So you need a well...
many people have never had a well and know very little about the
construction, maintenance, costs. Wells can come in many sizes
and styles, but are primarily divided into 2 simple
classifications:
Submersible Pump Systems & Jet Pump
Systems. Click on the link to learn more about these two
systems.
- WELL PLACEMENT. First of all, you need a
safe location for your well. Safe for your water
supply, safe for your favorite well driller! For instance, in
Wisconsin the well is required to be separated a minimum of 25 feet
from the closest portion of a septic tank, 50' from the closest
portion of a septic field, 8 feet from a downspout and other
potential contamination sources. Animal shelters (50') or
lake shores (25') are just a few other potential contamination
sources which
are
listed in Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Code, NR 812. You want to also consider the vertical
clearance from power lines, phone lines, gas lines (both above and
below ground) and trees. Horizontal distance from buildings,
driveways (it wouldn't do to have someone hit your well with a snow
plow!) and other potential hazards. We will call diggers
hotline to mark underground hazards for you, but they need at least
3 working days notice before work can begin on your new well.
Also think of the topography of your land. Is it flat or
hilly? Typically, it is best to site your well at the highest
point of your land so that water flow does not wash from a
contamination source to your well in a heavy rainstorm. If it
is too steep, it can be dangerous for large equipment to transverse.
- FUTURE PLANS. Your well is going to be with you for
a long time. Think about what shrubbery and trees will look
like 30 years from now. You still will want to gain access to
your well for repairs. Do you have plans to add on to your
home or build a deck? You will want to keep your well
accessable. We had to construct a new well for a customer one
time because he had just finished building a garage that blocked
access to the well. Tough choice---drill a new well or tear
down your new garage! We drilled a well. In that case,
it would have been possible to have relocated the garage a little,
but access to the well was never considered until it was too late.
- What do you plan to use the water for? Weekend
getaway? Full-time residence with 3 teenagers and lots of
laundry? Groundwater heat pump to heat and cool your home?
Do you want to also use the well as a water source for your
in-ground sprinkler system? Hunting cabin or duplex? One
size does not fit all. We offer several choices of well
size:
2" galvanized steel: In my
opinion, it's obsolete, but it is a well size that allows you
to purchase materials at your local hardware store and in many cases
install it yourself! This well can also be a 1.25" driven
point, but be aware of limitations in suction
lift! Click here to see chart. If you really like
or need a 2" WELL for some reason, we can install them, but is rare
for it to actually be necessary. Smallest surface area of well
Screen = more maintenance.
(See
screen chart). You pump less water, have less water
pressure, spend more electricity, spend more money, have considerably
more maintenance, less peace of mind. (NOT
RECOMMENDED!)
Typical Pump House for 2" well
An off-set jet pump with a buried line needs to be hooked up with a
pitless adapter.
4" BUDGET PVC WELL:
More volume &
pressure than 2". Submersible system eliminates need for concentric
piping, box elbow or pump house such as is needed with 2" STEEL
WELL & jet
pump. Quieter that 2" STEEL WELL SYSTEM, as pump is in well, not crawl space or
basement in cases where pump house is not needed. No need to
waste money heating a pump house all winter. Furthermore,
you do not have a big boxy pump house in your front yard! No
need to drain pump in winter or prime pump in spring. PVC casing will never rust or corrode, and is inert in it's
reaction to water chemistry. Larger well screen than 2"
STEEL WELL, smaller well screen than 4" NON-BUDGET PVC WELL.
(See
screen chart). Smaller tank, wiring than 4" NON-BUDGET PVC
WELL. Different pump than 4" NON-BUDGET PVC WELL. (RECOMMEND FOR INSTALLATIONS WHERE
FINAL COST
IS OVERRIDING FACTOR IN WELL SIZE DECISION YET WANT OR NEED
SUBMERSIBLE SYSTEM THAT IS NOT LOCATED IN A BEDROCK FORMATION---THEN
WOULD REQUIRE 6" STEEL WELL... TYPICALLY 65' OR SHALLOWER IN
DEPTH...)
4" NON-BUDGET PVC WELL: Much
larger screen than 4" BUDGET PVC WELL.
(See
screen chart). Different pump (Use Myers or McDermott
(same pump, different label). Myers is model 2NFL52-12, 1/2 HP 12 GPM
230v). Uses larger pressure tank (less pump cycling). Heavier wiring. Full
two-year warranty on parts AND labor, plus full five year warranty on
pressure tank (parts). PVC casing will never rust or corrode, and is
inert in it's reaction to water chemistry. same pump system as 5" PVC
WELL and 6" STEEL WELL (difference in price comes from larger steel casing
needed as riser in 5" and larger well cap.) (RECOMMEND AS GOOD
RELIABLE WELL FOR MOST HOUSEHOLD NEEDS THAT ARE NOT LOCATED IN A
BEDROCK FORMATION---THEN WOULD REQUIRE 6" STEEL WELL....)
5" PVC WELL: Much larger screen than
4" NON-BUDGET PVC WELL. Largest Well Screen. (Exact same screen
as is in 6" STEEL WELL-full 5" in diameter). LONGEST LASTING SCREEN
(See
screen chart).. PVC casing will never rust or corrode, and is
inert in it's reaction to water chemistry. Same
pump hook-up as 4" NON-BUDGET PVC WELL & 6" STEEL WELL. (RECOMMEND AS
BEST QUALITY WELL FOR LARGER, MORE EXPENSIVE HOMES. COMPARES VERY
FAVORABLY TO 6" STEEL WELL---IN PRICE AND PERFORMANCE FOR WELLS
THAT ARE NOT LOCATED IN A BEDROCK FORMATION---THEN WOULD REQUIRE 6"
STEEL WELL...).
6" STEEL WELL: Required by
Wisconsin code (NR 812) in bedrock (sandstone, limestone, etc.)
formations. Not required for screened wells. Most
expensive well type listed. No advantage over PVC well in screened
formation, in my
opinion, in either price or performance. Same
pump hook-up as 4" NON-BUDGET PVC WELL & 5" PVC WELL. (REQUIRED
IN BEDROCK FORMATIONS IN WISCONSIN. NOT TYPICALLY RECOMMENDED
FOR SCREENED WELLS)
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has a helpful
brochure entitled
"You and You Well". It is available online in PDF format
here:
http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/gndwater/privatewells/youandyourwell.pdf
Good water is worth the effort.
Wisconsin
Well & Water Systems, LLC
800 995-5004 Toll
Free
608-584-5002
Fax
608-584-5000
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© 2005 Wisconsin Well & Water
Systems, LLC. All rights reserved.
For concerns or questions regarding this Web site contact
bruce@affordablewells.com
Last updated:
02/17/06.
