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Consumer's guide to hiring a well contractor

Consumer's guide to hiring a well contractor

Do you need a water well for the new home you’re building? Does your existing well or pumping equipment need to be replaced? Here is some helpful information to assist you when hiring a water well driller or pump installer.

Michigan’s well construction code is based on the public health principle that if a well is properly located, constructed of suitable materials, and pumping equipment is correctly installed, the water system should provide a safe, reliable supply of water.

Some counties have ordinances that are more stringent than the state well construction code and all counties require that a permit be obtained before drilling a well or performing major repairs. Permits are required by state law for most wells that serve to the public or private citizens. Check with your county health department before proceeding.

The Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) registers water well drilling contractors and pump installers. Minimum experience qualifications and an extensive examination help ensure that only knowledgeable individuals become registered.

Selecting a well drilling contractor

  • two contractors working on drilling well

    A new well and pump costs several thousand dollars. Before deciding who to hire, do a little homework to compare quality and value. It will be time “well” spent. To verify if a contractor is registered, ask to see a current registration certificate. State registration can be verified online by visiting the EGLE Directory of Registered Contractors.

    Check the contractor’s reputation by contacting past customers. Find out if the contractor completed the work satisfactorily and in a timely manner. A reputable contractor will have no objection to giving you a list of customers’ names upon request.

    View the directory of registered contractors

Questions to ask the contractor

  • What will be the depth of my new well? (A contractor cannot always predict the final depth, but depths of nearby wells offer some guidance.)
  • Are there water quality or quantity problems in my area?
  • Will the water be tested and will I be given a copy of the water test results?
  • Will a well record be given to me within 60 days of completion, as required by state law? (A well record shows the well construction details and formations penetrated. It is useful if future well service is needed and during real estate transfers.)
  • Do I still pay if no water is found, if not enough water is found, or if poor quality water is obtained? If so, how much is charged?
  • How much will it cost to plug my abandoned well? (A well no longer in use can be a channel for contamination and can adversely impact your new well and others.)
  • Do you use written estimates and contracts for our mutual protection?
  • Do you carry insurance to protect both of us?
  • Will I be given a detailed billing invoice?
  • Will the contractor obtain the well permit from the local health department, or will that be my responsibility?
  • How much site restoration will be done? (Well drilling rigs and support vehicles can make large ruts in lawns. The drilling process can be messy. Make sure you know what the contractor will do and what you will be expected to do.)

Know what to expect: Check well records.

Records of other wells completed in your vicinity are an indicator of what you can expect.

  • Wellogic

    Wellogic

    For well records from the year 2000 and newer. All Wellogic records can be searched for by using 22 different search fields.

  • A screen capture of water well viewer showing wells in the Saginaw Bay area

    Scanned well records

    For well records from the year 1999 and older. The scanned well records can only be searched for by county, township, town/range, and section.

Got a complaint?

  • Talk to the contractor

    Usually, the well installation will be completed satisfactorily. However, if the work was not performed to your satisfaction, discuss your concerns with the contractor. Most often when you bring your problem to the attention of the business, you will find them willing to listen to your complaint and eager to settle it to your satisfaction. When you talk to the contractor, remember:

    • Be calm and courteous.
    • Explain the problem accurately and state how you think it should be handled.
    • In many disputes neither side is entirely correct.
    • If you are willing to negotiate, say so.
    • If your attempt to resolve the problem fails, you may file a written complaint with the local health department. You may wish to advise the contractor that you intend to file a complaint.

  • File a complaint

    A written complaint can be filed by contacting your county or district health department. If your complaint involves violation of the well construction code, it is within the health department’s authority and an investigation will be made. The health department will assist in getting the violation corrected.

    The health department has no power to investigate or mediate certain types of complaints. These include:

    • Pricing or “overcharging”
    • Product warranties
    • Damage to property
    • Contractual disputes
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