Groundwater Well Types - Pros & Cons

If you need to have a well installed, there are a number of different types to choose from. Choosing the well that is best for your home or construction project is very important. Below are details on common well types.

Bored/Dug Wells

Bored/Dug Wells are created by digging a hole in the ground using hand-tools such as shovels or heavy equipment (backhoes). Once the hole has been dug, the inside is lined with bricks, stones, tile, or other materials to prevent the hole from collapsing in on itself. These wells have a large diameter, but tend to be shallow and usually do not have a continuous case inside. The lack of a continuous casing and shallow nature make them susceptible to contamination, and can go dry in periods of drought.

Driven Wells

A Driven Well uses a pipe that is driven into the ground as opposed to digging a hole. These are cased continuously and tend to be shallow. As with Dug Wells, their shallow nature makes them susceptible to contamination due to the well drawing from aquifers near the surface and being unsealed. These are the most cost-effective wells to install.

Drilled Wells

Drilled Wells are constructed using heavy-duty precision drilling machines. These wells can be extremely deep, possibly going down thousands of feet. Drilled wells have a lower risk of contamination due to them not being reliant on surface aquifers. Most modern wells are drilled. However, due to the use of heavy-equipment, they can be expensive to install.

When choosing the right groundwater well, knowing the pros and cons for each is important. Guardian Well and Septic Inspections is familiar with all types of wells and will make sure that the well is safe and up to code. Contact us today for a list of our services and to schedule a well inspection!