What Are the Different Types of Water Wells?
Quick Answer
The five main well types are drilled, driven, dug, bored, and jetted. In North Texas, virtually all new private wells are rotary-drilled to reach deep aquifers.
Water wells have been constructed in many different ways over the centuries — from hand-dug pits to modern rotary-drilled boreholes. Understanding the differences matters because not every well type works in every location, and in North Texas, geology and aquifer depth make rotary-drilled wells the only practical option for reliable private water supply.
The Five Main Well Types
1. Drilled Wells
Drilled wells are constructed by rotating a drill bit against rock and soil while circulating drilling fluid to remove cuttings from the borehole. Two drilling methods exist:
| Method | How It Works | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Rotary drilling | Rotating bit with drilling fluid circulation | Most North Texas geology — clay, limestone, mixed formations |
| Cable tool (percussion) | Heavy bit dropped repeatedly to break rock | Hard limestone; slower but sometimes used in rocky terrain |
Modern rotary rigs can drill to 1,000+ feet, reaching the Trinity and Woodbine aquifers that supply reliable groundwater across North Texas. After drilling, steel or PVC casing is installed to hold the borehole open and protect the water from surface contamination. Cement grouting fills the annular space between the casing and borehole wall, sealing out shallow groundwater and contaminants.
Drilled wells are the only well type suitable for the 150–600 ft depths required to reach productive aquifers in the DFW service area.
2. Driven Wells
A driven well is installed by hammering a steel well point — a pointed, screened pipe — into saturated sand until it reaches groundwater. No drilling equipment is needed, making driven wells fast and inexpensive where conditions allow. The limitations are severe:
- Only works in fine sand or gravel with a shallow water table (under ~50 ft)
- Small diameter limits yield (typically under 1 GPM)
- Highly vulnerable to surface contamination
- Not viable in clay, caliche, or rock — all common in North Texas
Driven wells are effectively absent from North Texas practice.
3. Dug Wells
Dug wells are the oldest form of water well — a large-diameter hole excavated by hand or machine, typically 3–6 feet across and 10–30 feet deep, lined with stone, brick, or concrete rings. They access the shallowest groundwater sitting just above a clay layer.
Dug wells are no longer permitted for new residential construction in Texas. They cannot reach deep aquifers, and their large diameter and shallow depth make them highly susceptible to runoff, flood contamination, and biological contamination from surface activity.
4. Bored Wells
Bored wells are drilled with a large-diameter auger, producing a hole typically 18–48 inches wide and up to 100 feet deep. Before rotary rigs were widely available, bored wells were common for agricultural use. Today they’re rarely constructed because:
- Depth is limited to the reach of the auger (usually under 100 ft)
- Large diameter requires substantial casing material
- Shallow depth means susceptibility to drought and contamination
5. Jetted Wells
A jetted well uses a high-pressure water jet to bore through soft material — sand, silt, or clay — while a casing is simultaneously advanced into the hole. Jetted wells are limited to very soft, water-saturated formations and rarely exceed 50 feet. They are not used in North Texas.
Why North Texas Requires Drilled Wells
North Texas geology eliminates every option except rotary-drilled wells:
| Factor | Why It Rules Out Other Methods |
|---|---|
| Aquifer depth | Trinity and Woodbine aquifers sit 150–600 ft below surface — beyond dug, bored, or driven well range |
| Clay and caliche topsoil | Cannot drive a well point through clay or caliche layers |
| Hard limestone formations | Only rotary or cable-tool drilling can penetrate limestone in Parker, Hood, and Palo Pinto counties |
| Contamination risk | Texas TDLR requires cased, grouted wells; open dug or bored wells don’t meet minimum standards |
Construction Standards in Texas
All water wells in Texas must be constructed by a TDLR-licensed water well driller and meet the minimum construction standards in Texas Administrative Code Title 16, Part 4, Chapter 76. These standards specify minimum casing depth, grouting requirements, and wellhead protection — requirements that only drilled-and-cased wells can consistently meet.
DFW Well Service (TDLR License #61234 DKMPW) is available to drill throughout the 19-county North Texas service area. Call (940) 536-8560 to discuss which aquifer and depth target makes sense for your property location.