Will there be any water on my land? That is a totally valid concern when you are looking for land to homestead on in Idaho! There is an easy way to check how deep and how well wells are producing in the area of your prospective property.
The easiest way to check the wells neighboring your prospective property is to visit the Idaho Department of Water Resources website and search for wells in the area. There are thee simple steps.
- Step 1. visit the Idaho Department of Water Resources website
- Step 2: Enter the address of the property you are considering purchasing into the search window.
- Step 3: The map will show small icons for nearby wells. Click the icon and an information window will appear showing the relevant well log.
Below, I’ll give you a full step by step guide on how to do this.
Note: It is important to realize that not all the wells in Idaho are on this map. That’s because up until 1987 well drillers were not required to obtain a permit to drill a well and therefore many of them didn’t file reports to the Idaho Department of Water Resources. So, many of those older wells do not appear on this map.
It is also important to note that a well’s location on the map may not be its exact location in real life, but it will be nearby. This is because the Idaho Department of Water Resources has received information about wells in different formats. More recently, they have received GPS coordinates on the well drillers’ report allowing them to more closely match the wells’ exact locations.
Before we start searching for your property, let me show you what some of the buttons on the map do.
- Navigation buttons: The plus and minus buttons in the top left corner will allow you to zoom in and out on the map. The home button will zoom you all the way out instantly and the button at the bottom will zoom to the area where you are currently physically located.
- Legend button: The legend button will tell you what the different symbols and colors on the map mean.
- Layers button: Here you can turn on and off different things that are visible on the map.
- Base map gallery button: Here you can choose which map view you would like. It is like switching between the regular google maps view and satellite view.
Step by step guide to finding well depths and production rates in Idaho.
Step 1: Visit the Find a Well Tool
Visit the Idaho Department of Water Resources’ Find a Well Tool and click OK to start your search.
Step 2: Search For Your Property
The easiest way to start searching for wells in your area it to select “place or address” in the search drop-down menu and enter the address. Unfortunately, many pieces of bare land that are for sale don’t yet have an address assigned to them, so you will have to find it another way. You could simply zoom in on the map until you find it or use its Township/Range to locate the area (ask your realtor for this info).
Once you have found the piece of property that you would like to buy, you are ready to start collecting information about the nearby wells.
Step 3: Check Nearby Well Depth and Production
The blue dots on the map are wells. Just click on a well near your prospective property and a little window full of information will pop up.
In the pop up you will find all the information you are looking for, such as:
- Production Rate
- Casing Diameter
- Static Water Level
- Casing Depth
- Total Depth
- Construction Date
If you want to read the actual well report just click “more info” at the top of the popup and then the “Doc Name” on the next page that opens. This will open the scanned well report as a PDF document.
That is it, just rinse and repeat for as many wells as you would like to check.
Since you are reading this article, you obviously already know the importance of having a viable water source on your homestead. It would be extremely hard to garden and water livestock without one. However, that has not stopped some people from buying land without doing the proper research and then having to haul water in by truck to their property every couple of weeks or so.
As you look at property and are considering having a well drilled, you may want to consider some good points that National Ground Water Association gives.
Tips for Having a Well Drilled
Establish Your Water Needs
You will need to estimate your water needs. Remember to take into account not only everyday use but also seasonal usage, such as watering lawns and washing cars, along with emergencies, such as fire protection. Most homes need a well that can produce 7 gallons of water per minute. If this quantity can’t be met, you may need to install an alternate storage system. Storage systems should hold at least one day’s supply of water for everyone in the household.
I would add, if you live in a high forest fire risk area you might consider storing a lot of water that you can use to protect your home, should a forest fire come through the area.
Determine the Water Availability
While water needs can be easily calculated, determining actual water availability can be less certain. Review existing records of nearby wells, as illustrated above, to determine if a water well is a viable option. These reports include information on depths, types of rocks, water levels, and expected well yields.
If a well is not in the budget or not viable in your desired location, all is not lost. There are some other options you might want to consider, such as harvesting rainwater and storing it in a large cistern.
Drill First, Build Later
In certain areas of the country, low-yielding or even dry wells are not uncommon. With this in mind, it is smart to drill the well before building the house. An expensive home with a poor water supply is not a good investment. But as note noted above, there are alternatives.
You could use the lack of water as a negotiating point to get the land much cheaper. We wrote an article about how to find a good real estate agent. He or she will be able to help you with this negotiation. With cheaper land, you could build a very large cistern to hold rainwater. But be sure to check the regulations in that area concerning rainwater harvesting.
Shop for a Contractor
Just like you’re careful in selecting the best builder for your home, take your time selecting who will drill your water well. It is a good idea to obtain information and price quotes from several contractors so comparisons can be made. Don’t always go with the bargain price. The lowest price may result in low-quality work. It is often true that you get what you pay for. Getting water on your land, not a thing to skimp on.
Don’t be Afraid to Ask Questions.
Here are some things you should know about every contractor you consider:
- Is the contractor registered or certified?
- Does he have the proper equipment to do the job and is that equipment in good condition?
- Does the contractor have insurance that will protect you?
- Will he give you a contract detailing the exact terms and conditions of the job?
- What is the contractor’s reputation? Ask for multiple references; then check them to see if they are indeed satisfied customers.
Get the Details
When you select a contractor, make sure several conditions are covered in the contract. Ask that all charges be itemized and that any guarantees on workmanship be put in writing. Also, make sure these details are spelled out:
- The diameter of the hole
- Size and type of casing
- Type of well screen that will be used
- The amount of time the well will be test pumped
- When a well log will be furnished.
Trust the Contractor
Unexpected events happen from time to time when drilling wells. If you have taken your time and chosen wisely, the contractor should be a professional. Trust his judgment when surprises occur. If changes have to be made, rely on the contractor’s recommendations.
I truly hope this article has been helpful to you! If you have enjoyed it, why not consider sharing on Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter? That would be totally awesome and I’ll give you a virtual hi-five for it!!
Hope you have a really great day and keeps:)ing!
