Water and water resources are undergoing a transformation in this country, and any water well drilling service should pay attention to current news and trends that affect their industry. Environmental drilling is another fast-growing trend that offers new opportunities for water well drilling companies, and there are several national organizations that can pinpoint other trends, as well.

You can find news about everything from water well drilling rigs to well drilling tools and supplies like oils and bits from well drilling news sites, to what's happening in portable water well drilling, groundwater assessments, and more. Look for:

1. Magazines and other publications geared to water well drilling facilities.
2. Organizations and groups that support well owners and water well drilling service, too.
3. Environmentally friendly water well drilling equipment for a new decade of water well drilling trends.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Dig up new magazines and publications for water well drilling companies

Get your water drilling news and information from reliable publications that offer the latest in news and information for water drilling companies. Use this news to discover new trends in the drilling industry, from water well drilling rigs to water well drilling costs and pricing.

I recommend: National Driller offers updates on industry news combined with information on new equipment, trends, and other vital drilling information. Well Connected is a publication from the Water Systems Council that offers groundwater information and legislation issues for consumers and well drilling professionals.

Join organizations and groups that support well owners so you'll be on top of any well drilling issu

If you join professional organizations in well drilling and hydrology, you'll find news, upcoming legislative changes, and more. You can also read about the latest in water well drilling supplies, products, and drill rigs. If you join organizations geared to the water well consumer, you'll find out about issues your clients may be worried about in well drilling, so you can help them address those concerns before they become bigger issues.

I recommend: The National Ground Water Association (NGWA) offers water well drilling news and trends, including information on certification, ongoing state legislation, and more. Hydrology News offers a biweekly newsletter with industry news, jobs, new products, and more.

Look for environmentally friendly portable water well drilling equipment

Purchase an environmentally friendly water well drilling machine to stay current on environmental trends in the water drilling industry. Read current research about the industry, including ground water contamination issues and other green topics at in-depth research sites. Find out more about new water well drilling machinery like geothermal drill rigs and other green technologies, too.

I recommend: IBISWorld offers comprehensive research on the well drilling industry, including where the industry is headed, and environmental concerns. Techno Drill offers geothermal water well drilling rigs to help you tap into the future of well drilling.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Remember, just drilling the well and walking away isn't an option. Read up about ongoing testing and monitoring services so you can assure them, through testing, the quality of their well water is always top-notch. If you learn more about offering pump and pressure tank sales and service, too, you'll stay one step ahead of your competitors that don't.

Water drilling is a necessary task for many new home or business owners. If you're undergoing a new construction project or are just looking for a new source of tap water, finding a water well drilling service is an essential part of the process. Locate a water well drilling service online, or if you're undertaking the task yourself, find well drilling tools and save money you would have spent on construction services.

Water well drilling companies can help you with all aspects of drilling for water. Professional services can help with water testing, and geotechnical and environmental drilling. If you're the proprietor of a water drilling company, find new and used water well drilling rigs and supplies from online vendors. Know the options available from online vendors, including:

1. Contact a water well drilling service to complete your well.
2. Find water well drilling equipment and tools for sale.
3. Buy portable water well drilling equipment or well drilling rigs.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find a local water well drilling service

If you need a contractor to drill you a well, look for a local service that can help you with all of your drilling needs. Drilling contractors will be able to help you find the right place to drill, test groundwater, and install new wells.

I recommend: Find a certified expert for the highest quality drilling services. Mills Well Water is one of only 200 worldwide drilling services certified as a master ground water contractor. To quickly find a local water well drilling service, check out the Environmental Yellow Pages for hundreds of services in the USA.

Buy well drilling tools and equipment online

Keep your well drilling company on top of its game with quick access to replacement or surplus water well drilling supplies. If your drilling rig isn't in top shape, it costs you time and money to find replacement parts. Be proactive and look for drill parts and supplies online to anticipate or take care of unforeseen problems

I recommend: Buy a wide variety of drilling equipment from Doyles, including hooks, blocks, clamps and swivels for your portable water well drilling equipment. See Atlantic Supply's online catalog for a variety of well drilling supplies including, drill bits, cable tools, and drilling accessories.

Purchase new or used water well drilling rigs

Before you can drill a well, you need a rig big enough to get the job done. Find an online supplier of water well drilling rigs and purchase the drill that fits your company's needs.

I recommend: For a deal on used and refurbished rigs, see the selection available from Sun Machinery. Choose from a variety of portable water well drilling rigs. For one of the largest worldwide suppliers of water well drilling rigs, check out East West Drilling. Choose water well drills from a variety of manufacturers.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Contact an engineering consultant for advice on water drilling or testing and inspection services.

