How Much Does an Irrigation Well Cost?

An irrigation well is an alternative way to water your lawn without having to rely on the city water supply.

These wells can help lower your water costs, increases your property value and it’s great for the environment since groundwater is considered a renewable resource.

“Time For A Drink” (CC BY 2.0) by  DJ-Dwayne [Returning in 2015/16]

How much does it cost to drill a well for irrigation?

Depending on the company, how much water you want, the depth of the well, the pressure of the water and the geographical location, a professional install can vary anywhere from as little as $3,500 to as much as $11,000+ for a household irrigation well, including the pump.   If the irrigation well was being installed on a farm, the costs could be much more since it will be much larger than a residential setup and will require larger equipment.  With the average well 100 to 1,500 deep, it can cost an average of $80 to $100 per foot, depending on the factors we mentioned.

According to Wellwaterconnection.com, the cost of installing an irrigation well can range anywhere from $4,000 to $10,000, but the average customer can save between $1,000 and $3,000 a year on water/sewage expenses resulting from using irrigation wells instead of relying on regular water supply.

At Bobvila.com, an irrigation well, according to one homeowner who installed one, paid can $3,000 to drill it.

AGweb.com says the costs will depend on a variety of factors and sand-and-gravel wells can run 100 to 300 feet deep, while deep bedrock wells can run from 500 to 1,500 feet deep.  Costs, on average, can be in the $50,000 to $75,000 range, which normally includes the pump.

Overview

Creating an irrigation well involves a process similar to creating a well for drinking purposes, with the exception that the water is directed through a sprinkler system instead of being pumped into the home.  Irrigation wells can either be shallow or artisan.  A shallow well uses groundwater while an artisan well refers to a system involving a deep well drilled into a bedrock.

When installed, you won’t be that noticeable in the average yard since it can be hidden behind rocks or landscaping.  In most cases, an 18-inch capped pipe will extend from the ground and will be away from the home.

What are the extra costs?

Aside from well drilling costs, additional expenses may include related work such as digging trenches to install electrical cabling.

Setting up a well also requires necessary permits from your local city and a licensed contractor can help you with this process.  In most cases, a groundwater permit needs to be acquired before using water from a well.  Some states require that an application for water use needs to be filed together with a map of the proposed location to be developed before the job can even start.  A landowner’s bond and application fee are also required in some states.

Conduct a water analysis at least once a year to have it checked for bacteriological quality, and the water should also be checked for chemical quality every five years.  Water quality changes, if they were to appear, may indicate system problems such as defective casing and/or contaminated aquifers.  These tests, if you were to hire a professional, could be a few hundred dollars.

Tips to know:

A properly installed irrigation well should produce 10 gallons of water per minute for two hours each day.

Some areas may have certain restrictions in regard to installing an irrigation well.  Always refer to the state regulations before calling a contractor.

Estimating the daily watering needs to ensure that appropriate quantities of water are coming in.

A good irrigation well, as long as installed and maintained properly, can last up to 40 years.

How can I save money?

Consider installing hose bibs and hooking them up to your irrigation well.  This can help you save a considerable amount of money on water to perform activities like watering your lawn or washing your car.

If possible, the well should be located not too far from your house.  The farther your irrigation well is from your house, the higher the costs that will be due to the materials required.

With any big project such as this, always get as many bids as you can.  If you don’t know where to begin, consider using HomeAdvisor.com.  Here, you simply explain your job and licensed, local contractors will contact you with a free estimate.

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How much did you spend?

1. dude (st augustine,  Florida) paid $ and said:

   3400 for shallow

   Was it worth it? Yes