Why are wells so expensive in AZ? (Tucson, Bullhead City: buying a home, buying)

[DanBev]

Kind of interesting,my well here in north Fl was replaced last year,4 inch steel caseing,depth 150 feet,100 feet caseing with 1 hp pump cost $2600.Why 6 inch??I get 25 gpm from aquafier.Took a little less than 2 days to complete.

[nitram]

Originally Posted by Stephan_K

Nitram.....that is pretty much standard stuff no matter what state/county you drill a well in. It's part of the permit process everywhere as far as I have always known. Any time you start poking holes or digging in the ground there are permitts and red tape to deal with. Ya know.....Politics always has to rear it's ugly head some how.

I didn't see anything in this that would drive the cost up so high as all of the steps needed to be taken to prepare for a well are pretty much all taken by an owner and not a driller anyway. Just an inconvenience for the owner, and as usual, part of the permit process.

Stephan

I dunno, maybe it's supply and demand. Your guess is as good as mine. Maybe you could contact a few AZ well drillers and see what they say?

[haymann]

Originally Posted by Stephan_K

$4K for a pump???? what the #$%^& kind of pump is it???? That is unbelievable. Well pumps at HD or Lowes run ~$150.00. What's the other $3,850.00 for?

Takes about 1 - 2 days to poke a hole in the ground in OH. Depends on how energetic the driller is and weather or not he eats his lunch at the rig or not. . The GA well I think was 1 day......

From the looks of things, I think a new well drilling business is in order in AZ. Just another reason to move to AZ. I'm sure one can find an experienced well rig hand to help get started. Should be relatively easy to start up, just got to buy the rig. Dime a dozen if you look around......

Hell, buy multiple rigs. I don't think anyone would have any problem keeping any number of rigs busy 7 days a week and still make a killing at the deep discount price of $8K per hole........pump included.

Technically one doesn't have anythign to loose starting up a well drilling operation. At an average of ~$15K a hole, how could you? If it doesn't work out, simply sell the rig and you are on your way to something else. Expenses alone for just pounding a hole in the ground shouldn't exceed $500/day for the rig, labor and fuel. At a hole a day, or even every 2 days for that matter, at the price of $8K that you were quote, net margin is unreal!

Easy money...... almost too easy. You know what mom always said, if it's too good to be true it probably is.

What are we missing here? Anyone?

I guess your talk'n to me? Click on quote to reflect who your talk'n with. It will be helpful.

Based on what your saying how much should it cost a foot to drill and set up a well?

I agree with you. I stated what I did to get feedback from someone who had some experiance with drilling cost's. That may be you.
They seem to be rippen the public like I said in my last comment on this. According to you a person wouldn't have to rip the public and they would still make good money. As someone said to me when they charge like that then it's time to start a business. How much are those drilling rigs with enough stuff to drill 1,200 ft.
I believe there are 3 well drillers located in the Kingman area. Maybe they need another one. I'd be willing to give it a try. I was right when I said Kingman needed a car wash now someones putting one in. I was right when I said the area needed a map book, now someone made one.

PS. I'm talk'n with a guy that works for county water dept. and run's a backhoe, he's say'n u can't compare this AZ ground with ground in OH or FL. It's rocky and there maybe calech', a cemet type rock. You have experiance with the rockproblem.

[haymann]

Originally Posted by Stephan_K

$4K for a pump???? what the #$%^& kind of pump is it???? That is unbelievable. Well pumps at HD or Lowes run ~$150.00. What's the other $3,850.00 for?

Takes about 1 - 2 days to poke a hole in the ground in OH. Depends on how energetic the driller is and weather or not he eats his lunch at the rig or not. . The GA well I think was 1 day......

From the looks of things, I think a new well drilling business is in order in AZ. Just another reason to move to AZ. I'm sure one can find an experienced well rig hand to help get started. Should be relatively easy to start up, just got to buy the rig. Dime a dozen if you look around......

Hell, buy multiple rigs. I don't think anyone would have any problem keeping any number of rigs busy 7 days a week and still make a killing at the deep discount price of $8K per hole........pump included.

Technically one doesn't have anythign to loose starting up a well drilling operation. At an average of ~$15K a hole, how could you? If it doesn't work out, simply sell the rig and you are on your way to something else. Expenses alone for just pounding a hole in the ground shouldn't exceed $500/day for the rig, labor and fuel. At a hole a day, or even every 2 days for that matter, at the price of $8K that you were quote, net margin is unreal!

