While drilling a water well, my bit hit something solid and nothing seems to work to get past it. Any suggestions?

– Jeff

Hi Jeff,

You’re drill bit is probably hitting rock, and while you can drill a water well through rock, it will definitely slow the process way down. Drilling through a big rock can slow drilling down to as little as half an inch per hour!

The real problem isn’t big rocks, however, but rocks about the size of a small melon. On rocks that size, the drill bit doesn’t have anything to bite into, so it just rolls off. While it’s not impossible to go around rocks when drilling a water well, it can be so time consuming that drilling the well in that particular location may not be practical.

You can always try drilling your water well in another location on your property, but there’s no guarantee that the layer of rock you’re hitting doesn’t run under the entire property.

Good luck with your project,


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Danny Lipford

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Danny Lipford is a home improvement expert and television personality who started his remodeling business, Lipford Construction, at the age of 21 in Mobile, Alabama. He gained national recognition as the host of the nationally syndicated television show, Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford, which started as a small cable show in Mobile. Danny's expertise in home improvement has also led him to be a contributor to popular magazines and websites and the go-to source for advice on everything related to the home. He has made over 200 national television appearances and served as the home improvement expert for CBS's The Early Show and The Weather Channel for over a decade. Danny is also the founder of 3 Echoes Content Studio, TodaysHomeowner.com, and Checking In With Chelsea, a décor and lifestyle blog.

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