How to Drill a Shallow Well

Many laws and ordinances exist in most municipalities governing the establishment of new wells, as it is critical to protect the water supply for all. Shallow wells, defined as those wells tapping an aquifer or ground water less than 50 feet deep, are usually drilled and constructed by licensed professionals. Check your local rules and laws regarding attempting to do this work yourself. It involves sinking a well point, also called a drive point, usually 2 inches in diameter, into the ground to tap the water reserve. The process is not exactly drilling so much as driving.

Post hole digger or soil auger
Pipe driver
Level or plumb bob
Pipe wrench
Riser pipes in 5- or 6-foot lengths
6-inch nipple
Drive cap
Pipe-thread compound
Well point (1¼ inches to 2 inches in diameter, stainless steel recommended)
Bar of soap
Gallon jugs of water
Concrete mix
Shovel
Wheelbarrow
Wood for concrete forms
Hand pump or electric pump for wellhead
Wellhead

Instructions

Driving the Well Point
- 1
  
  Digging with post-hole diggers is physical work.
  
  Dig a vertical shaft with post hole diggers or a soil auger as deep as possible. Make the shaft at least 2 inches wider than the diameter of the well point.
- 2
  Attach a section of riser pipe to the well point. Use the pipe thread compound and pipe wrench to attach it.
- 3
  Rub bar soap over the openings in the well point. This will help to prevent them from getting clogged with debris as it is driven into the ground.
- 4
  Attach the nipple and drive cap to the top of the pipe. Do not use the pipe compound and do not overtighten, as these components will be removed and attached to each successive length of pipe.
- 5
  
  Plumb bobs are available in most hardware stores.
  
  Insert the well point and pipe into the shaft. Use the level or plumb bob to ensure that the pipe is in a true, vertical alignment.
- 6
  Drive the well point and pipe into the shaft with the pipe driver. Do this until only four inches of the pipe, including the nipple and cap, is aboveground.
- 7
  
  Check for levelness on at least two sides of the pipe.
  
  Remove the drive cap and nipple. Add another length of pipe with the pipe compound and wrench. Attach the nipple and cap as before. Drive the additional length of pipe into the ground, making sure it is still vertical and level until four inches above ground.
- 8
  
  Empty milk jugs work well as one gallon measures.
  
  Remove the cap and nipple. Pour water into the opening of the pipe. You will know when you have reached a water supply when one gallon of water disappears within two minutes.
- 9
  Repeat the process of adding pipe lengths and pouring water until proper depth is reached.
- 10
  Drive the last pipe section into ground. Leave at least 1 foot of pipe aboveground for wells that will be driven by an electric pump and at least 3 feet for those to be hand-pumped. Remove the drive cap and leave the nipple in its place.
Attaching the Wellhead
- 11
  Construct frames with wood for a concrete pad around the portion of well pipe that is aboveground. This pad should extend at least 1 foot in all directions away from the pipe and be at least 4 inches thick.
- 12
  Mix the concrete in the wheelbarrow with water and a shovel. Pour it into forms and allow it to set before attaching the wellhead.
- 13
  
  Be careful not to overtighten the wellhead.
  
  Install the wellhead with a hand pump by using the pipe thread compound and pipe wrench after the concrete is dry. If you're using an electric pump, install the pump and then the wellhead.
- 14
  Test the well for proper operation.

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How to Drill a Shallow Well

Instructions

Driving the Well Point

Attaching the Wellhead