How can I tell how much water is in my well?

You can measure the depth of water by lowering a wetted steel tape to into the well until the lower part of the tape is under water. A chalk coating on the last few feet of tape indicate the exact water level.

How much water is in a typical well?

The typical 6-inch diameter well will hold approximately 1.5 gallons of water per foot of casing. The height of the water above the pump when it is not operating, multiplied by the gallons of water per foot of casing approximates the amount of available storage within the well casing.

How much water is in a 100 ft well?

A typical 6-inch-diameter well will store about 1.5 gallons of water for every foot of standing water in the borehole and a 10-inch well stores about 4 gallons of water per foot. Therefore, a 6-inch-diameter well with about 100 feet of standing water in the borehole would contain about 150 gallons of stored water.

How do you know if your well is deep enough?

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.

Can you run out of water with a well?

Can Your Well Run Out of Water? If your well has been correctly drilled, it can last your family a lifetime, but it is possible for a well to run dry. This often happens with wells that are too shallow. If a well is not drilled deep enough, it may only be a water table well.

How do I figure out how much water my well gives?

Will a well refill itself?

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.

Does rain fill your well?

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. The rainfall that seeps into the ground on your property moves through the soil at a rate of only 10 feet per year.

How many years does a water well last?

The average lifespan for a well is 30–50 years. 2. How deep is the well? Drilled wells typically go down 100 feet or more.

How deep are most residential wells?

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 much water can a well produce per day?

A well that yields only 1 GPM of water can still produce 1,440 gallons of water in day. However, water use in a home or farm does not occur evenly during the day. There are peak usage times, typically during the morning and/or evening, when water demand is very high.

How many gallons does a well use per day?

The Water Well Board suggests that a minimum water supply capacity for domestic internal household use should be at least 600 gallons of water within a two-hour period once each day. This is equivalent to a flow rate of 5 gallons per minute (gpm) for two hours.

What is good water pressure for a house with a well?

The ideal well water pressure is between 40-60 psi. If you're uncertain whether your water pressure falls within this range, learn how to test your water pressure. It's a good skill to learn. Checking your water pressure a few times a year can help you detect problems before they get worse.

Do deeper wells mean better water?

Well depth can affect both the quality and quantity of water pumped from a well. As shown in figure 2, the quality of water in a well is influenced by the land use activities that take place in its recharge area. As for quantity, a well that is not deep enough to reach the water table will yield no water at all.

How far down is water in a well?

Types of wells

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).

How many gallons does a well put out per hour?

A well yield of 5 gallons per minute of sustained flow (measured over 24 hours or over 5 hours in some standards) is considered by most authorities as adequate for a one family residence.

How do I find out how deep the water table in my area?

The USGS National Water Information System (NWIS) has depth-to-water measurements made in the present and the past. A convenient way to find data for your area is by using the NWIS Mapper and selecting "Groundwater Sites" in the menu on the left.

How much does it cost to drill a well?

Drilling a residential water well costs $25 to $65 per foot or $3,750 to $15,300 on average for a complete system and installation. Prices include the drilling, a pump, casing, wiring, and more. Total costs largely depend on the depth drilled and the well's diameter.

What might make a well go dry?

The pump may be broken or clogged, there may be a fault with the electrical system or a leak in a pipe may be preventing the well water from reaching the house. Minerals can also build up inside the well, decreasing the quality and quantity of the water that flows.

How often do wells need to be cleaned?

As a routine maintenance practice, clean your well at least once a year. If you have an iron or sulfur bacteria problem, clean more often.

How often does a well need to be serviced?

An annual well maintenance check, including a bacterial test, is recommended. Any source of drinking water should be checked any time there is a change in taste, odor or appearance, or anytime a water supply system is serviced.

Do wells ever run dry?

Groundwater depletion can also cause wells to run dry when the top surface of the groundwater – known as the water table – drops so far that the well isn't deep enough to reach it, leaving the well literally high and dry.

How long does a well take to fill back up?

It depends on the source of the well water. It should be a minimum of 600 gallons within a two-hour period, or about 5 gallons per minute for 2 hours. This may not be adequate for a large family. However, there are methods to increase flow.

How do you stimulate a water well?

High-pressure jetting uses a tool with an adjustable multi-head water jet that lowers into the well dislodging debris. Hydrofracking uses high-pressure water sent into the full well. The water not only removes debris but can also open new fissures allowing new water sources to replenish your well.

How long can I run my well to fill a pool?

Several factors go into whether or not your well has the capacity of handing filling a swimming pool. It's estimated at 540 gallons per hour, it will take about nine hours to fill a 5,000-gallon pool with a 1/2-inch hose. Most larger, in-ground pools are around 18,000-20,000 gallons.