A Beginner's Guide to Installing a Well on Your Land
- Dani
- Jun 9
- 5 min read
Buying land to build our dream home was one of the most exciting things we’ve ever done. It was also one of the most overwhelming.
Before starting this process, I honestly never gave much thought to where water comes from. You turn on the faucet and water comes out. That’s about as far as my knowledge went. 😂 Then we bought raw land and suddenly had to figure out how to get water to a property that didn’t have access to city utilities.
When it came time to install a well, we had absolutely no idea what we were doing. We didn’t know who to call, how much it would cost, how deep the well needed to be, or what questions we should even be asking.
If you’re in that same boat right now, this guide is for you! I’m sharing everything we learned throughout the process so you can go into it feeling a little more prepared than we did.
Why You Need a Well
If your land doesn’t have access to municipal water, you’ll need a private well to provide water for your home. A well taps into underground groundwater and supplies water for drinking, cooking, bathing, laundry, and everything else your household needs.
One thing we quickly learned is that securing a water source is one of the first major steps in the building process. Without water, it’s difficult to move forward with many other aspects of construction.
Step 1: Check Local Regulations
Before any drilling can start, you’ll need to understand your local requirements. This was one of the first things we had to figure out, and it’s not always straightforward—rules vary by county and state.
Most areas require a well drilling permit, and many also have setback rules that determine how far your well must be from things like septic systems, property lines, existing wells, and other potential sources of contamination.
An important note is that your well and septic system have to be planned together. In some cases, septic requirements or a failed perc test ( [short for percolation test] is a soil test that measures how quickly water drains through the ground) can actually impact where your well is allowed to go, so don’t finalize one without considering the other!
Some counties may also require a site plan, water testing, and final inspections before your well is approved for use.
A helpful shortcut: ask your well driller what they handle. Many companies will pull permits and coordinate inspections for you, but not all do, so it’s worth confirming upfront.
Step 2: Determine Whether Your Property Can Support a Well
Not every location on a property is suitable for a well.
A professional well driller can evaluate the land, groundwater conditions, and local geology to determine the best location for drilling.
They’ll also make sure the well location works with your future home site and septic system.
The goal is to avoid spending thousands of dollars drilling in a location that won’t provide enough water.
Step 3: Plan Your Well and Septic Together
If you’re also installing a septic system, make sure these plans are coordinated from the beginning.
Wells and septic systems have required separation distances, which means the location of one can affect the location of the other. In our case, we have a well and a lagoon for our septic.
It’s much easier to plan everything together than to discover later that your preferred location won’t work..
Step 4: Hire a Reputable Well Driller
Once you’re ready to move forward, start gathering quotes from licensed well drilling companies.
Ask about:
Licensing and insurance
What’s included in the estimate
Water testing
Pump installation
Expected timelines
Permit assistance
Don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions. We certainly did!
A good driller will walk you through the process and explain things in terms that actually make sense.
Step 5: Prepare the Site
Before drilling begins, the area needs to be accessible for heavy equipment.
Depending on your property, this may mean:
Clearing brush or trees
Creating an access path
Marking utilities
Removing obstacles
The drilling rigs are pretty big, so make sure there’s enough room for equipment to safely reach the site.
Step 6: Drill the Well
This is where things start getting exciting.
The drilling crew will use specialized equipment to drill down until they reach a reliable
water source. Once water is located, they’ll install casing to protect the well and help prevent contamination.
After drilling is complete, the well is disinfected and tested to make sure everything is functioning properly.
The actual drilling process is often quicker than people expect, though timing can vary depending on depth and ground conditions.
Step 7: Install the Pump and Water System
Once the well is drilled, you’ll need equipment to bring the water into your home.
Most residential wells use a submersible pump installed deep inside the well. The system is then connected to a pressure tank and your home’s plumbing.
Your well contractor can help determine the right pump size based on your household’s water needs.
Step 8: Test Your Water
Just because water is flowing doesn’t automatically mean it’s ready to drink.
Water testing is an important step after installation and should continue periodically throughout the life of the well.
Common tests include:
Bacteria
Nitrates
Minerals
Other local contaminants
If needed, treatment systems or filters can be installed to improve water quality.
Things I Wish I Knew Before Installing a Well
Looking back, here are a few things I wish someone had told us from the beginning:
The process is less intimidating once you find a good driller.
Well and septic planning should happen together.
Costs can vary dramatically depending on depth (we ended up spending a bit more due to having to dig deeper) and location.
Timelines are often longer than expected because contractors can be booked out months in advance.
The location of your well may be different than what you originally envisioned.
Asking questions is completely normal—most first-time landowners are learning as they go.
What Does a Well Cost?
This is usually the first question everyone asks.
The truth is that costs vary significantly based on location, well depth, geology, and equipment requirements.
In general, you’ll need to budget for:
Drilling
Well casing
Pump installation
Pressure tank
Water testing
Permits and inspections
While prices vary widely, most homeowners spend several thousand dollars to install a complete residential well system. Getting multiple quotes is one of the best ways to understand what a realistic budget looks like in your area, but to give you an idea we live in Missouri and our cost was roughly around $18k. However, we have a much bigger reservoir than needed. We could probably make do with half of what we have and be totally fine. Originally we had planned for others to tap into it, but that didn't pan out. Personal insiders builders tip* - don't rely on neighbors for any of this. It's best to just have it on your own from the beginning.
Final Thoughts
Installing a well was one of those things we knew absolutely nothing about when we started building on our land. Looking back, it wasn’t nearly as complicated as it seemed—it was just unfamiliar.
Hopefully this guide gives you a better understanding of what to expect and helps answer some of the questions we had when we were first getting started.
If you’re in the middle of planning your own build, just know that it’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed! Every landowner starts somewhere, and before long you’ll be the one explaining the process to someone else. : )
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