Are you working on a home improvement project by drilling a well so that you can get access to natural drinking water? Or are you considering improving your home’s pumping system and existing well? Well, if you are at some point of these two questions, this article will greatly help you!
In this article, we are going to discuss the social aspects of drilling a well and also how much cost it will take.
Furthermore, this article has all the necessary actions you must take before drilling a well.
How Much Does It Cost to Drill a Well Per Foot?
According to the reports, the average cost of digging a well is around $15 to $60 per foot in a residential area. If you are drilling a well on some excellent project, then $15 to $30 per foot can be considered the minimum amount you should spend.
The cost of drilling a well for a residential area is higher than an agricultural or industrial project. The primary purpose of the residential project is to supply high-quality water to all the home taps. Apart from this, the rocky, dry, low-quality or sloppy soil plays a vital role in increasing the cost of a well.
Furthermore, the polyvinyl chloride (a factor that increases the cost) casing is essential because it is corrosion-resistant and lightweight, enhancing the well’s cost. Below is the price list of a well depending on the depth of the well and the diameter of the PVC casing.
| Depth (Feet) | 4” Diameter PVC Casing |
|---|---|
| 50 | $1,800 |
| 100 | $3,600 |
| 200 | $7,100 |
| 300 | $10,700 |
| 400 | $14,200 |
Note: We recommend you not to take this list as the final cost of your well because it also varies depending on your location, municipality department, and the contractor. The above list is just an idea about the cost.
| Oklahoma | $20–$40 per foot |
| Florida | $15–$30 per foot |
| California | $25–$50 per foot |
| Colorado | $20–$40 per foot |
| Wisconsin | $20–$45 per foot |
| Montana | $25–$45 per foot |
| Texas | $30–$55 per foot |
| Wyoming | $30–$50 per foot |
| Washington | $30–$50 per foot |
Sometimes the state you live in can also influence the rates of the well because it generally depends on the soil content and the water levels in a particular area. Below is a list of the cost of well divided based on the state:
Other factors also play a critical role in drilling a well, and we have explained them in detail in the next section.
What Factors Should You Consider Before Drilling A Well?
There are lots of factors to consider while drilling a well. A few of them are explained below:
The Contract
This is the most critical aspect of drilling a well and can be done by a contractor or a homeowner.
The cost can vary from $200 to $500 if it is a residential location and can go very high in irrigation or commercial land.
Many factors play a vital role in deciding the cost of the well because of the municipality, per foot drilling cost, the diameter and depth of the well, application or permit fees, etc.
So whenever you make a contract, ensure all the factors have been appropriately listed and you have talked to the homeowner and contractor if you need clarification. The agreement will help you figure out the cost of the well.
Site Access or Preparation
One of the most critical factors is site access. Even if you are drilling a well on your land, you must check with the municipality department and the drilling professionals. The professionals will let you know the most appropriate depth for the well on a particular land. Most of the time, the land flatness and the ground grade can become a hurdle in the drilling process.
You should always contact the municipality department before deciding because the well should be government-authorized; if it is not, it can create a big issue afterward. Depending on the custom basis and the site, this can cost you around $10- $100. If there is any modification work to prep the site, then this cost can go high.
Actual Drilling
When you have all the government’s permission and the professionals have checked the site, it is the perfect time for you to start the drilling process. It takes a lot of effort.
It can take many days, depending on the depth and diameter of the well. The depth and the diameter are already mentioned in the documents, so it is better to stick to those dimensions.
There is no actual or final cost of drilling because it depends on the depth. According to the government, the actual price is around $10 per foot. This cost is when the land does not require any preparation or is on the low end. As mentioned earlier, the cost generally varies in the residential location and the commercial purposes.
So if you are drilling a well for industrial or commercial use, this cost can go up to $30 per foot. The charge may vary depending on the difficulty level of drilling land, but don’t worry; this factor would have already been discussed during the contract.
That is why we always recommend you go through the agreement and read every line carefully. Whenever you have questions, it is better to ask the contractor.
Casing
This is one of a well’s most important aspects because it helps protect the well from hazardous substances. It helps to keep the water in the well fresh and away from contamination, so take advantage of this option to minimize the cost later on (as any defects will lead to multiple maintenance and modification).
