Phoenix Homeowner: Where Does Well Water Come From?

Did you know that in the United States of America, the amount of water that is accessible underground is nearly 30 times more than the water found in all rivers, streams and lakes – COMBINED! Thanks to the brilliance of Mother Nature, people have been able to find potable water in places like deserts, mountain valleys and off-the-grid locations for thousands of years. However, one of the most asked questions of those thinking about moving into an area that does not have access to city water supply is; where does well water come from?

Here are a few answers that should clarify where well water is found and how it eventually ends up coming out of your kitchen sink.

What is an Aquifer?

You might hear the term “Aquifer” but wondered what exactly it means. In short, an Aquifer is an underground water supply; also known as ground water. Some aquifers are huge and can extend up to 500 square miles; while others are small, but frequently refilled by underground streams, or from precipitation that soaks through soil in the ground then trickles into the aquifer through small cracks in the earth’s bedrock.

Most aquifers or ground water wells are continually ‘recharged’ with water however they do have the potential to run dry. This is a major reason why professional water well drilling companies look for the best supply of water before digging a single hole.

In Arizona, aquifers used for residential water well systems that are discovered and drilled by companies that offer water well pump servicing in Phoenix AZ include two primary sources:

Ground water well(s): This source includes water that will flow naturally from beneath the surface of the Earth that is contained in several different porous materials including gravel, silt, sand and clay. Copious amounts of water are collected in large pockets (called aquifers as we indicated above). The water then is accessed by a series of pipes that penetrates the ground water well and is pushed up to the surface through a series of underground and above ground pumps. Water supplied to the wells in ground well water is typically precipitation.
Spring fed well(s): Spring fed wells are less common in Arizona, but still a valuable source of fresh water. A fresh spring well is an aquifer that is supplied by an underground stream of fresh water. In many residential water wells, multiple spring(s) will supply the same well that is drilled and used for the water supply.

How is Well Water Discovered?

Locating well water for residential or commercial properties is the specialty of a hydrologist. In order to find water, a hydrologist uses several techniques and scientific methods to discover the quantity, quality and depth of water wells. There are several ‘tricks’ and methods that are utilized to discover ample supplies of water for Phoenix homeowners including:

The geology: Believe it or not, rocks are among the best clues for finding water. Hydrologists will examine above and below ground rocks and formations of rocks to pinpoint the location of places that are more likely to contain large aquifers. The orientation or rocks and the type of rock found in an area are also vital to the discovery of water wells.
Existing wells in the area: Once the hydrologist has a logical location for the location of water wells, history is researched to discover the location of previously drilled water wells. Wells are tested to determine the prices amount of water that flows through the aquifer along with the volume and refill rate of that underground well.

When you add up all the science, investigation and advanced technology utilized today in the construction of underground water wells, it’s easy to see how water is found, drilled, and pumps efficiently into your home off the city water grid in the Phoenix area.

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Call Pump It Up Pump Services, Inc. and let one of our professionals answer your water well questions. Call 623-582-5069 now!