Easy money...... almost too easy. You know what mom always said, if it's too good to be true it probably is.

What are we missing here? Anyone?

$4k for the pump, materials, box, etc., and labor to install 400'.

[Arizona Bound]

I have a question or two... What are the pro's and con's of having a drilled well vs. city water, anyone know? What kind of maintenence or service is required for the upkeep of a well? Once you have a well, is there a chance of it going dry? How does the well drilling company know where to put the well? Is there any regulations in Arizona on wells, such as so many to an area? What kind of permits and testings is required from the homeowner before a well can be drilled? What about costs effectives for well water VS. city water? Is a water softner and or RO system still required on wells? Thanks Folks!

[kdog]

Originally Posted by Arizona Bound

I have a question or two... What are the pro's and con's of having a drilled well vs. city water, anyone know?

Having had both, I prefer city water. Owning a well can give you the romantic notion of being more autonomous, free from water bills, etc. On the flip side, you are your own water company. You're responsible for the maintenance of the well and water quality. There's nothing worse than waking up one morning and discovering that you have no water. You'll quickly see how independent you really are. Water coming straight out of the ground is a crap-shoot, and can have a variety of issues that you have to address such as PH, iron content, bacteria and odors.

On the other hand, municipal water is generally 100% reliable; you can take it for granted that when you turn the tap on, there will be water. There are folks whose job it is to monitor and treat the water so that you get a consistent product. Plus you get other benefits like fluoride. That being said, I wouldn't hesitate to own a property with a well. You just have to know what you're getting into.

What kind of maintenence or service is required for the upkeep of a well? Once you have a well, is there a chance of it going dry?

Some wells require regular maintenance and some don't. If your water is perfect coming out of the ground, then there's really nothing much to do other than enjoy the water, and repair the well if it breaks (e.g., a pump going bad.) Examples of regular maintenance might include changing sediment filters, adding chemicals to treatment tanks for PH adjustment, iron removal or whatever. And yes, going dry is always a very real possibility which could require drilling a new well.

How does the well drilling company know where to put the well? Is there any regulations in Arizona on wells, such as so many to an area? What kind of permits and testings is required from the homeowner before a well can be drilled?

Dowsing or "water witching" is widely practiced, although personally I think it's a hoax. The reality is you'll eventually find water almost anywhere if you drill deep enough. Other than that there are rules of thumb about proximity to septic systems and municipal water supplies.

You do need a permit to drill a well in AZ. The application and everything you else want to know about drilling wells in Arizona can be found here. ADWR - Wells

What about costs effectives for well water VS. city water? Is a water softner and or RO system still required on wells? Thanks Folks!

Regardless of whether you have a well or not, if you have hard water, you may want a water softener. I don't know why you think an RO is required for city water. As to whether you need one for your well water depends entirely on what problems your well water may have. And remember, well water may have a host of other problems that municipal water doesn't have including iron, bacteria, acidity, odors, and malady of other things you typically won't have in municipal water.

Hope that helps.

[nitram]

kdog has given you some great advice and information. I know from experience that drilling for water is a crapshoot, which can be expensive. Many cities now are not allowing you to drill for water within the city.
The water quality from munipal sources are the best way to go. I have a soft water system, it's great for cleaning dishes, no soap stains in the bath etc etc.

[Stephan_K]

Guys, the main reason a city will not allow you to have a well within its limits is because with city water usually comes the city sewer service too.

They usually go together and are billed "together" accordingly to your water usage. If you are using water from your well and not the city, the city is still processign your waist via their sewer system and not getting paid for it ;o} Politics is pretty much the only reason cities will not allow you to have a well.

kdog presents some great info indeed. Having had both city and well water myself also, I agree a city water service is a good piece of mind knowing you can turn on your faucet and get treated water (as long as you pay your bill ;o}), and have sewer service too but also I too would not hesitate to have property with a well, as I currently do now. System has never went down and maintenance is not that bad......And i certainly would not let the difference between a well or city water determine where I live......ever!

[LADY_DI]

cause theres no water in arizona

[and the]

I have a question or two... What are the pro's and con's of having a drilled well vs. city water, anyone know?

A lot of places in Arizona have "private water companies" where some company will put in a well that services several to many houses. You pay them, but it's not "city water". I know there's a controversy in Pinetop/Lakeside because the city charges $400.00 to turn the water on and off at seasonal residences. I think I'd rather have a well in that situation. If they're gouging you on the on and off fee, they're probably gouging in other ways.