Frequently Asked Questions About Groundwater and Water Wells
Planning a new water well can raise a lot of questions. Find clear answers about groundwater, aquifers, well depth, drilling methods, water-well records, groundwater surveys, estimated yield, costs, and what to consider before you drill.
WaterFind USA helps property owners gather additional groundwater information before committing to a drilling location. Use the questions below to understand the process and prepare for a more informed conversation with your drilling contractor.
Groundwater & Aquifers
What is groundwater?
Groundwater is water stored below the land surface in saturated pores, fractures and openings within soil, sediment and rock.
It may occur in:
- Sand
- Gravel
- Sandstone
- Limestone
- Fractured rock
- Volcanic formations
- Other permeable geological materials
Groundwater is the source of water for many private wells.
Is groundwater an underground river?
Usually not.
Groundwater generally occupies pores and fractures within subsurface materials rather than flowing through large underground rivers or lakes.
Some limestone formations can contain larger solution channels, but this is not the typical condition for most groundwater systems.
Does every property have usable groundwater?
Groundwater may exist beneath a property, but the formation may not be able to produce enough water for the intended use.
Not necessarily.
Important factors include:
- Aquifer thickness
- Permeability
- Fracture connectivity
- Recharge
- Water quality
What is an aquifer?
An aquifer is an underground geological formation that can store and transmit useful quantities of groundwater.
For a formation to produce water effectively, it must have both enough space to store groundwater and enough permeability or connected fractures to allow groundwater to move toward a well.
How deep is groundwater?
Groundwater depth varies significantly by location.
It may occur close to the land surface, tens of feet underground, or hundreds of feet underground.
Depth can be influenced by:
- Geology
- Topography
- Recharge
- Drought
- Nearby pumping
- Seasonal groundwater conditions
Can groundwater conditions change across one property?
Yes.
Groundwater conditions can vary over relatively short distances.
Different locations may encounter different:
- Aquifer depths
- Rock formations
- Fracture zones
- Water-bearing layers
- Well yields
This is why the location selected for drilling can be important.
Finding Groundwater Before You Drill
How can I find groundwater before drilling?
No pre-drilling method can replace drilling and testing.
However, you can gather useful information before choosing a drilling location.
This may include:
- Reviewing nearby water-well records
- Reviewing geological information
- Comparing potential drilling locations
- Evaluating site access
- Conducting a groundwater survey
WaterFind USA uses advanced seismic technology and available well information as part of its pre-drilling groundwater site assessments.
Why should I evaluate groundwater before drilling?
Water-well drilling can be a significant investment.
Gathering site information first can help you compare potential drilling locations before committing to a borehole.
The objective is to reduce uncertainty and provide additional information for the property owner and drilling contractor.
Can nearby water-well records help?
Yes.
Nearby well records may provide information such as:
- Total well depth
- Static water level
- Reported yield
- Casing depth
- Geological formations
- Completion date
However, nearby records do not guarantee that another well will have the same depth or yield.
If my neighbor has a good well, will I also have a good well?
Not necessarily. Two nearby wells can have significantly different results because geology and groundwater conditions can change across relatively short distances.
One well may intersect a productive fracture or aquifer while another does not.
Is choosing the drilling location important?
Yes. The drilling method determines how the borehole is constructed.
The drilling location determines where the underground conditions are tested.
A different location can potentially encounter different geological and groundwater conditions.
Is choosing the drilling location important?
Yes. Groundwater conditions can vary over relatively short distances.
Different locations may encounter different:
- Aquifer depths
- Rock formations
- Fracture zones
- Water-bearing layers
- Well yields
This is why the location selected for drilling can be important.
Groundwater Survey & Electro-Seismology Questions
What is a groundwater survey?
A groundwater survey is a pre-drilling evaluation used to gather information about possible groundwater conditions beneath a property.
WaterFind USA uses seismic groundwater survey technology together with available site and well information.
What can a WaterFind groundwater survey estimate?
Depending on site conditions, the survey may provide interpreted information about:
- Possible aquifer depth
- Possible aquifer thickness
- Relative groundwater conditions
- Differences between survey points
- Potential groundwater-bearing zones
These results are estimates.
Can nearby water-well records help?
Yes. Nearby well records may provide information such as:
- Total well depth
- Static water level
- Reported yield
- Casing depth
- Geological formations
- Completion date
However, nearby records do not guarantee that another well will have the same depth or yield.
What is electro-seismology?
Electro-seismology is a geophysical method used to collect information about subsurface groundwater conditions. A controlled seismic pulse travels into the subsurface.
Interactions between seismic energy, geological formations and groundwater can produce measurable responses that are recorded and interpreted.
Can a groundwater survey guarantee water?
No. A groundwater survey cannot guarantee that a particular borehole will produce water.
Actual conditions can only be confirmed through drilling.
Can a survey guarantee a specific number of gallons per minute?
No. Survey interpretation may provide information about groundwater potential, but actual sustainable yield must be confirmed after drilling through proper well development and pump testing.
Water-Well Drilling
Who actually drills the water well?
The properly qualified or licensed water-well drilling contractor is responsible for constructing the well.
WaterFind USA provides pre-drilling groundwater information to support planning.
The contractor determines the final:
- Drilling method
- Borehole diameter
- Casing
- Well screen
- Well development
- Pump testing
- Construction requirements
What drilling methods are used for water wells?