Water well drilling is something that has useful applications in residential, commercial and manufacturing. Everyone on earth needs water for drinking. Knowledge of water well drilling, use of water well drilling equipment, water well drilling supplies, portable water well drilling equipment and portable water well drilling rigs cannot help but be useful to anyone wishing to enter this field of expertise.

However, getting water well drilling education and training is necessary for anyone wishing to get into this field. Becoming familiar with water drilling and well drilling tools is important, as well as becoming certified and licensed, not to mention familiar with the regulations concerning water well drilling as specified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Below, you will find information that can help you in this process.

1. Get trained for water well drilling.

2. Become certified for using water well drilling equipment.

3. Learn the regulations concerning water well drilling.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find a good school for water well drilling

The first and most important step in water well training is to find a good school. This is an important step, for you need to find a school with a good reputation as well as accreditation. The process is expensive, so it pays to do the research before enrolling. You'll begin by becoming familiar with the water well drilling equipment, maintenance, operation of drilling equipment, hydraulics and more. You can receive an Associate of Science degree.

I recommend: Southwest Mississippi Community College and the International Well Drilling School are two schools at which you can get water well drilling education and training. Both schools offer advanced training as well.

Get certified for water well drilling

Getting a certification and a license is necessary in the field of water well drilling. The certification and licensing process varies from state to state. One of the certificates is NGWA (National Ground Water Association) Well Construction and Pump Installation Certification Program. Tests vary from state to state, but two examples are the Water Systems General Pump Exam and Less Than 100 GPM Exam. You will be tested on your knowledge of maintenance, safety, disinfection of the well and more.

I recommend: The State of Kentucky has a list of requirements for certification. West Virginia offers Water System Operators Continuing Education Information Index that will allow you to get certification.

Be familiar with EPA regulations regarding water well drilling

Regulations by the EPA regarding water well drilling are meant to preserve the precious resource that is necessary to us all: water. Regulations include sloping the ground away from the well when drilling it and capping it properly. Each state has a certification process for following the EPA regulations. These can be earned by taking courses through recognized schools such as the International Well Drilling School, or through the states' governments.

I recommend: EPA lists their regulations on their site. West Virginia also has helpful information posted on their site entitled: Protecting Local Ground-Water Supplies Through Wellhead Protection.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Working for water well drilling companies and with any water well drilling machine can be a lucrative profession. It pays to continue training and earning certifications in water well drilling. In that way, you will always be up on the latest procedures and regulations in water well drilling.

Whether you're considering a career in water well drilling or you're a construction manager searching for drilling services, knowing the key terms in water well drilling will help you reach informed decisions. Drilling for groundwater combines geology, physics and mechanical engineering, and many of the key terms are just as scientific. By learning the definitions of key terms commonly used in water well drilling, you will be able to recognize the various types of drilling rigs and understand how those rigs obtain drinking water.

Action Steps
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Aquifer

An aquifer is an underground bed of permeable, porous rock through which groundwater can easily pass. Water wells are drilled into aquifers.

I recommend: The Idaho Museum of Natural History provides a comprehensive look at aquifers and how they work. To see photographs and diagrams of aquifers, visit the U.S. Geological Survey website.

Turbidity

In layman's terms, turbidity is how dirty the water appears. Water with very little sediment floating in it has low turbidity while murky water has high turbidity.

I recommend: Learn more about turbidity and how it is measured at the Minnesota River Basin Data Center website. BioMed Central offers a research article about the turbidity of drinking water and the associated risk of gastrointestinal illness.

Cable tool drilling

Also referred to as percussion drilling or drilling and driving, cable tool drilling bores a hole into the ground by repeatedly lifting and dropping a drilling tool on a weighted drill string. The impact of the tools breaks up the ground material, which is periodically cleared away.

I recommend: Watch a video of cable tool drilling at WellOwner.org.

Dual rotary drilling

Dual rotary drilling is sometimes referred to as simply DR drilling. As the name implies, dual rotary drilling uses two rotary drives to drill the well. The lower rotary drive rotates the casing, which provides the well with support, and the top rotary drive controls the drilling tools.

I recommend: Grosch Irrigation Company offers information about a dual rotary drill's capabilities as well as a detailed diagram of a dual rotary drill. For an explanation of how dual rotary drilling works, visit OK Drilling Services.

Weight indicator

A weight indicator is an important safety devise for a water well rig. The weight indicator gives an accurate weight measurement of the drill string.

I recommend: To see a photograph of a weight indicator, visit the Occupational Safety and Health Administration website.

Piezometer

The word piezometer refers to an instrument used to measure the pressure of groundwater. Some piezometers can also be used to collect water samples. A small well that is drilled specifically to provide samples of water is also often referred to as a piezometer, although in its correct definition, a piezometer is only the measuring device.

I recommend: Read about the functions of a piezometer at In-Situ Soil Testing.