Perhaps the most important thing to take into consideration before constructing a house and drilling a well is the water supply. The house does not have much value if there is not enough good quality water, which may be located on the very spot where the front steps are planned to be built.
First of all, homeowners should ask around if they need a permit from the local government to drill a well. Or else, they should consul their contractor regarding the legal requirements to make sure they get the required permits.
When a well is being drilled, they are exploring more into the water that is available, to determine its quality and quantity. It is not common to see totally dry holes but most especially low yielding wells that are brought about ay interference with neighboring wells (like in a subdivision), geologic conditions and low season or natural water table.
In case there are any problems, repair costs are lower than constructing the well first since this only involves the cost of the well. In addition, if they need to drill another well, there is probably enough room on the property when the house is not yet there. When planning to buy a property in an area, which according to a licensed driller, is questionable in terms of water supply, the best thing to do is buy the property and ask permission to have a well constructed beforehand.
The success of getting enough supply of water from a well is dependent on the type of material underneath the ground in the area. Sine local drilling contractors have enough experience working in the area, they can let homeowners know the things to expect. Their neighbors can also share about the quantity and quality of water.
Having “enough” water refers to having the right amount of water to meet the follow requirements.
-
Everyday use: drinking, cleaning, cooking, “plumbing” (toilets, showers, bathtubs, dishwashers, automatic washers plus several other automatic appliances that use water).
-
Seasonal use: car wash, swimming pool plus watering the garden and lawn
-
Other special uses: crop irrigation, water treatment devices requiring backwashing, animal watering
-
Fire protection: a home rarely depends on a well when it comes to this special need since usually, the local fire department has more than enough water supply from surface water and non-drinkable ponds.
The daily use of water can be concentrated into 1 to 2 hours, at the same time in different parts of the house (washing laundry, shower and watering the lawn). A water supply system must have the capacity to meet this demand during peak hours. A rough estimate is a home will require 150 to 300 gallons a day to meet all the needs of 2 to 4 residents.
Aside from supplying water for regular use in a household, there are energy-conscious homeowners that have groundwater geothermal systems installed to provide the home with warm and cool temperatures using the ground’s constant temperature for heat exchange.
A well’s actual location will often depend on a number of factors besides geology. An important thing to consider is land surface features like poorly drained areas and steep slopes. Whenever it is possible, a well should be placed at a higher location than the areas that surrounds it to make it less prone to contamination.