'18,360
350
$12,425'$21,420
400
$14,200'$24,480
Shallow, residential water wells are the least expensive to dig or drill. Sand point wells, which are shallow and can be driven by hand or machine, are similarly inexpensive but don't usually provide a home's entire water needs. Geothermal wells are relatively inexpensive on their own, but installing one costs tens of thousands of dollars.
Artesian wells that drill into an aquifer are more costly to drill but less expensive to run. Irrigation wells are the most expensive because they handle the highest volume of water, though residential irrigation is much less pricey than commercial irrigation.
Here are the costs for each type of well.
Well TypePrice per FootTotal CostArtesian well
$25'$85
$5,000'$15,000
Geothermal well
$15'$40
$3,500'$5,000
Irrigation well
$50'$100
$5,000'$75,000
Residential well
$25'$65
$3,750'$15,300
Sand point well
$10'$25
$200'$3,000
Digging is the least expensive way to create a well, but it's limited to about 100 feet in depth. Digging can also be thwarted by highly compacted or rocky soil. You can create a shallow well of up to 50 feet by driving a small-diameter pipe into the ground and removing the soil from inside. However, most residential-scale well projects require a drill to excavate.
MethodPrice per Square FootDigging
$10'$25
Drilling
$15'$100
Driving
$10'$25
Modern well systems consist of much more than a hole in the ground and a bucket on a rope. Here are some mechanical components that go into a working water well.
Well-casing pipe supports and protects the well's walls, so it needs to be sturdy. This pipe is typically made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), the most affordable option ($6'$10 per linear foot). Galvanized or stainless steel casing is also available for a premium ($30'$130 per foot). Steel may be necessary for earthquake-prone areas, as it's much less susceptible to cracking and breaking. Casing pipe costs $630'$2,400, depending on its length.
Most wells need electrical wiring to operate the pump and pressure switch. These components aren't expensive ($50'$150), but a licensed electrician needs to install them, costing $150'$500.
Some people assume that well water is cleaner than municipal water, but municipal water goes through a strict treatment process that water from private wells doesn't. If you're using a well for drinking water or other residential applications, you'll need a purification system to rid the water of contaminants before you can use it. Whole-home water treatment systems cost $500'$3,000, plus another $200'$400 for installation.
Once the water is brought to the surface and purified, it needs to be stored and pressurized so you can use it in your home. A 2-gallon water tank can cost as little as $100, but if you're going to use well water for most of your needs, you'll probably need a large pressure tank that costs between $1,400 and $2,400.
One of the most critical parts of the well system is the water pump, which brings groundwater to the surface. A hand pump for a shallow well can cost as little as $150'$500, but most electronic pumps cost between $300 and $2,000, depending on how powerful they are. A shallow well can sometimes use an aboveground surface pump, but a deep well usually requires a powerful, more expensive submersible pump that sits below the water line and pushes the water up. Some artesian wells can get away without using a pump system since the groundwater is already under pressure and may be pushed to the surface naturally.
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The above factors are the biggest cost variables, but here are a few other things to consider when estimating your project's price.
Your location determines your climate, water table depth, and the type and condition of the bedrock. It will also affect labor costs. For example, Florida is a relatively inexpensive place to dig a well because it has a high water table and an average cost of living. The price is higher in desert states like California, Texas, and Arizona.
You'll need to check with your state and local government about permits for any project that involves digging in the ground. Permits can cost anywhere from $5 to $500 depending on where you live, but a well drilling company can help you determine which ones you need.
The farther a well is located from your house, the more expensive materials and labor will be. You'll require longer pipes and electric lines, usually at an additional cost of $50'$150 per linear foot.
Drilling an existing well deeper is less expensive than installing an entirely new well. Redrill fees are usually $300'$600, and a professional can typically complete the job in a day.
Dry and rocky soil conditions, as well as dense bedrock or heavy clay, can make well drilling more difficult and thus more expensive. You may require heavy or specialized machinery, which can add up to 150% of the base price to your total.
Before drinking water from your well, you'll want to test its quality to make sure it's safe. Do-it-yourself (
DIY) water testing kits
are available for $50'$150, but if this is going to be your home's primary water supply, you should hire a pro. This can cost between $100 and $500, but it's well worth checking for the presence of viruses, bacteria, fungi, heavy metals, radon, pesticides, and other contaminants.
If you're installing a well to live off the grid, you'll also need a way of dealing with wastewater that doesn't involve hooking up to the municipal water system. Many professional well drillers can install a well and septic system at the same time, which will save you money on labor. A
septic tank installation
costs $2,000'$7,000 on its own or $5,000'$22,000 when combined with a well system.
