Are permits required to drill a well?

Yes, Aaron Drilling has annual permits in place. Occasionally a project will require additional permitting. A quick phone call to our office can determine what you need for your water well drilling project.

What areas in Alberta do you serve?

We service all of Alberta. We have drilled wells as far north as Zama city, as far south as De Bonita, as far west as Banff National Park, and as far east as Birstall.

How messy is well digging, will it destroy my landscaping?

Digging a well is undoubtedly a bit messy, we do our best to isolate the "cuttings" or the material we dig out of the hole. We drill with water and air, so the mess that is left behind is just the natural formation we drill out of the ground. Our drilling rigs also use environmentally friendly hydraulic fluid, so if we have a drip, it's biodegradable.

How much water will I get from a new well?

Production and quality of groundwater depend on geography. Well water is different all over the province. We have probably drilled a well near your property in our 30 years of drilling. Call our office with your legal land description, and we can look up other wells in your area to estimate depth, production, and quality.

What additional work, if any, will I need to do?

An electrician is needed to wire a breaker into the electrical panel and run a power drop to where your well pressure system is located. If a well system already exists in the house, you most likely have power access installed.

How long does it take to drill a well?

Well-drilling projects in Alberta can vary. Sometimes a new well can be drilled in a day or two. Deeper wells can take 3-5 days. On average, we can drill a well, trench it in, and get water flowing to your house in less than a week. In most cases, we can set your home up with a temporary water system and water tank, so your household has water while we complete your new well.

Can you drill water wells in the winter?

We drill and service water wells all year round. Water is an essential service, so we work as quickly as possible to get your water flowing again.

Are there any extra or hidden costs not on my estimate?

Water is located at different depths, which can be tough to estimate correctly. However, at Aaron Drilling, we have over 30 years of experience drilling all over Alberta, so we are usually very accurate with our estimates. If there are extra fees on your invoice, we will always explain why.

Where should the well be located?

There are rules in the Alberta Water Act you need to follow. It is best to have us out to your property to identify the best spot for your well. Some of the more important setbacks are 1.5 m from a property line, 10 m from a septic tank, 15 m from a septic field, and 3 meters from any permanent structures. There are several other factors to consider, like overhead power, future access to the well for servicing, final grade, etc.

My water well seems fine. Why have it maintained?

Wells can sometimes go along time without any noticeable problems. Overtime components in your system wear and tear and without regular maintenance can lead to mechanical failure, loss of calibration, high energy bills and possibly complete failure. Regular maintenance will ensure your system is working at peak performance, correct issues before they happen and increase the life of your well.

When should I have Aaron Drilling look at my well?

Water wells should be inspected at least once a year. However, if you notice any of the following issues, please call us.

• Unexplained/ unusually high electricity bills

• Loss of water pressure

• Air spurts from taps

• Strange noises from well pump

• Changes in odour or appearance in the water

Most small problems only require a minor repair or adjustment. If left unaddressed can lead to costly repairs or even complete water loss.

Is there any fix for low water pressure?

Yes! If you notice a change in the color of the water coming from your taps and toilets it could be that your well filtration needs to be serviced or adjusted.

If you notice a drop in pressure your well may need a cleaning. We offer a variety of well cleaning and service options that can be customized to your well specifically.

Book an appointment for a free assessment. A properly maintained well will last longer, produce water more consistently, and stay cleaner.

Will I need water treatment?

Wells can have naturally occurring levels of dissolved iron, hydrogen sulphide (rotten egg odour.), and low pH. If you notice these signs of odour, brown staining, or corrosion of metal, contact us, and we can help you figure out why it's happening and how to fix it.

Where can I get my water tested?

Aaron Drilling can visit your property and take samples and have them analyzed for a quick turnaround. You can also have your water tested for free through the health unit in some municipalities. Feel free to call us with your property location, and we can determine how best to get your well water tested.

What is shock chlorination?

A necessary maintenance procedure for a water well is completing a PH-balanced shock chlorination.

Over time, water wells form nuisance bacteria like iron, bacteria, and sulfide-reducing bacteria. These bacteria can affect the quality of the water and the production of the water well. Bacteria buildup can reduce the flow of water from the aquifer through the wells perforations and into the well itself where the pump sits. When left untreated, the damage could be irreversible. Without a chemical treatment like PH-balanced shock chlorination, your well will require a more costly and intrusive maintenance procedure.

This typically includes removing the well pump and physically scrubbing the interior of the well with brushes or using air jetting tools to blast buildup off the well interior. In extreme cases, the liner in the water wells’ PVC liner needs to be removed and cleaned or replaced.

Keeping the well clean by treating it annually with a PH-balanced shock chlorination will increase the life of the well, pumping equipment, and filtration.