
All wells must be constructed by a licensed water well driller, or a registered rig operator working under the supervision of a licensed water well driller. The only exception is that a property owner can drive or drill a well on their own property. Obtain a Well Construction Notification Number prior to constructing a well.
What does a well construction report indicate?
What is a private well?
About this website

Are Point wells legal in Wisconsin?
You do not have to be licensed to install driven point wells. Anyone may install these wells provided there is no preliminary excavation or starter drillhole constructed deeper than 10 feet before driving of the point begins.
How deep does a well have to be in Wisconsin?
DO Construct your driven point well to a depth of at least 25 feet (not including the screen), or, 10 feet below the static water level, whichever is the greater depth.
Can you drill your own water well?
Drilling a well by hand is a lot of work, but it can be done with the right equipment. Whether you're looking to drill a shallow or deep well, this skill is perfect for those seeking self-reliance.
How much does it cost to drill a well in Wisconsin?
Well drilling costs $15 to $25 per foot for the drilling process only. Installing a complete well water system costs $25 to $65 per foot, irrigation wells run $50 to $100 per foot, and geothermal wells are $15 to $40 per foot. *Prices typically include drilling, pump, casing, and complete installation.
Does Wisconsin have a high water table?
High Groundwater and Flooding The accumulation of above-average precipitation has resulted in many areas of Wisconsin experiencing high water and flooding issues. Information is available from the DNR to help residents cope with flooding.
How long do drilled wells last?
The average lifespan for a well is 30–50 years. 2. How deep is the well? Drilled wells typically go down 100 feet or more.
Do you need permission to dig a well?
Landowners have a right to access any water beneath their ground. This means there is no need to acquire planning permission to drill a water borehole, thus making it easy for a developer to install a borehole during a property build process.
How deep should a well be for drinking water?
For drinking water wells it's best to be at least 100 feet deep so that surface contaminants cannot enter the well. The average well depth for private homes is between 100 to 800 feet [2]. You may need a deeper or shallower well if your area has different geology than another region of the country.
How do well drillers know when they hit water?
How do you know when you hit water? We have a huge air compressor on the rig that blows air down the drill stem. The air comes back up the hole with enough force to move all cuttings up and out of the hole. If the well is producing water, the water will come too.
How much does it cost to drill a 400 foot well?
To drill a well 400 feet deep, the cost may run $6,000 to $12,000. These figures don't include the well pump, the piping for water delivery, pressure switch, the storage tank or any plumbing from the well to the house site. It also doesn't include any water conditioning equipment for water that requires treatment.
How do I find the water table in my area?
The USGS National Water Information System (NWIS) has depth-to-water measurements made in the present and the past. A convenient way to find data for your area is by using the NWIS Mapper and selecting "Groundwater Sites" in the menu on the left.
How much does it cost to put in a well and septic system in Wisconsin?
Cost To Put In Well and Septic System. A septic system costs $3,280 to $5,040 to install by itself on average. The cost to put in a well and septic system ranges from $6,000 to $20,000 depending on the type of septic system, type of absorption field, size of the septic tank, and depth of well drilling required.
How much does it cost to put in a well and septic system in Wisconsin?
Cost To Put In Well and Septic System. A septic system costs $3,280 to $5,040 to install by itself on average. The cost to put in a well and septic system ranges from $6,000 to $20,000 depending on the type of septic system, type of absorption field, size of the septic tank, and depth of well drilling required.
How do I find the water table in my area?
The USGS National Water Information System (NWIS) has depth-to-water measurements made in the present and the past. A convenient way to find data for your area is by using the NWIS Mapper and selecting "Groundwater Sites" in the menu on the left.
How far does a septic tank have to be from a house in Wisconsin?
A 5' setback is required from any structure to the exterior surface of a holding or treatment tank. A 15' setback is required from the drainfield of a septic system.
How do I find out how deep my well is?
You can measure the depth of water by lowering a wetted steel tape to into the well until the lower part of the tape is under water. A chalk coating on the last few feet of tape indicate the exact water level.
