Water Well Drillers Peter Snelten & Sons
Family-Owned & Operated Since 1923.

Serving Cook County, McHenry County, Lake County,
Kane County & Dupage County Illinois. 

We are committed to serving others, providing exceptional customer service, and unmatched workmanship. Peter Snelten & Sons have been water well drillers in Northern Illinois for almost 100 years. We pride ourselves in treating customers like family.

We are a residential water well drilling company, a commercial water well drilling company, and an irrigation water well drilling company.

To properly design a residential water well system for your home, we will need to know the number of water fixtures and water outlets. This method bases the approximate pumping capacity of fixture use, at the rate of 1 gallon per minute per fixture. This is to ensure that the proper size well pump and tank are installed. The pressure tank should be large enough to allow the submersible pump to run for at least one minute. When submersible pumps and pressure tanks are properly sized for your water well system, they will provide years of reliable service.

Irrigation water wells are considered to be a non-potable water supply. They are primarily used for watering crops, plants, or for filling and maintaining water levels in ponds and lakes. In some cases, they are drilled and used for supplying in-ground lawn sprinkler systems at homes, businesses, or apartment complexes where the cost of city water becomes extremely expensive.

Casing diameters range from five inches through twelve inches. Stainless steel well screens are sometimes installed to obtain water from sand and gravel aquifers. They vary in length, slot size, and diameter. The submersible pumping equipment that is used will be determined by the yield/GPM (gallons per minute) the irrigation well produces, and what electrical voltage supply is available to power the submersible pump.

These types of Irrigation water wells can be set up with either above ground or below ground pressure tanks and/or variable speed drives.

Our water wells are located and constructed to provide safe water at all times and under all conditions. We ensure proper location to ensure no contamination and proper construction.

Illinois Department of Public Health
http://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/waterwells.htm

Water Well Drilling Process

Picking the Spot
The first step in constructing a well comes with an initial consultation period. During this time, a contractor will visit your property and find the right spot to drill the hole and install the well.

Drilling The Well
Once the construction process actually begins, the first step is to drill down into the ground. The hole that this creates will become the actual well.  The drill plows down into the earth, breaking through rock and dirt along the way, and all the debris is removed and placed in a pit, dumpster, or pile.

The Casing
Now the well components actually begin to be installed. First the well casing. The casing is a long metal or plastic tube which is inserted into the drilled hole. Commonly measures at around 4-6 inches in diameter and goes from the surface down to the aquifer, which is the groundwater supply that your well will be tapping into.

Well Cap
The Casing is now sealed with a well cap.

Screens
As well as the casing, wells may require screens depending on the water-bearing formation. Well screens are fitted at the base of the casing to form an extra layer of filtration. They protect the water in the well against dirt and sediment.

Grouting
After the casing has been installed, a little gap between the casing and the wall of the drilled well needs to be filled with grout.

Cleaning The New Well
This is when Peter Snelten & Sons will use air/water to blast out any excess sediment that may have built up at the bottom ensuring you clean safe water. 

Well Pump Installation
Next the well pump needs to be installed. The well pump is the part that actually works to suck up the water and pumps it to your home. You will also need a pressure tank. The pressure tank works to store water and control the functioning of the pump and the flow of the water into your home. At this time we also do a water quality test to check the contents of well water before drinking it. Please click here to view our available pumps.