Faqs

FAQ for Water Wells (19)

Q: How much room is required to drill my well?

Typical well drilling set up.

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 the access during the drilling process. Partridge Well has several sizes of drilling rigs to accommodate different access issues. 

Q: How long does it take to drill a well?

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.

Q: Does Partridge Well do the electrical hook up to pumps?

   A:  We are not licensed electricians therefore we do not do electrical work.  We do have recommendations for electritcians.

Q: I have city water. Can I drill a well?

A: Yes. Partridge Well drills hundreds of wells a year for customers who are connected to city water.

Q: Can I drill an Artesian or Floridan Aquifer well?

Q: 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.

Q: Will my well free flow like a spring out of the ground?

 

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.Flowing well

Q: What if we don’t find water?

A: Florida is fortunate to have one of the most porductive aquifers in the world, the Floridan Aquifer. When drilling a Floridan Aquifer well, PWD can guarantee the quantity of water the well will produce.

Pumping a 100ft. rock well

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.

Q: What wells are available in my area?

A snapshot of the wells PWD has drilled in the last 10 years.

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 availble in your area.Floridan Aquifer wells are availble in all areas of Notheast Florida.

Q:Why are intermediate wells often called “Salt & Pepper” wells

“Salt & Pepper” sand

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 a aquifer that consist of clays and sands that resemble salt & pepper.

Q: Do I need a permit?

A: Yes. All wells in the state of Florida require a permit. PWD will take care of the permit process for you.

Q: Why do you have to dig pits in my yard?

Sediment Pits

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 of time the covered pits will be soft.  

Option:

Above ground tubs

Above ground tubs

If you do not want pits dug in 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 of 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.

Q: Do wells go dry?

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.

Q: Can I get a well that will not stain my driveway or home?

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 reduce or avoid any iron staining. Iron can sometimes be present in Rock, Gravel Pack, and Shallow wells.IMG_4383  We do not recommend treating irrigation water for iron. If iron staining is a concern, we recommend drilling a Floridan Aquifer or Intermediate well.

Q: Would my irrigation or domestic well supply me water in cases of a disaster when there is no city water available?

Pitcher pump

Pitcher pump

A: Yes. We have many customers who choose to drill a well for 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(pictured to the right) to access the water without power.

Q: Can I get a permit to drill a Floridan Aquifer(artesian well)?

A: YES! Partridge Well can obtain permits for Floridan Aquifer wells. We do on a regular basis from many counties in NE Florida.

Q: Will there be drill mud and stuff left in my yard after the well is drilled?

Drill mud

Drilling mud

A: It is your choice.  We have to mix a drilling mud for the drilling process and dispose of it when we are finished  The mud(shown in this picture to the right) 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.

Q: How far from a city easement or property line does my well have to be?

A: There is no required setback from an easement or a property line, however a well should not be placed on either of them. 

Q: Can I use well water to fill my pool?

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.

Q: Will a well stain my house and driveway?

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.IMG_4383  We do not recommend treating irrigation water for iron. If iron staining is a concern, we recommend drilling a Floridan Aquifer or Intermediate well.

FAQ for Pumps (3)

Q: My pump is frozen

Answer – Allow pump to completely thaw out from the freeze before calling for service. As long as there are no broken pipes, pump castings, or broke pressure tubing, the pump should start working normally when it has thawed.

Q: Does Partridge Well do the electrical hook up to pumps?

   A:  We are not licensed electricians therefore we do not do electrical work.  We do have recommendations for electritcians.

My Pump does not run

Check breaker, on/off switch or ensure pump is plugged in.

FAQ for Water Treatment (5)

Q: Do I need water treatment?

A: It depends on several factors. The depth, location, and type of well will have a large impact on the mineral content of the water. For many types of wells and locations, Partridge Well Drilling can estimate what the mineral content will be based on the knowledge we have gained from drilling thousands of wells in the area. However, There can be local fluctuations and except for Floridian Aquifer wells mineral content cannot be guaranteed.

Personal comfort levels and preference can also effect the decision to add water treatment. Water can be enhanced in different ways. Partridge Well Drilling will be happy to work with you to find a level of treatment that will address any concerns you may have about your water.

Q: What are typical well water issues that might require treatment?

  1. Hydrogen Sulfide, many times referred to as sulfur, is a gas with a rotten egg odor. It will add an objectionable taste and odor to the water even at low levels. It is also corrosive and can damage air conditioning coils and other appliances.
  2. Iron is a mineral that will leave reddish brown stains that are hard to remove.
  3. Hardness in water is mainly made up of compounds of calcium and magnesium. Hard water will leave white chalky build up and stains around faucets, dishwashers, shower doors cookware, and other appliances.
  4. Iron or sulfate reducing bacteria can sometimes be present in the water. It can give the water a bad taste and smell.

Q: What are my treatment options?

  1. Water Softeners – Used for removing iron and hardness from the water. They exchange sodium or potassium for the hardness and iron in the water.
  2. Hydrogen Peroxide Injection System – Used to treat hydrogen sulfide.
  3. Chlorination Systems – Used to treat hydrogen sulfide and help keep aerators clean.
  4. Reverse Osmosis – Used to provide high quality drinking water.

Q: Where would water treatment equipment be installed?

  1. There are several locations where water treatment equipment could be installed. Near the pumping equipment, inside the garage and near the home are common locations. Some factors to consider are availability of power, drain water options, and separating irrigation water from treated water.
  2. Some homes are plumbed with a water softener loop which will separate hose bib water from treated water.

Q: Can I treat my irrigation water?

A:  Generally irrigation water is difficult to treat due to the large volumes needed. Selecting the appropriate well is the best way to keep irrigation water from staining.