How deep is a well? Most drilled home wells in South Carolina run somewhere between 100 and 400 feet. In the Upstate and western Piedmont, state records put the average at 277 feet. Austin Drilling sees both shallower and deeper ones. It depends on what sits under your yard, not a number from another state.
How deep is a well in South Carolina?
It depends on where you are. Austin Drilling's Midlands wells typically run 100 to 400 feet or more.
The state has hard numbers for the Piedmont. The South Carolina State Water Assessment averaged wells across the Upper Savannah Basin at 277 feet (SCDNR, Upper Savannah River Basin Council, 2023). The deepest one on record there hit 1,100 feet. Saluda wells averaged 323 feet. Anderson came in at 316. McCormick was the shallowest at 220.
Upstate water lives in cracks in solid rock. The driller keeps going until the bit crosses enough cracks carrying water. Farther south and east, toward the coast, wells usually pull from layers of sand instead. That's a different kind of well, and a different depth.
What decides how deep your well has to go?
Mostly the rock, and how much water your house needs.
In rock country, more depth doesn't promise more water. The state's own report says higher yields turn up in low spots, like valleys and draws, more than on hilltops (SCDNR, 2023). Two neighbors on the same road can drill very different wells. One hits a good crack at 180 feet. The other goes past 400.
Your water needs matter too. A big family, a second house on the same well, or an irrigation line all ask more of it. A well yield test tells you what an existing well can really deliver.
What's the difference between a shallow well and a deep well?
A shallow well taps water close to the surface. A deep well goes down into rock or a deeper sand layer.
South Carolina sets a floor. Under Regulation 61-71, the grout seal around the casing has to start at least 20 feet down. The state discourages drinking water wells shallower than 20 feet. It allows them down to 15 feet only where the ground leaves no choice.
Depth also picks your pump. Very shallow wells can run a jet pump that sits above ground. Deeper wells need a submersible pump down in the water. Our page on well pump types explains which one fits.
How do you find out how deep your well is?
Start with paperwork. The driller who put it in should have a record of the depth and casing. Check your closing documents if you bought the house. The USGS notes that states keep databases of wells already drilled, and those help estimate depth for new ones too.
No paperwork? One homeowner wrote us about an old 2-inch well whose pump had been stolen. A well company can measure the depth and water level and check the casing in one visit. Don't drop tools or lines down a well yourself. A stuck object can ruin it.
How deep will a new well on my land be?
Nobody can promise an exact depth before drilling. Anyone who does is guessing.
What a good driller can do is look at wells already drilled near you. That gives a realistic range before the rig shows up, and it's the first step for a buyer like the one who asked us about a deep well near St. George. Depth also drives the price, which is why we don't quote by the foot. Our page on well drilling cost per foot explains why.
FAQ
How deep is a well for a house in South Carolina?
Most run 100 to 400 feet. Upstate and Piedmont wells averaged 277 feet in state records.
How deep should a well be for drinking water?
Deep enough for a steady, clean supply. South Carolina discourages drinking water wells under 20 feet.
Is a deeper well always better?
No. In rock, the cracks matter more than depth. A shallower well in a good spot can beat a deeper one.
Can an existing well be made deeper?
Sometimes. It depends on the casing and the rock. Have the well inspected first.
Ask Austin Drilling how deep your well needs to be
Buying land or wondering about an old well? Call Austin Drilling. We've drilled across the Midlands and Upstate for 66 years. Start with our well drilling service or learn how does a water well work. West Columbia is (803) 926-5402 and Newberry is (803) 926-7080, Monday through Friday, 7am to 6pm, Saturdays by appointment.
Talk to a Real Well Company
66 years, 13,000+ wells, in-house crews across the SC Midlands and Upstate. Call Austin Drilling and we'll get your water right.
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