How deep is the average well

Drilling a Water Well for household use will usually range from about 100 feet to 500 feet deep, but...

When drilling a new well for your home or business, the depth of the well depends on the geology and underground water levels of the area. Well drilling companies like Skillings and Sons use their expertise, experience, and educated guesswork to determine how deep the well needs to be. Because the depth of the well can affect the price, it’s important to find a company with the skills to give you an accurate estimate before drilling starts.

Well water comes from underground aquifers, which are pockets of water within the bedrock, located at different depths. A bedrock well is one that is drilled into solid rock, creating access to the water that flows through cracks in the rock. Most household wells are about six inches in diameter and have a six-inch casing or liner. The casing is installed in the bedrock to keep surface water and sand out of your well. In many cases, a seal is installed at the bottom of the casing to create a seal in the bedrock. On the surface, the casing will be about 12 inches above the ground.

Throughout New England, water is often found at about 300 feet, but wells for household use usually range from about 100 feet to 500 feet deep. There are some places, however, where a well can be more than 1,000 feet deep.

How deep the drilling company must dig for your well determines the basic cost, since most companies charge by the foot. A well drilling company can get a good idea of how deep the well will need to be by examining your property, the average well depth for your area, the geology, and other factors. If after an initial drilling, there is adequate water available for your family’s needs, then the drilling can stop. If not, the drilling will continue until a suitable water source is found.

If a good source isn’t immediately located, the well’s yield can be increased by blasting the bedrock around the drill hole with high pressured water to open access to cracks in the rock that carry water. This process is called hydrofracking and can help increase a water supply even after the well is in use.

Water quality is also an important consideration and depends greatly on the geology and water bed in your neighborhood. A general rule to remember is the deeper the well, the more likely you will have minerals in your water.  This is a problem that is easily fixed by installing a water softener to your well system.

When thinking about installing a well, it’s also good to set aside a few days for the work. It usually takes about a day to complete drilling, and another day to install the pump.

For questions on well depth, water well drilling or locating a water well, contact Skillings and Sons and ask for a water well expert.

When drilling a new well, the final well depth depends on upon the geology and underground water levels in your area. Drilling companies use a combination of experience, expertise, and a little educated guesswork to gauge the final well depth. Because the price of drilling is directly related to the depth of the well, it’s important to work with a company with the skills and knowledge of your area to get an accurate estimate before drilling begins.

Aquifers are underground water storage spaces that contain varying amounts of water. Here in New England, water is often found at around 300 feet below the surface, but wells for household use can range from as little as 100 feet to as much as 1000 feet underground. 

Basic Well Construction

In New England, our geology is extremely rocky. A bedrock well is one that is most common to our area. This consists of drilling deep into solid rock and tapping into the fissures that carry water. A typical household well is about six inches in diameter and uses a six-inch casing or liner. A casing pipe is then installed down the shaft to the bottom of the well to keep out surface water, sand, and other contaminants. The casing extends about twelve inches above the surface.

Construction typically takes two days with the first day spent drilling and the second day used to install the casing pipe and submersible pump. The location of your well is critical. It’s best to work with a contractor who is familiar with the hydrology and geology of your area. They will not only know the best place to dig but can size the system correctly and will know the codes and regulations for your location. Hydrofracking is sometimes required to get a well to produce at the flow rate needed.

Estimating Well Depth

Generally, the cost of digging a well is based on a price per foot. To get an accurate estimate from your contractor, they should have experience digging in your area and will know the average well depth needed to reach water. As soon as adequate supply is found, drilling can stop.  While a water well contractor can’t tell you exactly how deep they’ll need to go to get water, they can make reasonable judgments about water quality and quantity based on previous experience.

Yields can be increased if needed, by fracturing the bedrock immediately surrounding the well shaft. This is done using a technique known as hydrofracking. By pumping large quantities of water deep underground at high pressure, additional fissures in the bedrock are exposed providing access to additional clean 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. Which could require the installation of a water softening unit.

The best way to begin is to get a list of state certified drilling contractors from your local health or water department.  Your well professional can advise you as to your options and the costs involved. Your well is the most important asset you own. Work with a qualified contractor to make sure the work is done properly. Your family’s health and well-being depend on it!

Contact us to speak with a well technician. We may have records that show the average well depth in your neighborhood and we can provide you an estimate for water well drilling.

What is the ideal depth of a well?

What is the average depth of a well?