For many homeowners, businesses, and communities in Colorado, the question arises whether to tap into the water grid or opt for self-sufficiency with water well drilling. At GeoWater Services, we are here to provide comprehensive insights into the advantages and disadvantages of drilling a water well, ensuring that you can make an informed decision that best serves your interests.
With competitive price and timely delivery, JCDRILL sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.
Installing a water well on your property puts you in control of your water supply. This autonomy ensures you are not subject to municipal water restrictions or potential infrastructure failings. It's a dependable source for you and future generations.
After the initial investment in water well drilling and setup, you'll significantly reduce your monthly water costs. Without the need for paying utility bills for water, the well begins to pay for itself, often resulting in long-term financial savings.
Well water is often praised for being naturally rich in minerals and free of additives such as chlorine and fluoride. For those who are health-conscious or prefer the natural taste of water, a well can be an excellent source.
A private well is generally more eco-friendly, as it requires less energy to operate compared to the energy and chemicals used in processing and transporting municipal water.
Properties with private wells can be more attractive to buyers looking for the benefits of an independent water supply, which can drive up the property value.
Drilling a well is a significant investment. The initial costs comprise drilling, pumps, storage tanks, and water treatment systems.
Owning a water well comes with the responsibility of maintenance. Yearly inspections by professionals like GeoWater Services are crucial to prevent larger issues and ensure the longevity of your well.
Although infrequent, private wells can be subject to contamination if not properly located, constructed, or maintained. This risk underscores the importance of engaging experts for installation and routine checks.
During periods of drought or low groundwater levels, well owners could be affected by water scarcity. This is where GeoWater Services' expertise in water storage solutions becomes an invaluable asset.
There are various local laws and regulations governing water well drilling that must be observed. Navigating these can be complex without experienced guidance.
At GeoWater Services, our commitment to your satisfaction includes not only providing top-notch water well drilling services but also ensuring you're fully informed about what owning a well entails. Our knowledge and expertise are at your disposal when trying to decide if a water well aligns with your needs and expectations.
Should you opt for water well drilling, you can rely on our one-stop resource, prompt service, reliability, and professional integrity. We are here to guide you through every step, from initial consultation to long-term maintenance.
Contact GeoWater Services today to explore your options and join the ranks of those enjoying the independence and benefits of water well ownership. We proudly serve the Colorado Mountain Communities, Denver Metro Area, and Colorado Front Range.
Contributed by Stephanie Evans, Staff Geologist, PPM Consultants
There are several well drilling methods that can be used, and choosing the best option for your specific situation will depend on several factors. Let's take a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages of some popular drilling techniques to determine which might be the best option for your project.
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Auger Methods: Augers have the appearance of a screw, where the screw threads (flights) carry the materials to the surface through the rotation of the drill stem. The bottom of the drill stem is equipped with a bit to help the auger advance into the ground. This method is useful in relatively shallow unconsolidated soils.
Pros: It does not require circulation fluids, which makes site clean-up easier than some other drilling methods. The rapid drilling into soils with a lot of clay can save time and money.
Cons: The augers must be removed and sampling done in an open hole, therefore, it is not appropriate for sampling materials (loose, sandy soils) that will cave in when the augers are removed. It does not do well below the water table due to water infiltration.
Pros: It allows for uncontaminated sampling in formations of unconsolidated soils. Since drilling fluids are not generally used with this method, there is no interference with the groundwater quality by the introduction of fluids into the borehole. It can be used to sample water quality at varying depths as the boring is advanced. Hollow-stem augering excels in non-cohesive soils such as sand and gravel. Rapid drilling into soils is relatively easy and cost-effective.
Cons: It cannot penetrate cobbles, boulders, and most rock formations. Its use is limited in loose, sandy soils where water table infiltration can contaminate sampling (sampling in loose soils requires alternate sampling equipment like a split spoon). Another challenge when using hollow-stem augers is trying to drill with flowing sands. Flowing sands is a term that drillers use when referring to a mixture of fine sand and water that infiltrates drilling equipment. The flowing sands can rise upward in the hollow-stem auger and prevent a driller from obtaining an accurate sample.
Direct-Push Methods: Direct push technology, often referred to as DPT, uses the weight of the static drill rig combined with a hydraulic/percussion hammer to advance sampling and logging tools into the subsurface.
Pros: DPT is commonly used in the remediation field due to its small footprint and versatility. It can rapidly and cheaply obtain samples and information in borings. It works well for unconsolidated materials. Essentially no drill cuttings are generated by direct push methods. This reduces the potential for worker exposure to hazardous contaminants relative to traditional rotary drilling techniques, as well as minimizing the generation of potentially hazardous waste during site investigation.
Cons: DPT is typically only useful at generally shallow depths and in unconsolidated formations. DPT is not suitable for formations containing large or excessive gravel, cobbles, and boulders or for bedrock drilling due to the lack of augering capabilities.
Rotary Methods: For rotary methods, borehole advancement is achieved by the rapid rotation -utilizing high levels of torque and rotation- of a drill bit that is mounted at the end of the drill pipe. Cuttings are then brought to the surface by the circulation of drilling fluid (drilling mud, water, foam, or air). The rotary methods are typically appropriate for deep boreholes in rock formations and can be used in both unconsolidated and consolidated materials.
Pros: It can be used to great depths (approximately 1,000 feet below ground surface or deeper) and the borehole can be advanced relatively fast. It can be helpful when determining the top of the water table as the air begins to blow the water out of the borehole with the cuttings.
Cons: This can be problematic for contaminant investigations, as when foam needs to be added to recover the cuttings it introduces foreign materials. The collected samples are poor and more expertise is needed to interpret the cuttings. This method may not be suitable for some unconsolidated formations as there is minimal control of borehole caving if unconsolidated sands and silts are drilled.
Pros: It can be used to make boreholes in which downhole geophysical logs can be run, can be drilled to great depth, and to get rock core samples. The borehole can also generally remain open after the drill stem has been removed.
Cons: The use of circulation fluids makes site clean-up more difficult than some other drilling methods. The drilling fluid can penetrate the formations changing the groundwater chemistry.
Sonic Methods: Uses high-frequency vibration (resonance) to reduce friction and advance the borehole. Drilling fluids (both liquid and air) can be used but are not required.
Pros: FAST ' very fast drilling compared to other methods. It is useful in a wide range of soil types, including soils with large particles that are typically very difficult to sample using other techniques. It is used for numerous applications in the fields of environmental geology, engineering geology, and economic geology exploratory holes. With the sonic method, you can drill at any angle and it allows for the installation of well equipment, and the collection of relatively undisturbed soil samples and rock core.
Cons: Depending on conditions, it may be more expensive than conventional drilling methods. Friction from the drilling processes can create high temperatures for the drill bit, and this can be unwanted because it can volatilize the organic compounds being screened reducing accuracy. However, well-trained sonic drillers know how to mitigate the heat using several different techniques.
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