When you’re drilling a new well, gauging the correct depth is essential to the longevity of your well and your water supply. Many residential wells go down to around 300 feet, while others can go as deep as 500–1000 feet. It all depends on your land and your preferences. Here’s what you need to know about well depth when you’re in the market for a new well installation.
Well Drilling, Location, and Land Structure
Water wells are as individual as the land they occupy. How deep a well needs to be depends on many elements. These include:
- The geology of your property
- The depth of the aquifer
- The localized risk of contamination
Geology can have a big impact on how deep your well needs to be. This includes the depth and composition of topsoil, bedrock, and other geological strata. You want to drill deep enough that you avoid sediment and any other unsuitable geological layers, while also not going deeper than you need to.
The depth and location of the aquifer—the body of permeable rock that contains and/or transmits groundwater—is another key factor when it comes to well depth. Fundamentally, your well needs to go down far enough to reach a sustainable source of underground water. If your well is too shallow, your water supply may be unreliable.
Then, there are contaminants. If you live in an agricultural area, your water may be at risk of contamination from fertilizers and pesticides. If there are mining or manufacturing facilities nearby, heavy metals might be a concern. When it comes time to drill a new well, it should go deep enough to avoid known contaminants whenever possible.
To ensure that your well is deep enough, it’s important to work with a seasoned well drilling company. They will be able to evaluate your property based on experience and exploratory drilling if needed. With their help, your new well will be just right—not too deep and not too shallow.
Well Water Quality and Quantity
The depth of your well can play a major role in the mineral content of your water. Often, the deeper the well, the higher the mineral content. This can impact the appearance and taste of your water.
A deeper well will also usually mean a more plentiful and consistent water supply. The aquifer is typically more saturated the deeper you go, so you likely won’t need to worry about your well running dry.
Your preferences regarding water quality and quantity are key in determining well depth. Any preferences do, of course, still need to account for your specific geology, but they can certainly be part of the equation.
If you are drilling a new well in Albany, Valatie, Grafton, or the area, call the team at Goold Wells & Pumps today! We are a family-owned company with over 90 years of experience drilling and maintaining wells in the greater Albany region. Our workmanship is second to none and we offer weekend service calls and free estimates for your convenience. Goold Wells & Pumps—Trusted Name Since 1928!