Common methods include:
- Air rotary drilling
- Direct rotary drilling
- Cable tool drilling
Other specialized methods may also be used.
The appropriate method depends on the geology, depth, equipment and contractor experience.
What is air rotary drilling?
Air rotary drilling uses compressed air to remove cuttings from the borehole.
It is often effective in competent hard-rock formations.
Learn more about air rotary drilling for water wells.
What is direct rotary drilling?
Direct rotary drilling uses a rotating drill bit and circulating drilling fluid.
The drilling fluid carries cuttings to the surface and may help stabilize the borehole.
Learn more about direct rotary drilling for water wells.
Cable tool drilling repeatedly raises and drops a heavy drill string.
The loosened material is periodically removed using a bailer or sand pump.
It can be useful in certain mixed, unstable or difficult formations.
Learn more about cable tool drilling for water wells.
Which drilling method is best?
No single method is best for every property.
The contractor should consider:
Local requirements
Formation type
Borehole depth
Borehole diameter
Site access
Groundwater conditions
Equipment
Water-Well Depth & Yield
How deep does a water well need to be?
There is no standard depth for every property. Well depth depends on local geology, aquifer depth, productive fractures, groundwater conditions, and intended water use. Nearby well records can provide useful reference information but cannot predict an exact depth.
What is well yield?
Well yield is the rate at which a completed well can sustainably supply water. In the United States, yield is commonly expressed in gallons per minute (GPM).
What is static water level?
Static water level is the level of groundwater in a well when the well is not being pumped and has had time to recover.
Static water level is different from total well depth.
Does drilling deeper always mean more water?
No. A deeper well does not automatically produce more water. A shallow productive aquifer may provide more water than a deeper low-permeability formation.
When is well yield confirmed?
Final sustainable yield should be evaluated after drilling through:
- Well development
- Pump testing
- Water-level monitoring
Observing water during drilling does not by itself confirm long-term well yield.
What is drawdown?
Drawdown is the difference between the static water level and the water level while the well is being pumped.Pump tests evaluate how the water level responds to pumping.
Water Quality & Testing
If I find groundwater, is it automatically safe to drink?
No.
Groundwater quality can vary.
Potential constituents may include:
- Bacteria
- Nitrate
- Arsenic
- Iron
- Manganese
- Salinity
- Hardness
- Other naturally occurring or human-related contaminants
When should a new well be tested?
Water from a new well should be tested according to applicable state and local recommendations before relying on it for drinking.
Can groundwater quality change over time?
Yes. Water quality can change due to:
- Seasonal conditions
- Nearby land use
- Well damage
- Flooding
- Changes in groundwater chemistry
- Contamination sources
Periodic testing is advisable for private wells.
Water-Well Costs
How much does it cost to drill a water well?
Water-well drilling costs vary significantly.
Factors can include:
- Well depth
- Borehole diameter
- Formation hardness
- Drilling method
- Casing
- Well screen
- Mobilization
- Site access
- Well development
- Pump testing
- Pump installation
- Local requirements
Request a project-specific quotation from the drilling contractor.
Is drilling charged by the foot?
Many drilling contractors use per-foot pricing for certain portions of the work.
However, additional charges may apply for:
- Casing
- Screens
- Seals
- Mobilization
- Development
- Pump testing
- Difficult geological conditions
- Additional equipment
Can a groundwater survey reduce drilling costs?
A survey cannot guarantee that drilling costs will be lower.
Its purpose is to provide additional information before choosing a drilling location.
Identifying a more promising location before drilling may help reduce some of the uncertainty involved in the project.
About WaterFind USA
What does WaterFind USA do?
WaterFind USA provides pre-drilling groundwater site assessments using advanced seismic technology and available groundwater information. The service is designed to help property owners compare potential drilling locations before construction begins.
What types of projects does WaterFind USA assist with?
WaterFind USA can support planning for groundwater projects such as:
- Domestic wells
- Acreage wells
- Agricultural wells
- Livestock water
- Irrigation
- Commercial water needs
Project suitability depends on site conditions and service availability.
What are the winter service areas?
- California
- Colorado
- Kansas
- Nevada
- Utah
Does WaterFind USA drill water wells?
WaterFind USA’s website should clearly distinguish its groundwater survey role from the drilling contractor’s role.
If drilling is performed or coordinated through an affiliated contractor, that relationship should be stated clearly. The properly qualified contractor remains responsible for actual well construction.
Where does WaterFind USA provide service?
WaterFind USA currently schedules seasonal routes in selected western and central U.S. states.
What are the summer service areas?
- Washington
- Idaho
- Montana
- Colorado
- Wyoming
Routes and availability may change.
Contact WaterFind USA to confirm current scheduling.
Scheduling a Groundwater Survey
What information should I provide when contacting WaterFind?
Helpful information includes:
- Property address
- GPS coordinates
- Intended water use
- Existing wells
- Nearby well information
- Proposed drilling locations
- Property access
- Preferred schedule
Should I already have a drilling contractor?
Not necessarily. However, if you already have a contractor, their input may be useful when choosing possible drilling locations.
Do underground utilities need to be marked?
Yes. All underground utilities should be identified before field survey work. This supports both safety and proper survey planning.
FIND US NOW!
We are based in Peris Valley, California. Email us today to discuss your project, request a customized estimate, and received a DocuSign Service Agreement to get started.
Toll-Free: +1 (877) 388-7388
Canadian Cell : +1 (403) 845-6676
Email: waterfind333@gmail.com