How Deep Does A Water Well Need To Be?

When drilling a new well, one of the first questions you may ask yourself is how deep does the well need to be. Determining how deep a water well needs to be installed requires careful calculations and requirements, mostly centered around the geology and underground water levels of where you are located. Our well water company at North Florida Water System Inc is here to help explain the factors that go into determining how deep a water well needs to be.

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Water Depth

To provide your home or business with water, water wells pull water from underground aquifers, which are pockets of water inside the underlying bedrock. On average, a water well will need to be deep enough to reach bedrock, which means that it will need to be installed anywhere from 100–500 feet deep, but there are some instances where the well will need to be up to 1,000 feet deep.

Type Of Soil

The type of soil you have on your property is one of the most significant factors that can determine the depth of your water well. Here in Florida, the ground and soil types vary greatly. Our well drilling company will discuss your location’s geology with you to determine the appropriate depth for your new water well system.

Water Quality

One of the factors to consider when drilling for a water well is water quality. A general rule of thumb to follow is the deeper your well goes, the more minerals will be found in your water. Luckily, there are ways to help remove any excess minerals from your water, the main way is installing a water softener.

Seasonal Fluctuations Of The Water Table

If you live in an area where the water table changes with the seasons, the water well may need to be installed deeper than you first thought. This is to help ensure that you will always have access to a groundwater supply, no matter how much the water table changes. In addition, the United States Geological Survey has put together groundwater data for the nation so you can check your location’s current condition.

Risks Of Surface Contamination

One of the main concerns when it comes to installing a water well is the risk of surface contamination. Thankfully, if your well is constructed properly, it will provide better protection the deeper it is. If the water has a long travel time to get to the surface, the likelihood of bacteria and other contamination dying off or getting trapped in the soil increases, reducing the risk of contamination.