Drilling a Well for Our Home

The dream of establishing our own homestead in the rolling hills of Georgia has been a labor of love, and an exciting journey learning all about the ins and outs of different geology and other environmental factors that influence the quality of your water. I know, I know, I’m a nerd! 🤓

One of the most crucial milestones in building our home was securing a reliable water source. Unlike those fortunate enough to connect to municipal water lines, we knew from the outset that drilling a well was going to be our primary source of water. City water lines would not be run through our area for at least a decade.

Check out the process for getting our well drilled below.

How to find water?

The Diviner's Wand vs. the Digital Eye: Choosing the Right Spot

Our initial thoughts on locating a well site wandered into the realm of traditional practices. Water dowsing, with its imagery of forked branches dipping towards hidden springs, held a certain romantic appeal. We contacted a local dowser, a man with a reputation for his intuitive abilities.

I followed the dowser as he carefully traversed the property, his metal rods held with practiced ease. While we walked the property, he told me stories of his large tree nursery and how he used his skills to locate spots to dig irrigation wells. He gave me some lessons in forestry and how to manage my woods. Even if the practice of water dowsing is nothing more than entertainment, I still enjoyed that time with him learning tips and tricks on how I could start my own nursery eventually on the farm.

In the end, he pointed to 3 spots where he thought water would be flowing.

…and now a more scientific method

While intrigued by the dowser's conviction, we also recognized the limitations of relying solely on anecdotal evidence. Our investment in the well would be substantial (think in the range of $10 - $15,000!) and the consequences of choosing a poor location could be costly. This prompted us to explore more scientifically grounded methods.

At the well drillers recommendation, we contacted a company specializing in hydrogeological surveys utilizing satellite imagery and government aquifer records to find suitable sites that would provide the best water flow in relation to our plans for the property. Their advanced analysis delved into geological maps, soil composition, vegetation health (which can indicate subsurface moisture) to identify potential aquifer locations deep beneath our Georgia clay. The detailed report they provided highlighted several promising zones, each with a calculated probability of yielding sufficient water. Intriguingly, the areas flagged by the satellite analysis differed significantly from the dowser's chosen location.

Ultimately, the weight of scientific evidence tipped the scales. While we respected the dowser’s tradition, the detailed data and professional opinion associated with the satellite imagery offered a more compelling and, frankly, less risky path forward. We decided to target one of the prime locations identified in their report.

Pinpointing the Prize: The Precision of GPS

Once we had a general area identified, the next step was to pinpoint the exact drilling location. Accuracy was paramount; a misplaced well could lead to logistical headaches during construction or, worse, failure to tap into the aquifer effectively. For this crucial task, I relied on my Garmin Inreach, a GPS device, to mark the center of the aquifer from the coordinates the water location service gave us. I cross-referenced this with the OnX Hunt app, which overlays property boundaries, topographic maps, and satellite imagery, allowing for visual confirmation of the chosen spot within my property lines and in relation to potential future building sites. Finally, I used Google Maps for a broader aerial perspective and to ensure the location was accessible for the massive drilling rig.

I double checked my work with my niece (who was visiting and helping me on the farm) and my husband, to act as second pair of eyes. This extra layer of scrutiny provided peace of mind, ensuring that a simple oversight on my part wouldn't lead to a costly mistake! I didn’t want to be the reason we spent thousands only to hit a dry patch!

The Arrival of the Beast: The Drilling Rig in Action

The day the well drilling rig lumbered onto our property was a spectacle. The heavy-duty truck, equipped with a towering drill mast, a powerful engine, and an intricate network of hydraulic hoses and tools, commanded attention. The skilled crew expertly maneuvered the rig into the precisely marked location, leveled it out and started its muddy work of drilling deep into the earth.

The drilling process commenced with a roar of the engine and the rhythmic churning of the drill bit. We watched, fascinated, as the massive drill, composed of interconnected pipes, began its slow but steady descent into the earth. The drill bit, a specialized tool designed to pulverize rock and soil, chewed its way downwards, while a mixture of compressed air and water fluid was injected to carry the cuttings – fragments of earth – back to the surface. These cuttings provided a fascinating geological profile of our land, revealing layers of clay, sand, and eventually, the granite formations we hoped would hold water.

