Investing in a water well is the best decision you can ever make towards ensuring water security for the future.
You do not have to entirely depend on the municipal water supply, which can be a bit frustrating at times.
Also, if you decide to move to a rural setting, a borehole is an essential requirement since the rural area may not have access to the municipal water supply.
The main challenge, however, comes in financing it. A drilled well is not just a hole with water in it. It entails more features such as casing to protect the well from collapsing and other equipment to get the water to your home for usage. Such are some of the aspects to include in your drilling cost estimate.
The average cost of drilling a water well can range greatly based on the requirements needed. There are many cost factors to consider when drilling a well.
The cost of drilling may differ with the kind of well, drilling company among other elements.
What is the cost of drilling a well by a company?
Before contacting a drilling company, there are some elements that you need to determine, such as the location. It is best if you consult an expert to determine the right location for the well. It would be best if you also had an approximation of how deep you wish the well to be. The depth will significantly affect the estimated cost of drilling.
Now that you have determined the spot and the depth, it is time to look into other factors that come to play when estimating the total cost of drilling a borehole. These factors include:
Well Drilling Permit Fees
You cannot wake up one day and decide that you are going to drill a well then get started immediately. You need permission from health and building regulators. The cost of a permit varies from one state to the next, but the average price for a well drilling permit is $400.
The depth of the well
As mentioned, the depth plays a significant role in the total cost as the rates are determined based on the feet. Whether the contractor finds water or not, you are expected to pay for each drilled foot. The average cost is about $15 per foot, and mostly, the ideal depth is 120 feet. The cost of drilling and casing adds up to $1800.
The makeup of the ground
The company will also consider what lies under the ground where you wish to have the well drilled. For example, a borehole drilled on solid rocks might cost more. This is because the rocks will affect the depth of the well.
A borehole drilled on solid rocks can go as deep as 400 feet, and the cost will equate to $6000 at $15 per foot. A well drilled on soft ground, on the other hand, might cost less, but it needs a casing.
The other costs included in the drilling process include the well-cap and pump.
How much does it cost to drill a well by yourself?
In this case, you have to think about the cost of buying or hiring the drilling equipment. Renting the drilling equipment is by far the most sensible case since you will only be using it for a while.
Doing the job on your own can be a bit expensive, mainly because you do not have the skills and expertise to do the job.
On average, buying the rig costs millions, while renting it will cost you thousands of dollars depending on where you lease it from. Remember that you will spend most of your time drilling, not to forget the casing cost, cap, and water pumps.
To see how drilling is done, check out our water well drilling videos page.
Hiring a water well drilling company is by far the best way to go about this investment. This is because you will be dealing with a fixed rate depending on the location and depth of the well. The prices will also include the cost of the casing.
When you hire experts, there will be no room for mistakes, and safety is guaranteed.