FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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At Wild West Drilling, we offer a wide variety of services and are here to help you.
Do you need support with any of the following:
- Well Pump Installation
- On-site service and repair
- Water Filtration & Treatment
- Cistern Installation
- Water Collection and Analysis
- Well Flow Testing
- Well Disinfection
- Real Estate Testing & Evaluation
- Equipment Rentals
- Geothermal Heating & Cooling
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Our certified well drilling contractor will conduct a site visit with a property owner to help determine the best possible drilling site.
Horizontal setbacks for new water supply wells for British Columbia:
• 10ft inside property lines
• 20ft from any buildings.
• 50 ft from an existing water supply well that is used or intended to be used (GWPR)
• 100ft from any septic system, including the field and the tank, both yours and your neighbour’s.
• 400ft from an existing cemetery or a landfill
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The average installation is 1-2 days, though Well depth and ground formation are factors to consider.
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Firstly, the drilling rig is set up, the crane vehicle unloads the steel casing, and the drilling rods are arranged close to the rig. The driller will then use the winch line on the rig to raise a length of rod and casing into position for drilling. The rod is threaded into the rig's top drive, and jaws in both the top drive and bottom table hold the casing. As the Well drilling progresses, the operators will weld new lengths of casing onto the previous segment. The driller will continuously monitor drilling cuttings from the hole through the cyclone discharge.
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The cheapest estimate is not necessarily the best, and you should not hire a driller solely because they gave you the cheapest quote. Quotes will vary depending on the ground formulation (is it sand, gravel or bedrock?) How far is it necessary to drill to find water, and how much is necessary to suit your needs? Drilling a water well in BC will cost anywhere from $10,000 on the low end and upwards to $30,000 or more in 2023.
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Generally, the depth of a household water well is 100-500 feet or sometimes more. The well's depth depends on the area's geology and underground water levels.
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GPM stands for Gallons Per Minute and measures the maximum water you can pump out of your well. As certified pump installers, we can conduct a pump test to measure GPM accurately.
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Knowing the well's depth, the water's level, and the pump depth, the water storage capacity can be calculated.
The flow rate can be obtained via a flow rate test. The flow is the amount of water that is obtained from the well. The flow rate is the speed at which the flow is coming, generally measured in GPM (gallons per minute). The average household needs 100 to 120 gallons per person per day and a flow rate of about 6 to 12 gallons per minute.
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Wells used for domestic purposes are exempt from licensing. Non-domestic/commercial groundwater users do require licensing.
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FrontCounter BC:
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Two typical methods are (1) using chemicals to loosen and sometimes dissolve the encrusting materials so they can be pumped from the well and (2) cleaning the well using a mechanical action, pressure, or fluid force (air or water). The best results come from “both”.
Chemicals aid in loosening deposits, but the action takes it away and removes it from particles and surfaces and out. Along with mechanical action, a good place to start is with a casing brush that can be attached to a drilling rig and then used in the well.
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1. 𝘚𝘶𝘳𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘢𝘭 - essential for keeping potential contaminants from the surface and surrounding soil from entering your well.
2. 𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘊𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 - maintains the opening of the drilled well
3. 𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘊𝘢𝘱 - prevents rodents, debris, and other contaminants from entering the well.
4. 𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘠𝘪𝘦𝘭𝘥 - this is the maximum capacity your well can produce in gallons per minute (GPM) without lowering the water level within the well.
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Submersible pumps are reliable technology. They are typically low maintenance and can last 8-15 years. Finding one that’s been in service for 20 years is not unusual.
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If you are looking for additional information on neighbouring wells, the BC Government website has a mapping program that shows aquifers and well locations.
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According to the Government of British Columbia, the Well Identification plate can be attached to the Well casing using a slotted, stainless steel hose clamp strap. If it is impossible to attach with the strap, other means, such as an epoxy adhesive, can be used. If the plate is attached to a pump house or building, ensure the plate is securely attached.
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A Well identification plate is required for all water wells. It is the responsibility of the Well owner to maintain this plate and protect it from any damage, as well as ensure it is plainly visible.
If your Well is missing the Identification plate, you can email your provincial government and receive your well’s identification number.
𝘉𝘊 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 - Groundwater@gov.bc.ca
𝘈𝘉 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 - Gwinfo@gov.ab.ca
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Testing is required to ensure your water is safe, and retesting annually is recommended. Wild West is a full-service provider; we can take a water sample for you.
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The most crucial action is to test the water regularly. At Wild West, we are a full-service provider, so that we can conduct a water test for you. Additionally, the water supply should be protected by managing activities near the water source. For households using a domestic well, this includes keeping contaminants away from sinkholes and the well itself.
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Possible sources of contamination could include:
• Septic tanks and septic fields
• Livestock and silos
• Oil tanks
• Storage and handling of fertilizers
• Manure accumulation and storage
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Well water quality testing is essential to ensure the potability of available drinking water. Periodic and thorough well water quality testing reduces the incidence and spread of infectious diseases and reduces exposure to harmful contaminants often found in drinking water supplies.
Water testing can be done for the following:
• Total coliform and E.coli
• Legionella
• Pseudomonas
• Enterococci
• Presence of metals
• Nitrate and nitrite
• Ammonical nitrogen
• B.O.D and C.O.D
• Cyanide and sulphate
• Hydrocarbon's
• VOCs and SVOCs
• Pesticides
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According to the water sustainability act, a person who installs, maintains, repairs, removes, or tests a well or well pump must be a qualified water well driller or pump installer.
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The GWPR states that if a well has not been used for a period of 5 years, it must be deactivated. A deactivated well has a secure cap or cover, has no power to the pump, is maintained in a safe and sanitary condition, and is accessible for inspection. If a well has been deactivated for 5 years or not used for 10 years, and if there is no intent to use the well in future, the well must be decommissioned.
