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| Frequently Asked Questions | |
 | What is a Hard Rock Well, how is it constructed?
A Hard Rock Well is drilled, for the most part, in solid granite. Picture drilling a hole through "El Capitan" in Yosemite National Park. In our service areas the granite formation, like "El Capitan", is usually encountered within 20 to 40 feet of the grounds surface. This top 20 to 40 feet of unconsolidated surface formation is cased off using steel, or PVC, well casing. A cement type seal is poured between the outside of the well casing and the drilled hole to prevent surface runoff and contaminents from entering the well. In most Hard Rock Wells only the top, unconsolidated formation needs to be cased, and thereafter, the solid, hard rock formations support the drilled hole. Water in a drilled well is measured by gallons per minute (GPM). Water is found in cracks and fractures that occur in the granite and other hard rock formations. These fractures can be dry, produce a gallon per minute or 100's of gallons per minute. The number, size and location of fractures vary from well, to well. As the drill rig bores the hole, it extracts crushed rock and water by very high pressure air lift. When a fracture is encountered, the water being extracted from the well is measured for any increase to document the GPM that particular fracture is producing. When the well depth is completed a final air lift test is preformed to confirm the well's total GPM output. Once the drill tooling is removed from the well, the top of the well casing is securly covered to prevent anything from entering the well accidentally, or intentually.
| | | What is a Water System
The Water System consists of a water source, typically a drilled well. Most wells in our service area are what we call "artisian" wells. This means the water coming from a fracture does not remain at the depth of that fracture, but rises up the well. Only a very few wells are "flowing artisian wells" where the water flows, or sometimes shoots, out the top of the well. Most wells will require the installation of a submersible pump to extract the water from the well. The submersible well pump is installed down the well and pushes the water out of the well into a pressure system, or into a storage system. A pressure system consists of a pressure tank and controls that deliver pressurized water into your home and outdoor faucets. If the well water goes into a storage system, the water is delivered to the pressure system by an above ground booster pump or, in some cases, by gravity flow.
| | | Where should I drill the well?
There are several things we consider when recommending a drill site.
First we look at the parcel size, layout and possible areas for the septic system, if one is required. Ideally, the well should be located above and at least 100' from any septic area. Some counties also require a 50' setback from all property lines.
Information on surrounding wells is most helpful. If the surrounding terrain and wells are simular, it is reasonable to expect your well to be simular. If the terrain and wells are not simular, you would want to either avoid areas, or look for simular areas on your property depending on the depth and output of those surrounding wells. Walt Bannon Drilling hosts the most documented information on local wells with records dating to the 1950's. There are very few mountain properties that are not boarded or surrounded by existing wells constructed by Walt Bannon Drilling.
Next, we look at the favorable terrain features of your parcel. We typically look at the lower areas of the property, we look for features that indicate the granite beneath the ground could be fractured, as water in a Hard Rock Well comes from cracks and fractures in the rock.
Finally, we look at the possible well site locations and their distance from homesite and power connections. The cost of trenching and installing water and electrical lines increase with distance. The size of pumps, wire and pipe also increase with the distance. Walt Bannon Drilling strives to provide our customers safe, reliable affordable water and we will always point out any, and all, cost saving options.
| | | How much will my well and pumping system cost?
Unfortunately, we cannot provide you an exact figure as there are many variables. However, if you email us a few particulars we would be more that happy to outline costs you can expect in the areas we service. We would need the property address, or general area, which county the property is located in and weather the system will be for household/domestic or commercial/public use.
| | | How much water will I need?
Again, there are many variables to water usage. You need to consider the size of your household. A rule of thumb might be 100 gallons per person per day for household water only. Other considerations would be water for fire protection, lawns, gardening, swimming pools, animals and pets.
| | | What is a Water Storage System? Do I need one?
A Water Storage System consists of a storage tank, plus floats and valving for automatic filling by the well's submersible pump. In most cases an additional above ground booster pump is also needed to pump water out of the storage tank and into the home. Some counties require you to have a minimum 2500 gallon storage system for fire protection. A storage system can also provide more usable water from a lower producing well. In many cases the wells submersible pump, pipe and wire can be sized smaller, reducing costs, when they are pumping directly into a storage system. The well pump works less providing water to a storage system than it does providing water directly to the home which extends the life of the well pump because it is having to run less and that also decreases electrical costs. A storage system is also a great back up water source should the well pump fail or you have a power outage.
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