Thank you for choosing Arwood Waste. Whether we are drilling your well and/or installing your pump system. It is our goal to provide our customers the most professional, dependable and honest service provided by long-term employees utilizing the highest quality of products available. In an effort to achieve this goal and to keep surprises to a minimum we have put together the following frequently asked questions. Please take a few minutes to read them.
1. Q: How much room is required to demolish my well?
A: Imagine a 30ft truck that is 8ft wide and is towing a 30ft boat that is 8ft wide, the well is drilled where the trailer hitch would be. Additional room is required on both sides of the rig and water truck for the access and for the pits that are dug.
2. Q: How long will it take to abandon my well?
A: Well drilling completion times vary from a half day to three days or longer. Drilling time is affected by many factors including time to set up, difficult drilling formations and weather. All of these factors vary from site to site and well to well. These are also factors that we have no control over. In addition, the time it takes to develop each well is different. Because of these variables there is no way for us to give a fixed time for well completion. It is for this same reason that we can not give a fixed time for when we can start your well until the one before yours is completed, developed and the drilling rig is moved off the previous site.
3. Q: Why can’t AW Waste give me an exact start date for my well demolition?
A: Because of the variables listed above there is no way for us to know the exact day we can move on to your site. We will make every effort to call you the day before we know we can be on your site. Sometimes for varying reasons the schedule can change so fast we may not be able to call you the day before.
4. Q. Will you move and reinstall my plants and / or fence?
A: Our policy on plant and/or fence removal is that if the plants and/or fence can be removed by our two man crew in less than a ½ hour we will do so. During our pre-drilling site visit we will let you know if we will be able to remove the plants and/or fence. Plants or fences that have been removed will need to be replaced by others.
5. Q: Do you cut tree limbs that are in the way?
A: If we feel that it is safe for us to cut tree limbs that are less than 2 inches in diameter we will. If not then tree limbs that are in the way will need to be removed prior to us arriving to drill your well. This issue will be discussed during our site survey.
6. Q: Will my concrete or asphalt driveway, sidewalks and curbs break or crack?
A: It is possible that these items may be damaged. Equipment required to drill a well is heavy. PWD will take every reasonable precaution to avoid driveway damage however if the driveway is damaged, PWD will not be responsible for repairs.
7. Q: Will the trucks make ruts in my yard? Will you re-sod my yard?
A: Ruts are common when moving drilling equipment onto and off of a site. The softer and wetter the soil the deeper the ruts will be. All of PWD’s drilling rigs are 4WD which helps to keep us from getting stuck & keeps ruts to a minimum. Repair to ruts or re-sodding is not included in PWD’s scope of work.
Option:
We can use Plywood/Boards to minimize damage to yard while moving equipment on and off of well site for an additional charge. We will be glad to price this service for you upon request.
8. Q: What happens if PWD cuts or damages underground utilities?
A: Unfortunately we have no way to know where utilities are buried on your property. If we damage an underground utility that has been clearly marked, we will take responsibility for the repair. If we damage an underground utility that has not been clearly marked we do not take responsibility for the repair. Underground utilities would be defined as buried cable, telephone, gas, electric, irrigation systems and water or sewer lines.
9. Q: Why do you have to dig pits in my yard?
A: Part of the drilling process includes removing cuttings from the borehole we drill during well construction. To contain & dispose of the cuttings we usually dig two pits beside the drilling rig. These pits vary in size based on well size & depth. Generally they are +/- 3ft wide x 6ft long x 4ft deep. Drilling fluid is circulated through the pits where the cuttings settle out and the drilling fluid is reused. We will cover the pits when the well is complete. The cuttings are natural material that was drilled out of the earth. For a period of time the covered pits will be soft. In time they will firm up and you will not know they were there.
10. Q: What is done with the cuttings that are produced during the drilling process and the excess drill mud?
A: During the drilling process some of the drilling fluid will have to be pumped out of the pits and onto your property. This helps to keep us from having to dig an additional pit and it helps the pits to dry out and firm up quicker. The fluid looks like cement but it is not. It is a natural clay “bentonite” that is required for the drilling process. This fluid will settle, and seep into the soil over a period of time.
Option:
If you do not want pits dug in your yard there is a solution. We can use portable above grade pits instead of digging the pits. When we use the above ground pits we also bring a vacuum tank to remove all of the drill cuttings and fluid from your yard. This does require an additional crew member, an additional truck, the vacuum tank to dispose of fluid and drill cuttings off site, therefore there is a charge for this service. We will be glad to price this service for you upon request.
11. Q: Can PWD leave my well head below grade?
A: Well drilling regulations require us to leave the well head at least 12 inches above grade. In some cases the pump and / or tank can be offset from the well head. In other words, the pump equipment can sometimes be installed away from the well. For example the well could be in your back yard and the pump and /or tank equipment can be installed beside the house. This is an offset installation and is more expensive because of the additional time and materials required.
12. Q: When will the pump be installed?
A: The pump crew is different from the well crew. They have different training, use different tools and use different equipment. They are pump specialists just like the drilling crews are well drilling specialist. We try to schedule the pump crew to come in as close as possible behind the well crew. Sometimes it is difficult to get the pump crew on site immediately after the well is drilled for the same reasons explained in #2
13. Q: Do you do the electrical hook up to my pump?
A: We are not licensed electricians therefore we do not do electrical work.
14. Q: How do I pay for my well & pump?
A: PWD requires a 50% deposit when the well order is placed. Balance is due upon completion. The last department scheduled to do work for you will have an invoice and they will be expecting to collect payment at that time. If there will be a delay between when the well is drilled and when the pump will be installed, then payment for the well would be paid upon completion of the well to the driller before he leaves your site.
Safety
For everyone’s safety we respectfully ask that all customers stay at least 20’ away from our drilling operation. If you have questions our drillers will be glad to come to you and answer any questions you may have. Please keep in mind that there may be times during the drilling that they can not stop immediately and answer questions. They will stop when it is safe to do so and answer your questions or tell you who to speak with at PWD to get the answer if they are not able to answer your question. We are pleased that you are interested in how your water system is being installed and welcome your questions.
If you have any questions that you did not find the answers to above or if any of the information provided needs better clarification please call our office, we will be glad to help you with your questions.
Thank you for contacting Arwood Waste & Demolition for your well drilling project. We look forward to providing you with professional and friendly service along with the highest quality products available.
Arwood Waste
16150 N. Main Street
Jacksonville Florida 32218