Finding a well driller

Now that we know where the septic system will go, we can get a well installed. As it turns out, the company that drilled my parents' well has sold out to another business. This other company only uses percussion drilling, whereas we were planning to employ a rotary driller*; and, even worse, they also offer dowsing services, which was a red flag for us. Dowsing, as far as we're concerned, is a bunch of baloney - the stuff of Looney Tunes and Smurfs cartoons (I definitely remember Wyle E. Coyote using a divining rod). So, it was time to find another driller.

My dad pretty much took the lead on this, and through some searching found Moravec Water Wells. They sounded much more promising, especially since instead of also offering dowsing services they offer geothermal systems. Although we don't need a geothermal contractor (since we are already going with Roth Green Energy), at least this shows Moravec's priorities line up better with our own. Not only that, but within a few hours of my dad first calling, they were already out to visit the site!

My dad was pleased with the meeting, so it looks like we've got a well contractor. Now we just have to wait a bit for the ground to firm up so that they can get their 34-ton (!) trucks in to start drilling. We have to hope the ground will soon freeze up, without getting too much snow (since the snow will keep the ground pretty insulated and can actually keep things muddy). Hopefully we can get drilling soon, though realistically it's not urgent.

*A note on percussion vs. rotary drilling: Percussion drilling is an old technique that basically repeatedly drops a ram to pulverize the ground and create a hole. After clearing out the sludge, the well casing is pushed and pounded into place. Percussion drilling is cheap, but results in a less efficient well due to compaction and smearing along the sides of the borehole. Also, one of the neighbors got a new well drilled using this method not too long ago, and it noisily pounded along for days. Rotary drilling is just as it sounds: a rotating bit that excavates a borehole. The process is more expensive, but it's faster and allows for analysis and engineering of the well design. Reference