Drilling a Well

[keegs]

So does the quote seem high? The well depth would be almost double of yours (330 feet).

Yeah..you're right. I'd just get a few quotes and compare. I think I got three and they ranged anywhere from 5500 to 3700 so I took the lowest. I'm sure they all had some maximum depth beyond which there was an additional cost per foot or other unit of measure.

And I'm sure that if were I to drill the same well here in NJ it would be triple what I paid in ME.

 

[MotorSeven]

The drilling costs are inline with what is going on around here. If you are a little handy, could save a bunch of money on the pump, tank, ect by doing it yourself. You will need a couple of people to help lower the pump, spacers, and wire, as well as the safety rope down the well, but I bought my last pump from Granger. Submersible Well Pumps - Well Pumps - Grainger Industrial Supply And they have the spacers as well. Go for a "3 wire pump" but you will need a extra box with one for the capacitor. Adds about 100 bucks, but the pump will last longer. Our main pump, 2 houses, is over 25 years old now, but have replaced the capacitor about 4 times over the years( less than 10 bucks each time)


And tank from sears
Sears: Online department store featuring appliances, tools, fitness equipment and more

Switch and all the other stuff at HD, and the local HW store.

Pet's right, drilling companies seem to be reasonable/competitive on their drilling and casing rates. They then stick it to you if you have them install the pump. I spent 1200 on a pump, pipe and wire for a 200' well last year. I hired a local guy that does them and his fee was 300 bucks of that 1200. He discounted his usual rate of 500 since I was his helper.
The submersible pump was under $500, pipe(black poly roll) & wire was $400. We also ran it under the house to a pressure tank that was 40' away.

 

[powerpace]

Moved onto the property with 3 wells down to 125'. All drilled in 2004. The reason there was three is the first one was drilled within 50' of septic drain field. Dumb a**. The next one was drilled and capped. Not enough water they said. The next was drilled on an 80' hill and the building site. Probably cost $3000 for each well.
When we bought the property we trenched and installed all wiring and water lines to the last two wells for a total of approximately $2800 material cost including pressure tanks, pumps and 1500 gal storage and lines run to the barn and various livestock waterers. A timer operates one of the pumps in the summer when it is needed. That is the one they said "not enough water". It now has the most water.
There are some people around this area, that have to buy water for several months of the year. Water cost is $65 per 2500 gal. load.
Get references and with the bidders. Good luck.

 

[marimus]

Your lucky Pettrix because in Australia most Aquifers
have been purchased by the Coke Cola company from the government or if they have not we have to pay a yearly licence to draw metered water.

:laughing:

Coke (or anyone else) can't "purchase an aquifer", sorry but if someone told you that its hoopla.

Stock and domestic water is free and un-metered.

Commercial usage, including intensive livestock and or irrigation requires a licence, with usage fees payable etc

 

[TheGoose]

The drilling price seems ok, the pump/tank price seems high.

Stay away from the Grundfos SQE....go with the Goulds conventional.

 

[Pettrix]

They offered an option "VFD pump" which requires a 2 gallon tank since it is computer controlled OR go with the 85 gallon pressure tank that uses compressed air to maintain pressure on 30 gallons of water while the pump is not running.

Which one is better?

 

[Pettrix]

The drilling price seems ok, the pump/tank price seems high.

Stay away from the Grundfos SQE....go with the Goulds conventional.

Why is the Grundfos a bad pump?

 

[Pettrix]

The drilling costs are inline with what is going on around here. If you are a little handy, could save a bunch of money on the pump, tank, ect by doing it yourself. You will need a couple of people to help lower the pump, spacers, and wire, as well as the safety rope down the well, but I bought my last pump from Granger. Submersible Well Pumps - Well Pumps - Grainger Industrial Supply And they have the spacers as well. Go for a "3 wire pump" but you will need a extra box with one for the capacitor. Adds about 100 bucks, but the pump will last longer. Our main pump, 2 houses, is over 25 years old now, but have replaced the capacitor about 4 times over the years( less than 10 bucks each time)


And tank from sears
Sears: Online department store featuring appliances, tools, fitness equipment and more

Switch and all the other stuff at HD, and the local HW store.

So was the $3,500 for the pump & labor kind of high? If I did it myself how much could I save? $1K?

 

[Pete Judd]

Pettrix, I think that buying the pump, bladder tank, ect and doing your install, could save you 1500-2000 bucks. Not bad for an afternoons work.

 

[tcartwri]

GIS data for water wells in AZ. Never assume the driller is going to stop at the first aquifer.... has happened a few times around here.

https://gisweb.azwater.gov/WellRegistry/Default.aspx