Installing a water well is not a simple undertaking. To start, most Florida wells are dug at least 100 feet into the ground, with some wells reaching over 800 feet deep, depending on the location of the well. At a minimum, that means a Florida well is as deep as a ten-story building is tall!

Extreme caution should be taken when installing a well to avoid contaminated water, insufficient water supply, and expensive maintenance requirements. North Florida Water Systems Inc has over 50 years of experience installing residential and commercial wells, and is well-versed in the proper drilling, casting, and testing techniques to produce a productive, uncontaminated well. Continue reading to learn more about the steps involved in installing a Florida water well, according to our expert well drillers!

Site Selection

Site selection is a vital part of the well installation process. A poorly located well is at risk of contamination from sewage, saltwater, or other common groundwater impurities. A properly situated water well will be elevated to prevent contamination from runoff and placed as far away from septic tanks, drain fields, and livestock as possible. Additionally, the well should be easily accessible to allow for regular maintenance and repair visits.

In coastal areas, wells must be dug deeper to avoid saltwater from seeping into the water supply. At this stage, an experienced well driller will consult local aquifer confinement maps to determine the proper depth and location of the well.

Our water well installations are carefully positioned to maximize yield without sacrificing water quality or well stability. To learn more about our well drilling services, contact us today!

Permit Acquisition

Depending on the size, capacity, and location of your well, you will likely need to obtain a well permit before digging can begin. Some counties also require contractors to submit a well registration form and a well completion form after the installation is complete. For large commercial wells, a well consumption report also needs to be submitted to the county.

Well permits, registration, completion, and consumption reports document the activity, purpose, and use of wells for environmental and governmental purposes. Experienced well drilling companies will be well-versed in the required permits to make your well in complete compliance with local rules and regulations.

Well Drilling, Casting, & Grouting

Water well drilling companies use industrial drill rigs to bore deep enough into the earth to tap into the underground aquifer. At this point, a casting is inserted into the hole to protect the well from debris, contaminants, and erosion. This casting, typically made from steel or PVC, is a type of pipe that serves as a physical barrier between your well and the earth. The casting is perforated at its base to allow clean water to flow into the well.

To set the casting in place, cement grouting is pumped into the space between the casting and the earth. This grouting works as a second protective layer between your well water and the earth, further protecting your water from contaminants.

Well Pump Installation

At this point, your well is mostly functional. Historically, this is the step where contractors would install a good old handy bucket on a rope or manual pump to extract the water from your well reserve!

Nowadays, well drilling companies install a combination of well pumps and well pressure tanks to pump water to the surface for household use. A submersible pump will be installed at the base of your well to pump water throughout your property. The size of this pump and pressure tank will depend on your household’s demand and the supply of your well.

Well Water Testing & Treatment

New water well installations must be thoroughly tested to ensure that their water supply is free of harmful contaminants, such as lead, coliform, and nitrates. If the water supply is tainted, treatment systems should be installed accordingly. Many Florida homes install whole-house water treatment and purification systems for this purpose.

If you are looking for an experienced drilling company to install your Florida water well, look no further than North Florida Water Systems Inc! We offer a wide range of water well services, from drilling to installation, maintenance, and repair. We offer new well installations in Alachua, Chiefland, Gainesville, Lake City, Newberry, Trenton, and High Springs. To learn more about our water well services, contact us today!