Frequently Asked Questions

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• You will need to contact your County Health Department to obtain the proper permit for the construction of your well. They will work with you to determine the location(s) for your well.
• Contact us to schedule your FREE onsite evaluation and estimate. Our staff will work with you to schedule a convenient time to meet you at your property. During our site visit we will review and discuss the following:
• Well Location:
  Our representative will discuss the location of your new well based upon site conditions, and Virginia Department of Heath requirements, including location of your home, driveway, septic system(s), property lines and other future plans for the property that you may have.
• Drilling Cost:
  We will discuss our rates as well as our standard Well Drilling Contract and terms. Our representative will provide you with an estimate for your well project based on the geological conditions and the average depth of the wells that we have drilled in the area.
• Water and Pump System Requirements:
  Our representative will discuss your water usage needs in order to determine the appropriate system to meet your current and anticipated future needs.           

Once you have decided to retain Rorrer Well Drilling, Inc. as your well driller we will need the following:

• Well Permit(s):
  Rorrer Well Drilling, Inc. must have a copy of your well permit, prior to drilling your well.
• Contracting / Scheduling:
  Rorrer Well Drilling, Inc. requires all well projects to have a contract for the service(s). A contract protects both you and Rorrer Well Drilling, Inc. and details the work to be preformed and lists the current rates. Upon contracting, we will provide you with an approximate drilling schedule and our representative will stake out the proposed well location with you.

Drilling process basic information:

• Our equipment is designed to drill most wells in one to two days. Upon mobilizing to the project site and setting up, we advance casing with a protective drive shoe until bedrock is reached. Casing prevents soil from collapsing into the borehole and creates an unobstructed path for the water to be brought to the surface. The casing will be either PVC or Steel depending on the geological formations encountered during the construction of the water well.
• Upon completion of the drilling process, the well is developed to remove the largest amount of fine sediment from the well. At this time, we will pressure grout the casing, calculate the volume of water the well is producing and install a water tight well cap that exceeds the requirements of the Virginia Department of Health.
• Upon completion of the well construction, our experienced staff will determine the appropriate pump system design that will meet your current and anticipated future needs and provide you with an estimate specifically tailored to your new well.
• Once you approve the proposal for the pump installation, we will discuss the current schedule and make arrangements to complete your system. Upon completion of the system, we will collect a water sample and submit it to a state authorized testing facility, as required by the Virginia Department of Health.
• Upon receiving a satisfactory bacteriological water sample, we will submit the report and a Uniform Water Well Completion Report to the Health Department. Once the Health Department receives this information, they will issue an operations permit for the use of your well.

Residential Drilling Frequently Asked Questions

• Question: What is needed to begin the well drilling process?
• Answer: You will need to contact your County Health Department to obtain the proper permit for the construction of your well. You will also need to determine a location for your well. We offer a free site evaluation and will be glad to assist you with determining the most suitable location for your well.
• Question: How do I determine where and when to drill my well?
• Answer: You will need to consider both surface landscape and the geology and hydro-geology of the area. The location of the well must be accessible for the equipment used to drill the well. Our well drilling truck has an approximate operating height of 40' during the construction of your well. Power lines, trees and steep inclines must also be considered. We also recommend contacting Miss Utility to have the property marked. Although we cannot guarantee a water source by looking at the surface landscape, we will utilize our experience and knowledge of the geology and hydro-geology of your area to assist you with determining the most suitable location for your well. We are able to drill your well regardless of the season as long as we are able to safely access your site with our equipment. On new construction projects, we recommend drilling your well prior to beginning your house construction. This will be beneficial as it will assure adequate water for your needs prior to construction and will also provide you with water for masonry, testing plumbing, cleaning etc. during the construction of your home.
• Question: How do I choose a well drilling company?
• Answer: When selecting your well drilling contractor, you should never base your selection on cost alone. Make sure the driller is licenced and insured to perform the work. Ask if they are familiar with the geology in your area. You should consider the well drillers reputation and experience in addition to the products and services offered in the quoted price. Ask if they provide these services in house or if they subcontract any portion of the work to another firm. You want to make sure the driller has the ability to provide quality service in a timely manner for your future needs. If a warranty is offered, you need to consider the duration and what parts and services are covered under the warranty. Make sure the warranty is in writing along with a contract agreement outlining the prices and services prior to beginning work. You will also want to consider any specialized training or certifications that the well driller has.
• Question: What will determine the overall cost of my well?
• Answer: The cost is based on many factors. The depth of the well, type and amount of casing used in the well, distance from the well to the dwelling, usage demands on the system and any necessary water filtration or softening equipment that may be needed are the primary factors to determine the total price of a well.
• Question: How deep will my well be?
• Answer: Well depths will vary depending on the geology and hydro-geology of the area. Well water comes from underground aquifers. Aquifers exist throughout the ground at various depths. Aquifers act as water storage spaces and can contain varying amounts of water. Because of these variables, well depth cannot be determined until a sufficient supply of water is encountered during the construction of your well.
• Question: Can you determine the amount or quality of the water?
• Answer: Unfortunately there is no way to predetermine the amount or quality of the water until the well has been completed. During the well construction process, we will be able to provide you with estimates and the progress of your well to assure adequate water is found. Upon completion of the well, we will be able to tell you the quantity of water that was encountered in your well. Water quality cannot be determined until a pump is installed and a water test is performed.
• Question: How much water do I need?
• Answer: Personal use and consumption, lawn irrigation systems, fire sprinklers, swimming pools and spas are just a few of the sources you need to consider. If you have frequent guests or livestock, you will also need to take them into consideration for your water needs. A good guideline would be to allow for approximately 100 gallons per day/per person.
• Question: What size pump will I need for my system?
• Answer: Each well water system is custom designed based on several factors. In addition to water usage, the depth of the well, flow rate and static level are also used to determine the size of the pump equipment. Once these are determined, a system will be custom designed to meet the demands on your well water system.
• Question: When does the pump equipment get installed in my well?
• Answer: Once the well construction is complete, we will determine the size and type of pump equipment that is best suited for your well water system. There is not a specific time to install the pump, however if you need water on the site to assist with construction, a portion of the system can be installed to provide temporary water on site. If you do not need water during construction, the pump can be installed at your convenience.
• Question: Do I need to install any water filtration or softening equipment?
• Answer: As water moves through various fractures and formations, its natural characteristic is to try and dissolve the formation it comes in contact with. Therefore, many of the minerals that are found in various rock formations are consumed as the water passes through it. Water filtration and softening systems are often added to remove any of these undesirable minerals. Upon your request, after the pumping equipment has been installed in the well, we will be glad to provide you with a complimentary water quality test to determine if any additional filtration or softening equipment is needed.
• Question: What will Virginia Department of Health require prior to using my well?
• Answer: Once the well is inspected, a Uniform Water Well Completion Report that provides detailed information on the well construction as well as a satisfactory bacteriological water test is required before the Virginia Department of Health will issue an operations permit for the use of your well.