If you don't have access to municipal water, drilling a private well is the only way to pipe potable water into your home.

Drilling a private well requires a lot of effort and skill. Professional drilling companies can provide you with the equipment and experience required to drill a successful well.

Don't make the mistake of thinking that once the drill hits water your well is complete. The new well must be sealed to ensure it will continue to provide fresh water well into the future.

Here are three sealing tips to keep in mind the next time you need to drill a private water well.

1. Make Sure the Borehole Is Big Enough

The diameter of the borehole can have a significant impact on the overall quality of a well seal. You want to have ample space between the borehole and the casing so that the sealant can fully line the exterior of the casing.

Any dirt or debris that gets into the casing will contaminate your well, so having a large borehole is critical to the overall safety and performance of your private well.

The minimum distance between the outer edge of the borehole and the casing should maximize the efficiency and safety of your well.

2. Use the Right Sealant

The type of sealant that you use to seal off your water well can have a direct impact on water quality over time. The best sealants to use are neat cement grout or bentonite clay grout.

Neat cement grout can offer structural stability to your well. This type of sealant is fairly easy to apply, and it cures quickly.

Bentonite clay grout is the more affordable option. This is due to the fact that bentonite clay grout swells as it cures. Less material will be needed to achieve a proper seal.

Coordinate with a water well drilling professional to determine which type of sealant works best with your soil type.

3. Extend Sealant Deep Enough

One common mistake that is made when sealing water wells is failing to extend the sealant material deep enough to provide adequate protection.

Since the primary goal of a well seal is to prevent contamination, it stands to reason that the seal needs to extend beyond the point where contaminants could infiltrate the well casing. This point is usually beyond the first impenetrable sediment layer.

If extending past this layer isn't an option, the sealant should be extended into the ground as far as possible.