How to Drill A Water Well In Your Backyard

If local laws allow it you may be able to drill a water well in your backyard without a huge drilling rig.

Instructions

1. Check your local zoning laws. Private water wells are not allowed inside many city limits.
   If you are allowed to drill a private well you have a few options. The first is called a "driven point well". These types of wells are suitable for areas with soft soil or sand with a water table that is very shallow. The water table will have to be in a sand strata or loose gravel for this type of well to work.
   Basically a driven point well consists of a perforated metal pipe with a hardened point on it, attached to more lengths of pipe without perforation. It is simply hammered in the ground one pipe at a time. Driven point water well kits can be found from many sources by searching for "driven point well kit". You can extract water from a driven point well with a hand pump or small air jet pump.

2. Consider using a micro drilling rig. You can drill your own water well is with a small, portable, one man well drilling machine such as from Deep Rock Manufacturing. These devices operate much like a traditional drilling rig in that it uses a motor to turn a drill bit that is attached to lengths of pipe. Drilling mud containing bentonite is pumped down the pipe to lubricate and protect the hole as it is drilled. These kits can drill wells up to two hundred feet deep. You can use an air jet pump or small diameter submersible pump to extract water.

3. Make your own air powered drill that is attached to lengths of PVC pipe that are lowered into the ground as the hole is drilled deeper. How-to instructions and parts kits can often be found on E-Bay.
   Personal well drilling is allowed in most states without a permit however you are not allowed to charge for drilling a water well since you have to be a licensed water well driller to do that.

Tips & Warnings

• Hand digging a well is not recommended. Cave - ins can cause injury or death.