Perhaps the most important thing to consider before building a house and drilling a well is the water supply. The house is not very valuable if there is not enough good quality water, which may be located in the same place where the entry steps are planned to be built.
First, homeowners should ask if they need a permit from the local government to drill a well. If not, they should check with their contractor for legal requirements to make sure they get the necessary permits.
When a well is drilled, the available water is further explored to determine its quality and quantity. It is not common to see completely dry wells, but especially low-yielding wells that cause interference with neighboring wells (as in a subdivision), geological conditions, and the off-season or natural water table.
In case there is a problem, the repair costs are less than building the well first, as this only involves the cost of the well. Also, if they need to drill another well, there will probably be plenty of room on the property when the house isn’t there yet. When planning to buy property in an area that, according to a licensed driller, is questionable in terms of water supply, it is best to purchase the property and ask for permission to build a well beforehand.
The success of getting a sufficient supply of water from a well depends on the type of material below the ground in the area. Since local drilling contractors have enough experience working in the area, they can inform homeowners of things to expect. Your neighbors can also share about the quantity and quality of the water.
Having “enough” water refers to having the correct amount of water to meet the following requirements.
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Daily use: drinking, cleaning, cooking, “plumbing” (toilets, showers, bathtubs, dishwashers, automatic washing machines and various other automatic appliances that use water).
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Seasonal use: car wash, swimming pool and garden and lawn watering.
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Other special uses: irrigation of crops, water treatment devices that require backwashing, irrigation of animals
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Fire Protection – A home rarely relies on a well when it comes to this special need, as the local fire department typically has a more than sufficient water supply of surface water and non-potable ponds.
The daily use of water can be concentrated in 1 to 2 hours, at the same time, in different places in the house (washing clothes, showering and watering the lawn). A water supply system must be able to meet this demand during peak hours. A rough estimate is that a home will require 150 to 300 gallons per day to meet all the needs of 2 to 4 residents.
In addition to supplying water for regular use in a home, there are energy-conscious homeowners who have geothermal groundwater systems installed to provide the home with warm and cool temperatures using the constant temperature of the soil for heat exchange.
The actual location of a well will often depend on several factors other than geology. An important aspect to consider is the characteristics of the land surface, such as poorly drained areas and steep slopes. Whenever possible, a well should be placed higher than the surrounding areas so that it is less prone to contamination.
