An irrigation well may be the only viable option to supply water to your crops when they need it the most. After all, long hot summers do mean less water availability which often results in farmers being unable to use the local water source. Fortunately, droughts remain comparatively rare.
Of course, even if you can use the local water you’ll need to devise a system of getting it from the tap to the crops. That’s why an irrigation well is a better option.
However, before you get the earth augers to stat creating your hole, it is important to ask the following five questions.
Have You Drilled A Test Hole?
A test hoe will allow a professional to understand the geology in your area and how easy it is to find water. The easier it is the better the quality of your farmland, making the survey interesting and useful in two ways.
With better understanding, you’ll know where best to site your irrigation well.
Does A Well Support My Farming Needs?
Finding water is one thing, but you’re going to need a significant quantity to keep your crops happy throughout the season. You’ll need to study existing wells and find out what the professionals say about the level of water and the quantity you’re likely to be able to pulp daily.
This amount can be significant and a well is a large financial investment, you need to make sure it’s worthwhile before continuing.
Have I A Legal Right To Dig A Well?
In most states you can create an irrigation well, providing you have the right permits. However, this is not guaranteed. You will need to check with your state regarding the well you’re planning to build and what you need to do to make it legal.
The state will define the size of the well you can install and they may place limits on the amount of water that can be pumped. It’s important to be aware of these regulations and follow them exactly.
How Long Does It Take?
Surprisingly, boring a well takes very little time. Most wells can be created within a day. However, there is a lot of planning that needs to be done before the bore and you’ll need to allow time for installing the necessary irrigation pipework. It’s best to allow as much as 2 months for the complete process. That means you need to start the process at least 2 months before the temperature starts to climb.
Does my well interfere with others in the area?
Considering you’re creating an irrigation well for a farm it seems unlikely that there will be another well close enough that can be disturbed by your water project. However, it is a good idea to scan the land around yours and verify with your neighbors where their water comes from. There is little sense in causing issues unnecessarily. You should have enough and to place the well where it won’t affect others.
