Hiring a well driller and installer is taking many folks much longer than they expected. If you’ve made calls about getting your well drilled soon, you may have found this to be true, especially in western states like Oregon. Residents in the Klamath Valley particularly are facing waitlists of up to a year!
So what’s causing such big delays?
-Klamath County’s drought is creating a need for current wells to be drilled deeper as wells dry up.
-Contractors are retiring/leaving and are not being replaced.
-Supply chain shortages for necessary materials.
-Oregon is facing extended worker shortages.
-More drilling permits are being submitted than ever: 50% MORE
-New Residents/new farms in rural areas
-Fear: People wanting water independence in case of emergencies
-Drought: Wells running dry
From a recent article by AP News in Malin, Oregon: “Worried homeowners face waits of six months or more to get new, deeper wells dug because of the surging demand. Some are getting by on the generosity of neighbors, or hauling free water from a nearby city. The state is also sending in a water truck and scrambling to ship more than 350 emergency storage tanks from as far as Oklahoma amid a nationwide shortage of the containers due to drought-induced demand across the U.S. West.
A pump specialist told an Oregon family they had an inch (2.5 centimeters) of water left in their 180-foot (55-meter) well. The only solution, he said, was to dig a deeper well — but well-drilling companies in the rural region are few, and the wait for service is at least six months.” (Gillian Flaccus, AP News) Read the rest of the article here.
Even with all these factors at play, there are still ways to find a driller in a reasonable amount of time. Our suggestion is to call around to a few different contractors in your state for both pricing and available drilling dates. Most drillers are willing to travel a decent distance and you may have more luck finding someone in a neighboring county if your county is booked out.
What should I know when looking for a well driller?:
-Shop around: Timelines and costs vary.
-Get references from other customers.
-Make sure they are licensed in Oregon.
-Don’t let payments get ahead of work.
-Don’t give final payment until you are satisfied with the work.
If there just aren’t any drillers available in the next 6 months or more, there are a few things you can do to hold you over and we can help!
How Can I Get Water In The Meantime?
From developing a rain water collection system to using a natural water source like a stream or lake, we’ve got you covered with all your pumping needs! Let our engineers help you determine what system would be best for you!
Haul water to a storage tank on the property and use TPP (Tankless Pressure Pump)/ Eco-Steady Booster/Submersible Pump/Gravity Feed to pressurize water for your house/irrigation etc. You can integrate these pumps into the final system easily!
Create a rain water collection system use TPP (Tankless Pressure Pump)/ Eco-Steady Booster/Submersible Pump to pressurize water for your house/irrigation etc. You can integrate these pumps into the final system easily!
Use a surface water source like developing a spring or pumping from a river/stream/lake (get a filtration system if its for drinking water)!
Whether you decide to try out an alternative water system like the ones above or you decide to wait to have your well-drilled, it’s worth thinking about installing one of our versatile RPS Pumping Systems on your own. Take your water needs into your own hands with our help!
What are the benefits of a D.I.Y. Install with RPS?
These Folks Did It Themselves and You Can Too!
“Got it done over the weekend! Still have a little plumbing to take care of but we are pumping water!! Couldn’t be happier with the ease of installation and the communication, assistance and knowledge of the staff at RPS! Thank you!”
– Daniel D, TX
“Everything went very well. Install took less than 2 hours. Was surprised how well it was pumping. Very happy with the product and customer service. There have been a few friends checking it out. Thanks”
– Susan, CA
