At Partridge Well, we understand that installing a well can be an unfamiliar process. So we have assembled a list of frequently asked questions and some common misconceptions about water wells.
A: Imagine a 30ft truck that is 9ft wide, the well is drilled where the trailer hitch would be. Additional room may be required on both sides of the rig for access during the drilling process. Partridge Well has several sizes of drilling rigs to accommodate different access issues.
A: Well drilling completion times vary from a half day to three days or longer. Drilling time is affected by many factors including time to set up, difficult drilling formations and weather. All of these factors vary from site to site and well to well. These are also factors that we have no control over. In addition, the time it takes to develop each well is different. Because of these variables there is no way for us to give a fixed time for well completion.
A: Yes. Partridge Well drills hundreds of wells a year for customers who are connected to city water.
A: Yes. Artesian and Floridan Aquifer wells are permitted in your area. They can be drilled for several different purposes (home use, geothermal, irrigation, etc.). PWD drills many Floridan Aquifer wells and keeps a record of each one. Call our office for more information on Floridan Aquifer wells in your area.
A: Wells that are drilled into a confined aquifer access water that is under pressure. This artesian pressure forces the water in the well to rise. The water may flow out at the surface, but not always. It depends on your elevation above sea level.
A: Florida is fortunate to have one of the most productive aquifers in the world, the Floridan Aquifer. When drilling a Floridan Aquifer well, PWD can guarantee the quantity of water the well will produce. Unlike Floridan Aquifer wells, shallower wells access aquifers that have unpredictable characteristics. PWD will guarantee a minimum of 10 gallons per minute from wells other than Floridan Aquifer wells.
A: PWD has over 100 years of records of wells drilled in Northeast Florida. With your property address, we consult our records to see what wells are available in your area. Floridan Aquifer wells are available in all areas of Northeast Florida.
A: Yes. Our wells can be used to fill your swimming pool. We would recommend drilling a Floridan Aquifer well to ensure the best quality of water.
A: Yes. All wells in the state of Florida require a permit. PWD will take care of the permit process for you.
A: YES! Partridge Well can obtain permits for Floridan Aquifer wells. We do on a regular basis from many counties in NE Florida.
A: It is avoidable. Not all wells contain the staining mineral iron. Floridan Aquifer wells and Intermediate Salt & Pepper wells (if available) can be drilled to avoid any iron staining. Iron can sometimes be present in Rock, Gravel Pack, and Shallow wells. We do not recommend treating irrigation water for iron. If iron staining is a concern, we recommend drilling a Floridan Aquifer or Intermediate well.
A: Part of the drilling process includes removing cuttings from the borehole we drill during well construction. To contain & dispose of the cuttings we usually dig two pits beside the drilling rig. These pits vary in size based on well size & depth. Generally, they are +/- 3ft wide x 6ft long x 4ft deep. Drilling fluid is circulated through the pits where the cuttings settle out and the drilling fluid is reused. We will cover the pits when the well is complete. For a period, the covered pits will be soft.
If you do not want pits dug into your yard there is a solution. We can use portable above grade pits instead of digging the pits. When we use the above ground pits, we also bring a vacuum tank to remove all the drill cuttings and fluid from your yard. This does require an additional crew member, an additional truck, the vacuum tank to dispose of fluid and drill cuttings off site, therefore there is a charge for this service. We will be glad to price this service for you upon request.
A: There is no required setback from an easement or a property line, however a well should not be placed on either of them.
A: Wells that “go dry” are generally shallow/surficial wells that are less than 50′. These wells depend on rainfall to replenish the water table. Partridge Well drills wells that are usually deeper and penetrate a confined aquifer. This means that our wells are not directly dependent on rainfall. The water level may rise and fall in these wells, but they do not go dry.
A: Yes. We have many customers who choose to drill a well to back up for their city water. These wells can have many uses, such as irrigation.
In cases where the power is lost or is not available and a pump is required to pull the water out of the well, PWD can install a pitcher pump or hand pump to access the water without power.
A: “Salt & Pepper” wells, or Intermediate wells are normally 3″ or 4″ in diameter and are drilled to depths of 220-320 feet. At this depth water is withdrawn from an aquifer that consists of clays and sands that resemble salt & pepper.
A: It is your choice. We must mix drilling mud for the drilling process and dispose of it when we are finished. Mud is composed of water, sand, and clay. Typically, we pump this mud onto the property where the well is drilled. However, we do offer an upgrade where we can use a special truck to contain the drill mud and remove it from your property.
A: We are not licensed electricians therefore we do not do electrical work. We do have recommendations for electricians.