However, the drilling process wasn't without its hiccups. On the second day, after reaching a depth of approximately 300 feet, disaster struck – the drill bit broke. The drilling ground to an abrupt halt. After a frustrating delay, they successfully retrieved the broken piece, replaced the bit and were able to resume drilling. In total, the drilling process took around three days, longer than initially anticipated due to the broken bit.

Finally, after reaching a depth of 425 feet, the moment of truth arrived. The drilling crew initiated the well testing phase. A submersible pump was lowered into the newly drilled borehole, and soon enough, clear water began to surge upwards. The initial flow was encouraging, but the crucial test was the sustained yield. For several hours, they monitored the water level and the flow rate, determining how many gallons per minute the well could reliably produce. The results were a resounding success: our well yielded a robust 16 gallons per minute! This was not only sufficient for our immediate homestead needs but also provided a comfortable buffer for future expansion and peak usage.

Why didn’t we just hand dig our well?

While the romantic notion of hand-dug wells might exist, in our area, regulations mandated that well installation be performed by a licensed professional. This requirement isn't arbitrary; it’s a critical safeguard against potential groundwater contamination. Certified well drillers possess the knowledge and expertise to properly seal the well casing, preventing surface water and pollutants from entering the aquifer.

This protects not only our water source but also the regional groundwater supply. Furthermore, a professionally installed well is a prerequisite for obtaining a certificate of occupancy for a new home, and in the future, should we decide to sell, no buyer’s bank will offer financing on a home with no certified water source. These facts underscored the importance of choosing a licensed contractor.

Laying the Foundation: The Concrete Pad

With the well successfully drilled and tested, the next step was to prepare for the installation of the well components. To provide a stable and protected base for the pressure tank, well pump controls, and eventually, a well house, we constructed a concrete pad around the wellhead. This pad would elevate the equipment above ground level, protecting it from the elements and providing a clean and accessible area for maintenance. Pouring and finishing the concrete pad was a tangible step towards completing our water system, a solid foundation for the infrastructure that would deliver water to our future home.

We built this over the course of 3 weekends in our spare time, took longer than we would have liked, but the intensely hot summer weather wiped us out after lugging in 1700lbs of concrete in bags and mixing it by hand!

I will definitely be asking for a cement mixer as an anniversary present from my husband next year ha ha!

The Cost of Hydration Independence

The total cost for our well installation came in around $13,000. In our rural area, the lack of municipal water infrastructure left us with little alternative. While we explored the possibility of rainwater harvesting for potable use, at the time of this writing, Georgia lacks a comprehensive and approved code for such systems, making it a less certain primary water source. This made drilling a well the most viable and reliable option.

It’s worth noting that even with a successful well yielding ample water, our commitment to water security remains. We still plan to implement redundant systems. The roof of my equipment barn alone, given the average rainfall in the region, could potentially yield approximately 54,000 gallons of water per year! We intend to install a rainwater harvesting system to capture this valuable resource for non-potable uses like irrigation and potentially as a filtered backup for household needs.

Furthermore, a pond would be a great addition as well.

This would not only enhance the aesthetics and ecological diversity of our land but also serve as an additional water source for irrigation and potentially for fire suppression, further bolstering our self-reliance.

Resources and Local Authorities

Embarking on the journey of drilling a well is a significant undertaking, and it’s crucial to be well-informed. We highly recommend consulting valuable resources such as the NGWA Well Owners Guide, published by the National Ground Water Association, which provides comprehensive information on well construction, maintenance, and water quality. Additionally, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offers excellent resources on private wells at **https://www.epa.gov/privatewells**, covering topics like testing, treatment, and potential contaminants.

Before you even begin to consider well drilling on your property, it is absolutely essential to talk with your local public health department and code enforcement professionals. They can provide crucial information on local regulations, permitting requirements, well construction standards, and water quality testing protocols specific to your area. Failing to consult with these authorities can lead to costly delays, fines, and even the inability to obtain necessary permits and approvals.

Our experience drilling a well in Georgia was a challenging but ultimately rewarding process. It underscored the importance of careful planning, informed decision-making, and the expertise of qualified professionals. The steady flow of water from our 425-foot well is more than just a utility; it’s a symbol of our growing self-sufficiency and a vital step towards realizing our long-held homestead aspirations.