Different materials are available in the market for this purpose, but the best ones would be polyvinyl chloride or steel like black steel, stainless steel, or galvanized steel. The casing can cost around $5 to 20$ per foot, depending on the material.
This cost can be reduced if you have made a package deal with the contractor. Doing a package deal is much better than continuously buying the casing material per foot.
Grout
This works like a seal around the casing and is very important according to local and state government guidelines. It is a concrete or clay bentonite whose primary purpose is maintaining the surface water by allowing the water to flow from the water source.
It should be around 20 to 50 feet and is a relatively inexpensive material. So to make your well long-lasting and maintain quality water (without much maintenance), it is essential to use Grout.
By the above factors, you may have already concluded that investing in a well has several steps, and it can cost you extra bucks if you want to make it long-lasting.
Furthermore, if you look at the total cost to drill a well, it can cost you around $2,000 to 20000 dollars depending on the type of material you are using and the dimensions of the well. It is always essential to hire a professional contractor because they know which material is appropriate, depending on the condition of the soil and the land of your area.
Should You Hire a Professional?
This is one of the most common questions asked by homeowners. We will always recommend you hire a professional person for this work. This is because you are investing a lot of time, hard work, and a lot of amount into this project. So make sure you have a professional or a pro in this job to get the best results.
For a licensed installation professional, labor charges can range between $1,500 and $10,000; always try to convince them to decrease their costs. If you are still looking for a licensed professional in your area, then make sure the person that you are hiring has an appropriate amount of experience in this field.
Hiring a professional becomes much more critical when you get deep water well, so ensure they have the proper tools and knowledge. You can always take recommendations from your friends who have their homes well because this will help you shortlist most of the professionals available in your area based on their work.
The Additional Cost
Most people prefer to install a purification system like a reverse osmosis system to purify water. It can increase the cost from $800 to 3000 dollars. Furthermore, the equipment generally runs on electricity, so the charges can go high.
A pro Tip
Constructing a well near your home or any industrial area is your choice, but whenever the well is entirely ready, ensure you run a test in front of the constructor or the hired professional.
The results will tell you about the chemicals, pollutants, metals, contaminants, and bacteria in the water. If you feel something is wrong, make sure you clear out your questions to the constructor.
Moreover, you should always check the quality of the water by sending the sample to a lab or using the pH indicator strip. If your report samples are normal, it is entirely safe to use the water for your drinking or bathing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do we need well water?
The main reason behind the increasing demand for a well is that the water is of high quality and directly comes from the rocks beneath the Earth’s surface. Apart from this, the pollution and the added chemicals in municipal water have raised many questions, which is why people prefer well water instead of municipal water.
Can I ignore the casing while constructing the well?
You should always pay attention to the casing while constructing the well because it helps to protect the quality of the water and plays a crucial role in protecting the well from corrosiveness. If you have hired a constructor or a professional to drill well, they will always recommend you never skip casing.
Can we decrease the cost of constructing a well in a residential area?
You can decrease the cost of constructing a well in multiple ways. You can buy a cheaper material but a long-lasting one. Don’t buy branded material if they give you the same benefits as a low-cost product. Talk to professionals or instructors, as they will suggest the best and low-cost one.
Will buying the materials in bulk help me lower the cost?
Yes, buying the materials in bulk from the manufacturer will work in your favor of you. You can always request the constructor to cut costs as you buy in bulk. Ensure you have already discussed this before making a contract with the contractor.
Conclusion
To conclude the article, well water is one of the best and the purest form of drinking water, which is why most houses in America consider well water over municipal water.
The expense of well water is higher initially because you have to contact a contractor and a professional to drill a well. Still, after some time, the cost decreases. The well water supply is the same as that of municipality water.
The location of your area, municipality department, casing, materials, depth, etc., are some of the few factors that significantly influence the cost of a well. According to the reports, $15 to $2 60 per foot is the best price to construct a good quality well water.
We hope this article has helped you acquire knowledge about a well’s construction. To know more about well water, you can visit (we have also written a well water article for the website, so please link to the page here)