QA

Quick Answer: What Is A Shallow Well

A shallow well is a hole which has been dug, bored, driven or drilled into the ground for the purpose of extracting water is a well. A well is considered to be shallow if it is less than 50 feet deep. The source of a well is an aquifer.

What is the difference between shallow and deep wells?

Deep wells have higher protections against potential surface contaminants. The equipment involved in these types of wells is less visible than with shallow wells, which require an above-ground well housing to contain the well pump. Their water tends to last longer and require less monitoring for quality.

Is it safe to drink water from a shallow well?

Your well water may NOT be safe to drink. water if the well casing is damaged or if you have a dug or shallow well. get into Maine wells from nature. They’re in the rocks and can dissolve in water.

How long does a shallow well last?

How long do shallow well (centrifugal pumps) last? A shallow well pump is also called a centrifugal pump and is used above ground on wells with a high water table. These pumps generally last for 8 to 10 years as they don’t have much pressure put on them to perform.

How do you tell if you have a shallow well?

If it is small diameter, such as 1-1/4” PVC, that would indicate it is a shallow “well point” as they are called. If it is 2″ or above, it very well could be a deep well. Larger casings may also be shallow wells. Some of the largest diameter wells are very shallow (bored wells).

How shallow can a well be?

Dug wells have a large diameter, are shallow (approximately 10 to 30 feet deep) and are not cased continuously. Driven wells are constructed by driving pipe into the ground. Driven wells are cased continuously and shallow (approximately 30 to 50 feet deep).

Do shallow wells go dry?

As a result, shallow wells are usually more susceptible to drought than deeper wells. Shallow, hand-dug wells, for example, are often the first wells to dry up during drought. Although deeper wells may be slower to suffer from drought conditions, they may also take longer to recover after a drought has occurred.

Are shallow wells reliable?

Shallow wells are less likely to experience naturally occurring contamination from radon or arsenic, but they are more susceptible to bacteria contamination. Shallow wells can also experience iron, manganese and taste and odor problems. If you suspect any of these problems, get your water tested immediately.

How much water can you get from a shallow well?

A shallow well pump can only draw water from a maximum depth of about 20′, and for these shallow water table depths, 1-1/4” diameter well pipe is sufficient. A deep-well pump installation is necessary if the water table is deeper than about 20′.

How often should you shock your well?

Homeowners with private wells should have their well water tested every 3 to 5 years for some contaminants, including bacteria. If these tests turn up positive for bacteria, chlorinating the well may be a way to resolve the problem.

How much does it cost to put in a shallow well?

Drilling a well costs $5,325 to $9,180 for an average depth of 150 feet. Most homeowners spend $3,750 to $15,300, or $25 to $65 per foot for well installation. Digging a shallow well costs $1,800 and $3,000.Well Drilling Cost. National Average Cost $9,180 Maximum Cost $30,000 Average Range $3,750 to $15,300.

Do water wells replenish themselves?

While your well is a 6” hole in the ground, it is not directly replenished by rainfall, as you might expect a cistern to function. With less rain, or changes in aquifer structure, the well becomes non-water bearing – i.e. dry. Your well may not ‘fill up’ when it rains, but it does reap the indirect benefits.

Do wells run out of water?

When a well “runs dry” it doesn’t mean that the well will never produce water again. Aquifers can recharge through a combination of more precipitation and less pumps pulling water out of that aquifer. Sometimes wells can run dry permanently, but that is quite uncommon.

How deep should a well be for drinking water?

The quality of your water depends on several factors including geology and water levels. In order to allow for maximum ground filtration to remove impurities, your well depth should be at least 100 feet. As a general rule, the deeper you drill, it’s more likely that there will be minerals present.

At what depth is a well considered a deep well?

If the water table is at 50 feet, a deep well might be 100 feet deep. For many wells drilled into the sand and gravel aquifer, the amount of casing—the pipe that lines the well hole—is nearly the same as the depth of the well itself.

How deep is the average well?

Most household water wells range from 100 to 800 feet deep, but a few are over 1,000 feet deep. Well yields can be increased by fracturing the bedrock immediately around the drill hole and intercepted rock faults.

How deep do you have to dig to hit water?

You will need to dig at least 30 feet below the surface to find high-quality water. But you’ll need to dig even deeper to find better water that will be the safest for your family to drink.