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How Does a Well Water Work? Understanding the Basics

Four generations of experience installing, maintaining and
repairing wells throughout Utah and Wyoming.
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We get a number of questions from clients when it comes to water wells on their properties, and many are relatively straightforward. One of the most common, especially among those new to the water well world: How does a water well work?

At Mike Zimmerman Well Service LLC, we’re thrilled to offer numerous water well system services to clients around Utah, including water well drilling, water well pumps, water well inspections, water well testing and more. Here are some of the basics on how water well systems operate, from the initial drilling process through the other simple steps in the process.

Well Water Work

Initial Drilling Process

When you’re first having a water well installed on your property, the drilling process will be one of the first and most significant. A few important sub-categories are part of this process:

  • Initial site assessment and prep: This starts with selecting a location for the water well that will be both feasible and practical, based on local regulations and your specific property layout.
  • Drilling process: There are several different drilling methods used depending on factors like the depth of the groundwater in your area, soil type and other elements. The most common and modern is rotary drilling, which involves rotating a drill bit to bore into the earth.
  • Casing installation: Once we reach an appropriate depth for your water supply, we’ll install a steel or PVC casing around the drilled hole. This provides stability and also helps prevent contamination from entering the well.
  • Surface seal: After the casing is installed, we’ll create a surface seal using bentonite clay or another approved material. This protects the well from potential contaminants near the surface.
  • Pump installation: Once the drilling process is complete and everything has been sealed up, it’s time to install the water pump that will bring water into your property.

How Well Pumps Work

Pumps are one of the single most important components of any water well system. They’re responsible for getting the water from underground and bringing it up to your home or business, where it can be used for a variety of purposes. There are a couple varieties of water well pump used today:

  • Submersible pumps: In most cases today, we’ll install submersible pumps that are placed directly into the drilled well. These sit below ground level in the water, with the motor at the bottom and an electrical cord running to it aboveground.
  • Jet pumps: In some older or more primitive wells, jet pumps may be used instead. These use suction to pull water from the well and push it into a tank or pressure vessel.

Important Role of Pressure Tanks

Another key component of modern water well systems, particularly those that use submersible pumps, is the pressure tank. This holds a reserve of water that’s used to maintain consistent pressure in your home or building’s plumbing system.

The pump is designed to turn on and off periodically as needed to refill the pressure tank. Once this happens, the tank will release small amounts of water at a time into your plumbing system – this creates consistent flow and prevents any issues with air pockets or other concerns during normal usage.

Water Well Testing and Treatment

Cleanliness of water is always a top priority, and this goes double for wells that are used as the primary water source on a property. We’ll perform regular well inspection, testing and treatments to ensure your well water is safe for consumption and free of contaminants like bacteria or heavy metals.

Some specific services we provide in this area include:

  • Water quality testing: We’ll test for hardness, pH levels, iron concentration and several other potential issues.
  • Well disinfection: If any bacteria or other harmful substances are found in the water supply, we have several methods available to disinfect the well and make it safe again.

Other Long-Term Water Well Maintenance

In addition to basic inspections and testing, there are a few other areas of maintenance you’ll want to perform on your water well system over time. These include regular pump servicing and replacement every 10-15 years, plus periodic checks on the pressure tank and other components.

At Mike Zimmerman Well Service LLC, our team is here to help with all these areas and more. Our expertise and experience will keep your water well operating smoothly for years to come, providing safe, clean water for all your needs. So whether you’re new to the world of water wells or a seasoned well owner, don’t hesitate to reach out to us for any of your needs in Utah!