Water well drilling crew

Rural homeowners, farms, cottage owners, developers and builders on properties without municipal water.

Typically a price per metre or foot drilled, plus charges for casing, screens, grouting, testing and travel. Pump and water-system work can be added, or subcontracted to a local installer.

• Operating heavy equipment
• Mechanical know-how and rig maintenance
• Quoting jobs and managing a crew
• Working outdoors in all weather

• Provincial licensing and well technician rules differ widely, so check with your provincial ministry or regulator before buying equipment
• Commercial general liability insurance, equipment cover and possibly pollution liability, so ask a broker about what a driller needs
• WCB/WSIB registration once you hire crew, as rules vary by province
• Dry or low-yield holes can lead to disputes, so write clear terms about what you do and do not guarantee
• Spring road bans, frozen ground and heavy winter conditions can slow work in many regions
• Proper well construction and sealing of abandoned wells are regulated, so check local environmental rules
• High equipment cost and repair bills mean cash flow needs careful planning

Startup costs are typically around $120,000 to $500,000, depending on the rig and equipment you buy. These are estimates. High equipment and repair costs mean cash flow needs careful planning before you buy anything.

Provincial licensing and well technician rules differ widely, so check with your provincial ministry or regulator before buying equipment. Also check insurance needs, WCB/WSIB registration once you hire crew, and local environmental rules on well construction and sealing abandoned wells.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $15,000 to $60,000, depending on how many wells you complete and your region. Plan for at least about 30 hours a week. Spring road bans and frozen ground can slow work.