Accessing water on a property is an important task, especially in areas where there is no municipal supply available. Whether you're looking to do well drilling for personal consumption, agriculture, or industrial purposes, the first order of business is to find a usable location with a sufficient supply. Here are five ways to identify a well drilling site.
Property Records
Most jurisdictions require property owners to enter any water discoveries into their records. This can be helpful for three reasons.
First, you might save a ton of effort just by checking. Someone may have previously performed a search, found multiple sites, and settled on one or two. If there's a spare location, you may be in luck.
Second, a search should include relevant information about the water there. Especially if someone previously sunk a hole and did a test, there may be indications about the quality. This can help you avoid brackish water.
Finally, the property data should include information about overlaps with other properties. You can avoid conflicts with neighbors by checking for this information.
Government Surveys
Many government agencies collect records of water deposits. The USGS offers one of the most easily accessible databases. Your state and local governments may offer similar data, so take advantage of it.
Speak with a Driller
Although well drilling services providers aren't the final word on where to find water, they still have lots of experience. You might get lucky and find someone who has drilled on or around the property before.
Likewise, a driller can tell you how challenging a location may be. If there are hard rock formations in the area, you may incur heavy costs trying to get through. Understanding the geology of the area will help you rule out sites that might be too difficult.
Terrain Features
Water deposits often collect in specific types of locations. For example, valleys are more likely to have deposits than hills.
You can also look for springs, ponds, and lakes. These often indicate where the water table is. Pressure within the saturated zone will drive the water to a location that offers the least resistance. Bear in mind this may be less indicative after long periods of dry weather.
Plants
Nature finds a way, and the way it finds usually points to water. If you see evidence of unusual plant growth at a site that has no evident water, there's a good chance the plants have found something.
