Top Mistakes to Avoid as a Water Well Driller

Water well drilling sounds quite easy, until you realise it’s more than just understanding how to use complex drilling machines. If you love the idea of becoming a water well driller, you must be ready for the challenges that this industry presents. On the bright side, these are challenges you can overcome, as long as you have the right information.

In this post, we will look at some of the most common mistakes you should steer clear of as a water well driller.

1. Avoiding Professional Development

You probably didn’t expect this to appear in this list, but the sad reality is that many water well drilling technicians don’t pay enough attention to continuing education (CE) courses and other types of professional development. This might not sound like a big deal at first until you realise that there’s a lot you’d be missing out on by not taking CE courses and participating in other forms of professional development.

The most common effect is that it can be difficult to renew your licence if you don’t take the right well driller CE course. Additionally, avoiding CE can make you miss out on the updates in the industry. Bear in mind that most of these updates are crucial for safety and effectiveness.

2. Not Paying Enough Attention to Site Assessment

This is, hands down, one of the most common issues faced in water well drilling, and the sad news is that it can be quite a costly mistake. So, always ensure that you’ve assessed the soil quality and water table level to decide which location is best for the well and how far down you will need to go.

You should also expand your survey to identify potential hazards like underground utilities, since damaging these means you will be liable. Such cases often end up in court, and that’s not an experience you want to have. After conducting a thorough assessment, you should then secure the right permits to avoid unnecessary distractions.

3. Choosing the Wrong Equipment

If you’re not new to the industry, you more than likely have heard about this one a couple of times. The effect of arriving with the wrong equipment for the right job is obvious: time and money will be lost. This is the last thing you want to do, especially when dealing with new clients. Remember what they say about first impressions?

So, make sure to prepare adequately for every new site. From selecting the right bits to ensuring all your equipment is properly maintained, there’s a lot you can do to avoid disappointing your clients in the first meeting.

4. Disregarding Safety and Regulatory Best Practices

Safety lapses aren’t as harmless as they might sound at times: they often mean violation of vital regulations. Mostly, what you should be looking out for is contamination risks, as such and other violations often result in legal issues. Another safety issue to look out for is poor casing and grouting, as these typically cause collapses or infiltration.

To avoid these and other issues, consider investing in the right PPE, having proper casing that extends properly above grade, and following occupational safety and local codes. Additionally, make sure to install electrical conduit according to the set guidelines.

5. Overlooking Well Depth and Water Quality

It’s not uncommon for water well drilling technicians to drill wells that are too shallow or too deep. Both of these extremes will have undesirable effects. For starters, a well that’s too deep may hit layers that disrupt the water table or result in harder water.

Not only that, but the deeper you go, the more expensive it becomes, and there’s always a higher likelihood of equipment failure. On the other hand, digging a shallow well can cause contamination of the water since there’s not enough filtration. You can easily avoid such issues by researching the depth of local wells, using geologic logs, and aiming for the right balance between depth, yield, and quality.

Become a Better Water Well Driller Today

Now that you know some of the common mistakes you should avoid to become a better water well driller, it’s time to get into action. The most important thing you should do as soon as possible is to invest in the right licensing or continuing education for your career.

This way, you will have reliable information to help you make the right choices every time you go to work. Ready to get started? Visit rocketcert.com today to get your CE course.