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Before attempting to have a well drilled, you should find out as much information about the area first. We have access to ALL well reports for wells drilled in Simcoe and area (as long as they have been recorded with the Ministry of Environment). The information from these reports will tell you if there is water available in that area, how deep the wells are likely to be, and in certain instances the chemistry of the water. The more information we have about the area the more accurate the drilling estimate can be.
Once you have decided to have a well drilled, have the drilling company representative meet you at your property to pick a spot to drill the well to make sure the spot is accessible and to answer any questions you may have. The company representative will be able to answer question with regard to the well drilling act, safe distances to boundary lines, septic systems and sump holes.
When a well is first drilled all that is noticeable is a somewhat muddy area with a piece of case pipe sticking up out of the ground about two feet. The next step is to call the backhoe (unless you have made prior arrangements with the drilling company) to come and dig the ditch from the well to the building. The ditch should be 3.5 to 4 feet deep and large enough for one man to work in.
We include the drilling and recementing of the wall in our pump package.
A well can be drilled and capped without a pumping system being installed for years. The average time span between having a well drilled and the pump installed in a new home is six to eight weeks, however the hook up can be performed the next day or the next year.
Although we try to keep the mess to a minimum, there is always going to be some mud, ruts and cuttings after the well is drilled. The homeowner is responsible for the reclamation of the area after the well is drilled. A backhoe operator may be able to assist with this repair at the time the ditch is dug and backfilled for pump installation.
Most submersible pumps use 230 volt power, a pump installer will be able to attach an existing wire that has already been run by a qualified electrician. However, if any adjustments to the power supply must be made we will suggest that a qualified electrician be called in.
Every well when first drilled is dirty and contains mineral. Most wells will clear within a few days after hook-up and purging. The amount of time it takes for a well to clear varies depending upon the area and the amount of water obtained. The water in the well must be run slowly in order to purge the well, NEVER run a well wide open to try and clear it, you will only make it worse. We can be more specific on this question once your well has been drilled as each individual well is different.
When a well is first drilled it will automatically contain high mineral counts. As the well is used, over a period of time, the mineral counts will decrease. This process takes approximately six to eight weeks at which time the water chemistry should stabilize. We do not recommend that you make any type of treatment decisions before this time period is up.
Odour can be caused by several things, the most common odour is a rotten egg or sulphur smell. This odour as well as others is usually caused by hydrogetn sulfide gas (H2S) or in some instances by manganese, hydrocarbons or buildup of iron precipitate in the hot water heater. There are treatment options available for treating odour, some as simple as chlorinating the water source or hot water heater.
A very common question and is usually associated with the amount of mineral in the water. Water that is high in mineral content cannot saturate the tea or the milk and ends up curdling in extreme cases. A water analysis would be required to identify the problem minerals such as hardness, iron, chlorides, etc.
The toilet tank can seem greasy which is caused by mineral, however, if you have a slimy gelatinous substance this is usally caused by iron bacteria. Iron bacteria atually grows in the well and spreads to cover areas where water collects. Treatment is available but should not be initiated until bacterial iron is positively identified.
Only water softeners use salt and although todays softeners use the sodium more efficiently it is possible that the sodium level in the water will increase. There are other types of treatment available, a different tap can be made to provide bottled water qualtity such as R/O or distiller. There is also a newer type of salt alternative available on the market for use in water conditioners.
There are two types of bacteria, fecal & coliform. Fecal is sewage or waste products, coliform is less serious and more common resulting from stagnant water, runoff, bugs or organic material. It is preferable to find the source of the contamination to correct the problem, if this is not possible treatment can be used to kill the bacteria effectively.