Watch this video to learn what well drillers do on a working day. The drillers generally set camp and stay around the drilling site until the work is complete. It may take several days or even weeks.
A day at work for well drillers begins with scouting for a potential underground water site for drilling. Once identified, they move the drilling rig to the site and place the casings and drill bits before beginning the actual work. A mechanical drilling rig pounds and digs the ground and rock to reach underground water.
The drillers add welded metal casings before fixing the drill bits to keep groundwater out of the well. They also replace drilling bits as the well deepens and widens. As the drilling goes on, they closely monitor it and add bentonite clay which swells when in contact with water, to form a waterproof seal that keeps outside water out. Drillers also pump water from a separate truck to lubricate the drill bits and add drill rods from time to time when deeper digging is required. Air is introduced into the system to indicate when the drilling has hit the underground water.
