Welcome to frequently asked questions

Q: How deep does my well need to be?

A: Every area is unique. We have seen areas where  a 15' to 20' deep well will make 40 gallons per minute. But if you pass that shallow water it will be dry to 800'+. Then just  a few miles away all the wells are 150' to 200' and make 30+ GPM. The best resource to get an estimated depth, is surrounding well logs.

How to look up surrounding well logs in IDAHO

Start at Idaho Department of water resources home page. https://idwr.idaho.gov/

second tab over is WELLS, click and scroll over to "GPS locator tool for well drillers". https://maps.idwr.idaho.gov/agol/Locator/ once there, put in a GPS location from your property and click "map and convert". You will have to click the PLUS + button to zoom in to the area around your property. On the far left side is a LAYERS list, you must check the WELLS box, this will show all the wells in your area as little blue dots.

How to look up surrounding well logs in Oregon

Start at the home page of Oregon Water Resources https://www.oregon.gov/owrd/pages/index.aspx center of the page you will see a picture of a drill rig titled groundwater and wells. Just below there click on "resources for well constructors" then left side, mid to lower page, go down to "location information by latitude longitude" input your GPS point and click find location, this gives you the Township Range Section and 1/4 1/4 you will need to find your well log. https://apps.wrd.state.or.us/apps/misc/lkp_trsqq_features/default.aspx 

Once you have this information you can go back to the "resources for well constructors" page. Under the drill rig picture click on find a well report https://apps.wrd.state.or.us/apps/gw/well_log/Default.aspx Input the township, range, and section data and click search to see the wells on record.

Other note: you can get a GPS location by zooming in to your property using Google Earth/maps etc. search your address. If using a mouse right click on your property, hold, and scroll down to "WHATS HERE" that long number is a GPS location . If using your phone drop a pin on your property and use that GPS location.

How to look up surrounding well logs in Washington

Because we just moved to the Orofino / Lewiston area we have not researched into the Washington regulations yet. 

Q: Can I drill my own well?

A: That depends on your state, Oregon allows landowners to drill their own well, but only after securing a bond. This bond is to be used to provide the funds necessary to repair any damage that an unskilled driller may do to the aquifer. There are a few landowners that drill their own wells in Oregon each year.

Idaho has a strict only licensed drillers policy. This is the states law, and if we want it changed, we "the people of Idaho" must take it before our legislators. My feelings are mixed on this subject. I understand the need to protect the resources from potential damage, but is our land really ours if we cannot use it the way we desire?

Q: Will I need a permit? 

A: Yes, however a domestic well permit is easily obtained by the driller prior to drilling. 

Q: Will I need a water right?

A: Idaho grants every property a "Domestic exemption" this allows a well to be drilled for single family usage. With the  "Domestic well " exemption you are allowed to use the well for single family usage and up to 1/2 acre irrigation. If you are needing to irrigate more land or are using the water for commercial purposes please contact us and we will recommend how to obtain a water right.

Q: What is Nu Acre?

A: Nu Acre is a beautiful area, between Parma Idaho and Fruitland Idaho on Hwy 95 Near the border close to Nyssa Oregon. It was designated as Nu Acres in the phone book and we had our own prefix 208-674-XXXX. It is an area much like Fraser near Weippe, where we currently live. We named the company Nu Acre cause we never imagined moving out of the area. Another reason is McLeran Well Drilling was already used by my brother David. We did not want to cause any confusion by using the McLeran name. 

Q: How do I sterilize my well?

A:  The easiest way to sterilize your well is to just dump chlorine into it from the surface. This is done by removing the cap on top of the well. Dump in the bleach and replace the cap. The trouble with this method is: the bleach runs down the casing, (some of it staying on the casing causing the casing to rust) and splashes into the water. This bleach is slow to dissolve into the water, and may never make it all the way to the bottom of the well. If it does it will take a long time to completely dissolve into a uniform mix. After treatment you will need to allow the well to sit without pumping any water at least 24-72 hours. 

Another method is: pour in the chlorine as described above, then run a hose into the well circulating the water until the hose water smells like chlorine. This will get the bleach mixed into the well uniformly (if circulated long enough) all the way down to the pump. If the pump is near the bottom of the well within 10’ or so this will probably be sufficient to get the bottom sections of the well, allow to set 12-24 hrs before pumping the chlorine out. 

If your well continues to fail, you may have to resort to the most extreme method.

The way recommended by engineers....... calculate the volume of water in the well. This would mean figure out the gallons of water your well holds. (A 6” well holds approx 1.5 gallons per foot and an 8” holds approximately 2.6 gallons per foot)  Next double this amount. Now get a tank that will hold this total doubled amount of water and mix your sterilizing solution into the water. Once completely mixed remove the well cap and dump this complete amount down the well. What this will do is displace two times the amount of water the well holds and also push the chlorine into the formation, killing all the bacteria that it comes into contact with including the bacteria that is behind the casing. Once placed like this allow the well to set 12-24 hrs and pump the water out.

Example you have a well 6” casing size 100 ft deep 60’ static this means your well has 40’ of water in it. The total gallons of water your well has in it is approximately 60 gallons. Double this amount, ="120 gallon". Next get a tank that will hold 120 gallons and mix your chlorine solution into this tank. Dissolve the chlorine into the water by mixing it with a drill and paddle or circulating it with a hose and pump. Once the solution is completely mixed up, pump it into the well. (You may have to use a pipe if more than 10' of screens are installed.)  Let this solution sit in the well at least 12 - 24 hours prior to pumping it out. Be cautious of pumping the chlorine into your septic system, as it can kill of the bacterial process that helps your septic break down the solids.

Here is a link to a Oregon article that has more information on sterilizing your well. This downloads as a PDF  shorturl.at/ltAS0

Q: Who is doing your drilling in the Treasure Valley now that you moved

A: I am the 2nd of 9, with four brothers drilling in the Treasure Valley. Please contact them if you need wells in the Boise to Council area. List is oldest to youngest. * = Licensed in Oregon

* Dave at McLeran Well Drilling LLC

208-941-2587  

https://www.mclerandrilling.com

Matt & Charity at Highline Drilling LLC

208-739-6647

https://www.facebook.com/highlinedrilling/

* Ben at Bens Well Drilling and Repair LLC

208-954-9878

Josh at J.McLeran Drilling LLC  

208-739-5154