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• Water Well Information •
Information you should know.
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Water wells supply more than half of this country’s drinking water to over 40 million Americans. A private well supply is a good long-term asset and adds value to your property. |
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As you know, well drilling is a very specialized skill that requires a driller to be knowledgeable in hydrology, geology, well construction techniques and drilling methods. Both the Dept. of Water Resources and the Arizona Registrar of Contractors license all well drillers in Arizona. |
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Before drilling a well you need to know if the property is located within an Active Management Area, also known as an AMA. The Prescott AMA includes Prescott, Chino Valley, Prescott Valley, and Dewey. In these areas, strict regulations govern groundwater use. In an AMA, only one exempt well may be drilled or used to serve the same non-irrigation purpose at the same location. (domestic or stock) An exempt well has a pump capacity of 35 gpm or less. |
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If the property is located outside the boundaries of an AMA you are allowed a non-exempt well which has a pump capacity of greater than 35 gallons per minute and there are no restrictions as to how many wells you may have on the property. |
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The cost of constructing a well depends on its size, depth, location, materials used and method of construction. |
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An important factor to consider when constructing a well is where to locate it. You will want to put the well close to where you will use the water and close to a power source to reduce construction and energy costs. You should leave enough room around the well for easy access during drilling, maintenance, and repair. You also want to locate the well as far away from neighboring wells as possible so they don’t interfere with each other. |
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To protect the quality of the water the state and county has adopted strict rules about well location. The State of Arizona and all counties require that wells be a minimum of 100 feet from any septic system or sewage disposal area. |
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Yavapai County Environmental Services also mandates that the well be a minimum of 50 feet from the property line for properties 5 acres or less. If this distance cannot be met the property owner can file an Affidavit of Agreement to encroach that must include the neighboring property owner’s signature. |
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Property owners must apply with ADWR for authority to drill by filing a Notice of Intent to Drill. Well applications intended for domestic purposes and on a parcel of 5 acres or less must be submitted with a detailed site plan to the Yavapai County Environmental Services office for review and authorization before it is submitted to ADWR. The site plan must show the proposed well location and location of any septic tank or sewer system that is either located on the property or within 100 feet of the proposed well site. If the well is located on a parcel greater than 5 acres County authority and a site plan are not required. |
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- The permit fee for the State of Arizona is $150 if located within an AMA and $100 outside an AMA if it is to be used for domestic purposes only.
- The Yavapai County Environmental Services has a permit fee of $127.50.
- The Mohave County Environmental Services has a permit fee of $110.00.
- The Coconino County Environmental Services has a permit fee of $220.00.
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Drillers now have the ability to apply for a well permit on-line. A registration number and drill card is issued immediately. |
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There are four major steps involved in constructing a well: drilling the hole, installing the casing, well development and pump installation or capping. |
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A proper surface seal consists of a 20-foot steel casing surrounded by cement grout to seal the casing so contaminants cannot enter the well from the surface. The surface casing is usually set the day before the drilling begins so the cement can set. |
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Once the drilling rig is set up the drilling process may last a day or two depending on the formations that are encountered and the quality of the drilling equipment used. During the drilling, our driller keeps a detailed well log of the drill cuttings that are obtained and files this information with the Dept of Water Resources. Once the borehole is drilled, the driller installs the well casing, usually PVC pipe, and develops and disinfects the well. The well is developed to clean the borehole and casing of drilling fluid by surging water or air in and out of the well screen openings. Chlorine is added to disinfect the well and it is sealed with a watertight cap until the pump is installed. |
