Water and Wells
Wells come in all shapes and sizes and for many are the primary source of drinking water and provide a reliable source of fresh water for domestic, agricultural, and industrial use.
The primary type of household well in use (and constructed today) are Drilled Wells, constructed by percussion or rotary-drilling machines. Drilled wells can be hundreds of feet deep and require the installation of casing. Drilled wells have a lower risk of contamination due to their depth and use of continuous casing.
There are two other wells (primarily for agricultural use); Dug Wells are holes in the ground dug by shovel or backhoe. Dug wells have a large diameter, are shallow (approximately 10 to 30 feet deep) and are not cased continuously.
Driven Wells, constructed by driving pipe into the ground. Driven wells are cased continuously and shallow (approximately 30 to 50 feet deep). Though driven wells are cased, they can be contaminated easily because they draw water from aquifers near the surface.
Environmental Protection Division (Georgia)
This website managed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, provides wide-ranging advice and resources on the construction, location and maintenance of private and agricultural wells.
WellOwner.org
Wellowner.org is a one-stop shop for information on the various types of wells and the routine maintenance and general oversight.
Gary L. Hawkins
Gary L. Hawkins has been at the University of Georgia since 2001. He is an Extension specialist in the area of Water Resource Management and Policy. He is an Agricultural Engineer with an 80% Extension appointment and a 20% Research appointment.
Extension programming involves water resource management, water conservation, storm water management, well water, on-site waste treatment and alternative energy.
Research is used to support his extension programming. Some projects include water conservation through conservation tillage, crop water use, and soil moisture management
UGA Water Conservation
This page provides links to various resources provided by UGA for the conservation management of water in Georgia.
Georgia Soils & Water Conservation Districts
Irrigation is a primary component in many agricultural business a number of organizations such as University of Georgia and the Georgia Soil & Water Conservation Districts provide comprehensive resources.
University of Georgia - Irrigation for General Agriculture
University of Georgia - Irrigation for Corn, Cotton, Peanuts and Soybeans
Fort Valley State University
The Fort Valley Extension service provides resources and education in irrigation practices