Setting Up and Maintaining Your Well

Posted byRyan Gill

You just had your new well drilled and are anxious to get it hooked up and in service! Several considerations should be taken regarding the well to:

  • Protect the well/aquifer from contamination.
  • Allow repair of the well and pump system when needed in the future.
  • Protect above ground well casing from damage.
  • Prevent freezing of pipes in cold weather.
  • Determine and monitor water quality.
  • Breaking in and using your well

Over the years, many customers have encountered preventable issues that could have been avoided with proper setup or preventative well maintenance. Considerations should be followed to make sure your well is protected, safe and accessible. Below are best practices for setting up residential well systems:

Maintaining Access

A removable cover over the well with pump equipment an adequate distance from the well.

  • A small, easily removable, cover over the well head.
  • The supporting pumping equipment such as the pressure tank, controls and filtration are in a structure (garage, shop, or dedicated pump house) at least 10’ from the well. This setback allows for future repairs.
  • A great well cover option is a plastic “mock rock”, which is clean, affordable, and aesthetically pleasing.
  • immovable objects are built near the well or overhead. Such as power lines, buildings, retaining walls etc.
  • A path to the well location should be preserved.

Common Mistake – Building a permanent structure too close or over the well head; such as a house, shop, or even a pump house.

Prevent Contamination

Maintaining a well head which is properly sealed, adequately above grade and free from nearby contaminants.  

  • The top of well casing should be kept a minimum of 12” above ground surface per regulations.
  • The surface is such that surface water runs away from the well and does not collect around the well.
  • The area surrounding the well is clean and free of potential contaminants.
  • The well is properly capped with a screened vent.

Common Mistakes – Well head buried, at, or near land surface. Waste or chemicals near the well. Poor runoff control, Improperly capped.

Prevent Damage Above Ground

Pipes are insulated and well is protected.

  • Above ground pipes are insulated with one or a combination of tape, foam or insulated pouches. Fiberglass is generally not recommended.
  • The well is either protected, clearly visible or out of the way of vehicles or machinery.

Common Mistakes – Unprotected pipes and Wellhead

Start-up, Usage and Maintenance

Correct startup of your well is very important. See our bulletin to new customers here.

  • Slow startup for prevent formation plugging. Avoid running pump at full power on initial start-up.

  • A well with casing buried below ground surface and with standing water around.

  • A well inside a permanent well house, limiting access for future maintenance.

  • A well casing with poor fiber glass insulation surrounding it.