Can you dig a well in Arizona?

ADWR regulates all groundwater wells in Arizona. Well regulations are vital to the proper management and protection of our groundwater. Well construction standards help prevent contamination of the wells and the surrounding groundwater. There are two types of production wells: exempt wells and non-exempt wells.

Can I dig a well on my property in Arizona?

State law requires that “except for monitor wells and piezometer wells, no well shall be drilled within 100 feet of any septic tank system, sewage disposal area, landfill, hazardous waste facility, storage area of hazardous materials or petroleum storage areas and tanks, unless authorized in writing by the Director”.

Can you have well water in Arizona?

There are more than 100,000 domestic use wells in Arizona. These private wells provide water to an estimated 120,000 households, with some 300,000 persons, or about 5% of the state's population.

How much does it cost to dig a well in Arizona?

What is the cost of drilling a water well in Arizona? The price can vary a lot, based on some of the factors we've listed, but the overall cost is likely somewhere in the range of $27 – $58 per foot.

Can you dig a well in the desert?

When installing a water well in the desert, it's critical to make sure that it is deep enough. Typically, water wells installed in the desert must be much deeper than in areas where water is more plentiful. Work with the right water well installation contractor for help with this.

Well Drilling in Arizona: The Cold Hard Facts

How deep do you have to dig for water in the desert?

How Far Do You Have To Dig In The Desert For Water? Take an inch and a half off the ground and dig a pit depth of three feet or more. If the pit is wet, dig a hole slightly deep to the center, preferably from sand or clay soil. For rain water to drain out of the ground, remove one large pothole a few inches deep.

How deep is the average well in Arizona?

Groundwater supplies are found in hydrological basins throughout Arizona. Many citizens obtain all their freshwater supplies from wells. Cities, the Salt River Project and others operate deep well pumps in Maricopa County. The average depth from ground surface to the water table is about 300 feet.

How deep should a well be for drinking water?

For drinking water wells it's best to be at least 100 feet deep so that surface contaminants cannot enter the well. The average well depth for private homes is between 100 to 800 feet [2]. You may need a deeper or shallower well if your area has different geology than another region of the country.

How much does it cost to install a septic system in Arizona?

Installing a new conventional septic system can cost from $4,000 - $5,000+/-. Alternative systems may cost in the range of $10,000 - $20,000 . . . or more. In Arizona, an estimated one of every five households is served by some type of onsite wastewater system.

Does Arizona have underground water?

Over 40% of Arizona's water supply comes from groundwater. Outside of the central populous portions of the state, there are essentially no rules governing its use. This affects the water future of more than 1.5 million Arizonans.

Is there groundwater in the desert?

Groundwater is the source of all perennial surface water bodies in the Sonoran Desert. Availability of groundwater is critical to plant productivity; nutrient, water, and energy flows; and wildlife. All Sonoran Desert Network parks obtain their drinking water from groundwater wells.

What is the water table in Arizona?

They noted that Arizona has banked about 11 million acre-feet of surface water in aquifers since the mid-1990s. State officials have estimated that in the Phoenix AMA, about 84.5 million acre-feet of groundwater exists down to a depth of 1,000 feet, though some of this water may not be recoverable.

What are the two types of Arizona water rights?

ARS 45-101. There are two types of groundwater rights associated with irrigation: Irrigation Grandfathered Groundwater Rights and Type 1 Non-irrigation Grandfathered Groundwater Rights.

Can I have a well in my backyard?

The short answer is that water rights are mostly handled at the state level. And while some states only allow licensed well contractors to perform any type of drilling at all, many states will allow a homeowner to dig a private well on his/her own property as long as a permit is applied for and approved.

How do I know if I can drill a well on my property?

How far away from your house can your well be?

Some activities legally require more than a 50-foot zone of protection. As a general guidance, personal drinking water wells should have a minimum horizontal distance of at least 10 feet and preferably 25 feet from such boundaries.

How fast does well water replenish?

Well water can replenish at a rate of 5 gallons per minute on average, but it will vary. It depends on the age of your well, how long you've been using it, the well's location or geology, and the aquifer the well taps into to replenish its water level.

Do deeper wells mean better water?

Water quality in a deep well usually changes more slowly than in a shallow well. That's because groundwater does some mixing as it moves through the aquifer. A spill a mile away from your deep well in the Basin and Range aquifer might be substantially diluted with clean aquifer water before it gets to your well.

Is Arizona running out of water?

In 2021, the Bureau of Reclamation declared its first-ever water shortage, cutting more than 500,000 acre-feet of water going to Arizona. An acre-foot of water would generally supply three average Phoenix households with water for a year.

Can you drill a well in Phoenix?

Prior to drilling a new well, or deepening or modifying an existing well, a Notice of Intent to Drill must be filed with ADWR. Forms are available on this site and must be submitted to ADWR accompanied by the appropriate filing fee.

How deep are Arizona aquifers?

How Deep Is The Aquifer In Phoenix? An average depth is around 300 feet at ground level and around that at a water table. Historically, groundwater augmentation has served mainly to supplement surface water rather than taking water supply.

Can you drink cactus water?

Is cactus water safe to drink? Cactus is not a safe substitute for potable water. Drinking cactus water on an empty stomach will give you diarrhea or make you vomit, therefore dehydrating you even more. This is because the moisture inside of the cactus pulp is highly acidic.

How long can you survive without water in the desert?

The body needs lots of water to carry out many essential functions, such as balancing the internal temperature and keeping cells alive. As a general rule of thumb, a person can survive without water for about 3 days.