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 in New Mexico. Residents are facing waitlists of 3 months up to 2 years!
So what’s causing such big delays?
-NM’s drought is creating a need for current wells to be drilled deeper.
-New Housing Developments needing water wells.
-Contractors are retiring/leaving and are not being replaced.
-Supply chain shortages for necessary materials.
-New Mexico 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
According to a write up by Paul Bossert, Esq., the population growth in rural New Mexico has been causing strains on the local water supply and has created a long wait for well drillers as new residents line up for a well. He states, “A domestic well may be the only feasible source for household water in some rural areas of New Mexico. Average household use in New Mexico is approximately 1/4–to 1/3 acre-foot per year. In this context of high utility, low volume, and widely dispersed usage, the automatic approval of domestic well applications made sense.
However, New Mexico’s population has more than doubled since the passage of the domestic well statute and is mostly concentrated in and around urban areas. This concentrated growth has brought intense pressure on local water supplies, necessitating careful water management. The unchecked development of domestic wells can make this difficult.”(Water Matters! by Paul Bossert, Esq. (2008) Latest Update by Sarah Armstrong, University of New Mexico School of Law, Class of 2015 (2022)) Read the full publication 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 New Mexico.
-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