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One benefit of installing your own well is that you'll no longer need to pay municipal water bills. You'll only need to pay for the electricity to operate the pump (about $3'$4 per month), plus maintenance costs of $100'$250 per year. Compared to a monthly utility bill of $20'$40, you can save up to $500 a year.
It's possible to install a well yourself, but it's more complicated than digging or drilling a hole in the ground. Here's what you can expect from the process, whether you do it yourself or hire a professional.
Well installation professionals have the tools and experience to drill plus install the casing, pump, well cap, and other hardware. They also know how to adjust the process if they encounter anything unexpected under the soil and can help you apply for permits. You'll pay at least $1,500 in labor costs on top of the well equipment and may pay $10,000 or more for deep wells in poor soil conditions.
Digging or driving a shallow well in an area with a high water table is within the capability of dedicated DIYers. However, you must ensure you go deep enough to get to truly clean water beneath the contaminated runoff in the upper layers of soil. These shallow, driven wells also provide a limited water supply. You can rent a drill rig for $600'$800 per day for larger, deeper wells, but this will only give you the borehole; you'll also have to install all the hardware yourself.
Steps to follow
Here are the general steps that go into drilling your own well.
Choose a location on your property and check local geological survey records to ensure there are accessible water sources underneath.
Obtain state and local permits for excavating the ground.
Decide whether drilling, digging, or driving is most appropriate based on the soil conditions and required depth.
Rent the appropriate equipment and excavate the hole.
Insert the casing pipe to support and protect the borehole and seal it in place.
Install the appropriate pump, storage tank, pipes, and electrical wiring.
Install a purification system and test the water quality before consuming it.
Drilled or dug wells can last as long as the walls hold up, but the equipment that runs them usually needs to be replaced every 20'30 years. The pump may fail, or the casing pipe may develop leaks. Replacements can cost up to $10,000 in materials and labor. You can extend your equipment's lifespan by performing regular checks and maintenance or by hiring a well company to do these for you.
It's also possible for a well to run dry. This isn't likely or always permanent since aquifers and other sources may need time to fill back up. A well may fill with sediment over time, which will need to be pumped and cleaned out. In rare cases, you may need to dig deeper or find a different fracture to regain water flow.
It's widely claimed that having a functional well will raise your property value, but there's no data on how much of a return on investment (ROI) you can expect. The consensus is that a well that yields drinking water will add more value than an irrigation well, but a nonfunctional or contaminated well will be a liability. Wells are generally more valuable in rural areas or where people want to live off the grid.
How Can You Save Money on Well Installation Costs?
Installing a well is an expensive project, but there are some ways to save money.
Install your well as close to your home as possible to reduce the need for lengthy wires and pipes.
Research your yard's soil and the depth you'll need to drill before purchasing a DIY well drilling kit. Just because the kit can go 100 feet into the ground doesn't mean you'll hit clean water.
Once the well is in place, connect it to hose bibs to use well water for washing your car and irrigating your lawn.
Get quotes from at least three well-installation services before hiring one.
It's important to acknowledge that many DIY well drilling kits are sold within the 'doomsday prepper' market. These kits are unlikely to be sufficient if you intend to use your well to fulfill most or all of your residential water needs. You're better off at least consulting with local professionals who will know about your area's geological features and water levels before starting the project. These professionals can help you make informed decisions about well installation.
A properly installed well can save you money on your utility bills and provide a private, unmetered water source. Make sure to budget for the drilling of the actual borehole and the equipment needed to pump and store the water, as well as water testing and purification if you intend to drink it. Your system should last for many years once it's set up.
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It can be worth it to install a well, depending on your needs and budget. Drilling a private well is a large investment, but if you live in a rural area or an area with poor water quality, it could increase your property value. Consult with local professionals before beginning to drill or dig.
The average well installation cost is $3,500'$15,000, including drilling and the casing, pump, and storage tank. Price can also depend on the depth of the borehole, ranging between $25 and $65 per foot.
The cost to hook a well up to a home's plumbing system depends on the machinery used to pump and carry the water. Piping and electrical lines cost $50'$150 per foot, a purification system costs $300'$5,000, and a pressurized storage tank costs $1,400'$2,400.
The time it takes to install a well depends on its depth and the conditions of the soil and bedrock, but drilling can usually be completed in a day or two. Installing the pump system takes another day. After that, it depends on how long and extensive the pipes and electrical system need to be. The whole process should take about a week.
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