Buying or selling a home or property with a private well
When you are buying or selling a property with a private well, you may be interested to know the condition of the well, the quality of the drinking water and whether there are any unused wells on the property.
Look up groundwater and well data | | Wisconsin DNR
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources 101 S. Webster Street PO Box 7921 Madison, WI 53707-7921
Well Construction Information System - Wisconsin Department of Natural ...
SEARCH TIPS. If your well was constructed before 1988, search only by Township, Range and Section. In the search results, you will see these reports at the bottom of the list, and most additional fields (address, owner name, year constructed) are blank.
Drinking Water: Private Wells - Wisconsin Department of Health Services
About 30 percent of Wisconsin residents get their drinking water from private wells. Private wells can be owned by individuals or entities like a small business, mobile home, or school. A well is considered to be private if it has fewer than 15 connections and serves fewer than 25 people. Unlike public water systems, protection and maintenance of a private well is largely the responsibility of ...
YOU & Y O U & Y O U R W E LL - Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Y O U & Y O U R W E LL W ISC O N SIN D EPA R TM EN T O F N A TU R A L R ESO U R C ES W h en is an ap p ro val req uire d p rio rconstruction?to co n stru ctio n ?
What is the Wisconsin law on drilling wells?
The law recognizes the importance of proper location and construction for all wells and drillholes. In order to increase the number of compliance inspections of private wells and drillholes, section 281.34 (3), Wisconsin Statutes [exit DNR], requires advanced notice before construction.
Who can drill a well on your property?
The only exception is that a property owner can drive or drill a well on their own property.
What is the DNR requirement for a well in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin law requires that a property owner provide advance notice to DNR before construction of any new private well that is not a high capacity well, and advance notice of any heat exchange drillhole construction (geothermal system) that does not require a written DNR approval. The law recognizes the importance of proper location and construction for all wells and drillholes. In order to increase the number of compliance inspections of private wells and drillholes, section 281.34 (3), Wisconsin Statutes [exit DNR], requires advanced notice before construction. Exceptions to the notification requirement are high capacity wells, reconstruction of existing wells and wells on Native American property.
How much is a well notification?
The Well Construction Notification fee is $50.50. A Heat Exchange Notification has no fee. The fee and notification number are not refundable or transferable.
How long does it take to get a well report?
A Well Construction Report must be completed and submitted to DNR within 30 days of well or drillhole construction. The driller will generally submit the report on behalf of the property owner. If you complete construction on your own property, contact DNR to obtain a Well Construction Report form. The notification number must be provided on the lower right-hand corner of the DNR Well Construction Report beneath the signature line.
How to maintain a well?
Here are some steps that help maintain your well: Work with licensed professionals. (link is external) and keep records of all well work and testing. Ensure the well cap. (link is external) is secure and in good condition (no cracks, holes, or other damage). Keep the area around the well clean and safe.
Who is responsible for the maintenance of a private well?
Unlike public water systems, protection and maintenance of a private well is largely the responsibility of the well owners.
How to check for a septic system?
Test your well right away if you notice a change in the color, taste, or smell of your water. 1 Test for bacteria at least once a year. 2 Test for nitrate at least once a year. 3 Test at least once for arsenic (and more often if it is found).
Is drinking water safe in Wisconsin?
While most private wells in Wisconsin provide safe drinking water, some may contain substances that can affect our health. Many of these substances do not affect the color, smell, or taste of the water.
What happens if you don't keep water flowing while drilling?
If you don't keep water circulating constantly while you're drilling — or use the appropriate chemical sealing compound when cutting through soft matter — your hole may collapse and trap all your drill stems and pipe!
How deep did Orville and Dot drill?
But slow or not, oftentimes it can be done. Orville and Dot Synoground of Pine Mountain, Georgia, drilled through 35 feet of solid granite with a Hydra-Drill and a diamond coring bit. They hit the rock layer at 18 feet and kept drilling — cutting about six inches of granite an hour — until they broke through. After three solid weeks of work, Orville and Dot struck water at 165 feet.
How wide of a hole do you drill with a coring bit?
