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Water Well Drilling in the Flathead Valley

Building a home on rural land, replacing a well that's gone dry, or adding water for a shop, barn or livestock? A new well is one of the biggest — and most important — investments on a rural property. We'll connect you with a licensed Montana water well driller who works in your part of the valley.

Call (406) 446-7883

How getting a new well works

1. Research the area. Nearby well logs (depth, water level, yield) give a good preview. Montana's Ground Water Information Center (GWIC), run by the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology, has well logs searchable by location.
2. Pick the site. Wells need setbacks from septic systems, drainfields and property lines. Plan the well and septic together on new builds — Flathead County Environmental Health can explain local requirements.
3. Get on the schedule. Drillers in growing areas are often booked out, especially spring through fall. Call early.
4. Drilling and casing. The driller drills until they reach adequate water, sets steel casing, and tests the well's yield.
5. Pump and pressure system. A pump, pitless adapter, wire, and pressure tank are installed, and a line is trenched to the house.
6. Paperwork. Montana requires a well log from the licensed driller, and most household wells under the exempt limits still need a Notice of Completion filed with Montana DNRC to establish the water right. Ask your driller whether they file it or you do.

In Montana, water wells must be drilled by a contractor licensed through the state Board of Water Well Contractors. Ask for the license number.

What affects drilling cost

• Depth — the biggest factor. Depths vary a lot across the valley, from shallow wells near rivers to much deeper wells on benches and hillsides.
• Geology — gravel, clay and bedrock drill differently; bedrock wells take longer.
• Casing and screen needed to keep the well open and clean.
• Pump system — pump size, wire, pressure tank, and trenching distance to the house.
• Access — steep or wooded lots and winter conditions.

Typical totals for a new household well (drilling, casing and pump system) often land in the tens of thousands of dollars. See our Flathead well cost guide for ranges.

Other drilling services

• Deepening an existing well or drilling a replacement for a dry or failing well
• Well rehabilitation (cleaning, and sometimes hydrofracturing to improve yield)
• Properly sealing and abandoning old wells
• Irrigation and livestock wells

Well drilling by area

• Kalispell
• Whitefish
• Columbia Falls
• Bigfork & Lakeside
• Somers & Evergreen
• Marion, Kila & West Valley