Should you seal a well before drilling?

After you reach water with any drilling project, it’s time to put the tools away and rest in a job well done — almost. Before you hang up your work boots, you must seal your well to protect it from surface water contamination. Without proper sealing, surface water may enter the borehole and contaminate the well water.

Why should a driller seal a well?

Drillers need to know the importance of properly sealing a well to avoid possible contamination, which could affect any people or animals who use the well. Groundwater is usually safe to drink without treatment because soil naturally filters out disease-causing organisms and chemicals as water flows through it.

How do you seal a well?

Drillers can also use the neat cement mixture to create a berm around the top of the borehole, which protects against surface water collecting around the top of the well. After sealing a well, wait at least 24 hours before installing the well’s submersible pump to ensure the sanitary seal sets completely.

What happens if a well is not sealed properly?

But that’s not always the case, and if a well isn’t sealed properly, surface water can leak in, bringing with it potential contaminants. A sanitary seal is the key component that stands between surface water and well water. Shallow groundwater might also be contaminated, so sealing the upper section of the borehole will protect the well.

How do you seal a borehole?

These fines should be removed before the product enters the borehole, and this can be done by pouring them over a screen as they are introduced into the borehole. These sealants should be poured slowly over the screen in to the borehole. A couple of minutes per 50 pounds of material is a good rule of thumb.

What should I know before drilling a water well?

As with any project, it’s important to see through the finishing touches and guarantee safety to those who will use the well. Before drilling, determine a safe well location with stable ground, low risk of contamination and convenient access. Check out this intro to water well drilling for more on preparation and training.