And whenever you have to use a coring bit, you'll be pulling and resinking all your drill stems every two feet! Also, you'll end up with a 2"-diameter well; a commercial driller would probably give you a 6" wide hole. This means you'll have to use a more expensive jet pump, rather than the more common submersible pump.
How much does a deeprock coring bit cost?
DeepRock does sell a special coring bit tipped with tungsten carbide (you can reap it yourself when it gets worn) for $45, and even a diamond coring bit for $145 for cutting through hard rock. We've never tried them ourselves.
How many times do you drill a hole in a hydra drill?
Remember, though, that all such calculations assume your labor is free. Drilling takes a good amount of effort and time. Indeed with the Hydra-Drill, you have to cut the entire hole twice: once with a "pilot" bit, and the second time with a full-size reamer.
How deep can a hydra drill hit?
After three solid weeks of work, Orville and Dot struck water at 165 feet. So in other words, a properly equipped Hydra-Drill can make it through a lot of fairly rough rock, at least at slight to moderate depths. But busting through a lot of tough stuff may or may not be worth the effort.
How to learn about geology before drilling?
Consequently, you would be well advised to learn all you can about your area's geology before you invest in a drilling rig. Check with neighbors about the depth and ground conditions of their wells. Ask area drillers what's the hardest rock they go through near your location.
How many hoses are needed to drill a well?
The bulk of the site is dedicated to drilling water wells using just two hoses for drilling fluid. Inexpensive PVC is used for the drill pipe, the drill bit, and the well screen. This DIY water well drilling technique is very cheap and many successful shallow wells have been installed using this technique.
How to drill a PVC schedule 40 pipe?
The DIY technique involves water pumped down the center of a PVC schedule 40 pipe used as both a drill stem and a drill bit. At the bottom end of the PVC pipe a “drill bit” is fashioned by cutting teeth into the end of the PVC pipe. The pipe is rotated back and forth as the PVC pipe is slowly worked into the ground while the cuttings are brought to the surface by the upward flow of water in the annular space around the pipe. If you want to dig your own well, try this technique.
Can you drill a well by hand?
When drilling a well by hand, it can be very helpful to at least be familiar with the techniques used by real well drillers – the kind with big powerful trucks and huge water tanks. What we do is extremely similar, almost identical. We can’t dig holes as wide or as deep but it is the same process. A local well drilling company was kind enough to let me video their process. Check it out at “ Real Well Drilling .”
Is it cheaper to drill a well?
Commercially drilled water wells tend to be very expensive. This DIY well drilling technique is very cheap. It will almost definitely work if you live near the coast and will likely work if you live in a flat inland area.It is great for saving money on watering your lawn and irrigating a garden. YouTube. dawmlw.
Can you drill a well into an aquifer?
Many folks think they have to dig or drill their well into an aquifer. For irrigation and lawn watering , reaching an aquifer isn’t necessary. You only have to drill under the standing water level. It is very likely that you can drill your own well.
Did Steve drilled his own well?
Several users of this site have been kind enough to send pictures and info about wells that they have drilled. Check out “ Success Stories ” in the menu. For example, one of our recent success stories, Steve in South Jersey is interesting. Steve needed a way to water his Christmas tree farm and he successfully drilled his own well. Very impressive effort! We even got a wonderful email from Greg in Australia about his successful well.
Do it yourself well drilling?
In these pages the “do it yourself water well drilling” technique is referred to as well drilling, but many call this technique “washing” or “jetting” a well. It is somewhat similar to the rotary bit method which most real water well drillers use for water bore drilling.
What does a well construction report indicate?
The report will indicate the drillhole depth and the casing depth. If you cannot find a Well Construction Report for your well, you can hire a licensed well professional to inspect the water supply system and measure the well depth for you. Well records search.
What is a private well?
Private wells are wells that are not part of a public water supply. Private wells have fewer than 15 connections and serve fewer than 25 people. They are usually wells that serve a single home or farmhouse. Unlike public water systems, protection and maintenance of a private well is largely the responsibility of homeowners.
