Regional Trends in 

Water-Well Drilling in the 

United States 

Regional Trends in 

Water-Well Drilling in the 

United States 

By Gerald Meyer and G. G. Wyrick 

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

A description of relations between water-well drilling 

and regional changes in economy and development, 

CIRCULAR 533 

population growth and shihs, changes in irrigoti011 practice, 

and natural phenomena such as earthquakes and droughts 

Washington J 966 
United States Department of the Interior 

STEWART L. UDALL, Secretary 

Geological Survey 

William T. Pecora, Director 

Free on application to the U.S. Geological Survey, Washington, D.C. 20242 
CONTENTS 

Page Page 

Abstract_____________________________ 1 National trends in well drilling_________ 3 

Introduction·------------------------- 1 Regional trends ---------------------- 4 

National annual investment in water SummarY---------------------------- 7 

wells ___ ---------- _______ ----- ___ _ 1 References cited--------------------- 7 

ILLUSTRATIONS 

Page 

Figure 1. Map showing changes in well-drilling activity, 196o-64 _________________ ... ______ 4 

2. Map showing number of water wells drilled in 1964, by State------------------- 5 

3. Graph showing number of water wells drilled in the United States between 1900 

and 1965 and relation to major events in American historY--------------·----- 5 

TABLES 

Page 

Table 1. Estimated number of water wells drilled in the United States, by State _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2 

2. Regional trends in water-well construction in the United States, 196o-64 --------- 6 

III 

Regional Trends in Water-Well Drilling in the United States 

By Gerald Meyer and G. G. Wyrick 

ABSTRACT 

The well-drilling industry is one index of the importance of 

ground water to our national economy. National investment in 

water wells totals about one-half to three-quarter billion dollars annually. The overall industry is currently experiencing 

a sharp upswing in drilling activity, but activity varies from 

region to region. Regional changes in drilling activity are determined by regional changes in economy and development, 

population growth and shifts, changes in irrigation practice, 

and even natural phenomena such as earthquakes and droughts. 

Analysis of estimates of the number of water wells drilled 

in the United States during the period 1960-64 reveals national and regional trends in water-well construction. Approximately 435,700 -wells were drilled in 1964-an average of 

1,700 well starts each working day. For th·e Nation as a whole, 

the net change between 1960 and 1964 was an increase of 14 

percent in drilling activity. 

INTRODUCTION 

Information on well-drilling activity furnished by district offices of the U.s. Geological Survey's Water Resources Division# 

State engineers, State Geological Surveys, and 

other State water agencies permit realistic 

estimates of the number of water wells drilled 

in the United States during the period 1960-

64. The tally of wells drilled in 1960 and 

1964, by State# is given in table 1. Analysis 

of the data reveals national and regional trends 

in water-well construction (fig. 1# table 2) and 

intensity of drilling throughout the Nation 

(fig. 2). 

The well-drilling industry is one index of 

the importance of ground water to our national 

economy. Practically all the rural population 

of the United States and sizeable segments of 

its urban population# industry# and agriculture 

rely upon the ground-water reservoirs as a 

source of supply. Water wells have been a 

significant factor in the habitation of rural and 

suburban areas# expansion of the practice of 

irrigation# and decentralization of industry. 

An estimated 10 to 15 million wells are in 

existence today. In 1950, ground-water use 

totaled 30 to 3 5 bgd (billion gallons per day) 

(MacKichan# 1951; McGuinness# 1963# p. 83); 

in 1960, it totaled about 46 bgd (MacKichan and 

Kammerer# 1961). These estimated values 

indicate that ground -water use increased 30 to 

50 percent between 1950 and 1960. On the 

basis of this 10 -year rate of increase, withdrawals in 1965 of between 53 and 69 bgd are 

indicated. Projection of this rate of increase 

to 1980# 15 years hence# indicates ground-water 

use of about 80 to 100 bgd. In the past 15 

years# ground water has supplied between onefifth and one-sixth of the Nation's total withdrawal use 1 of water. Alfred Loehnberg (in 

Ackerman and others# 1960# p. 22) has predicted that the ratio of ground -water to surface-water withdrawal might increase to 1:2 

or even 1 :l in the next 20 to 50 years. If so# 

the total ground -water use in 1980 might be 

considerably greater than the projected range 

just given. Although some hydrologists consider these predicted rates of increase in 

ground -water use too high, there is general 

agreement that ground -water use will continue 

to increase. 

NATIONAL ANNUAL INVESTMENT IN WATER 

WELLS 

Approximately 435,700 wells were drilled 

in 1964-an average of about 1# 700 well starts 

each working day. The bulk of ground water 

used for domestic# irrigation# industrial, and 

public supply is withdrawn through wells. Well 

drilling is a sizeable industry: according to 

the editor of the "Water Well Journal," an 

estimated 13,000 contractors operate about 

2 7 #000 drilling machines. 

1"'Withdrawal use" is defined as water diverted from its place 

of occurrence for use. 

1 
2 REGIONAL TRENDS IN WATER-WEI.L DRILLING IN THE UNITED STATES 

Table 1.-Estimated number of water wells drilled in the United States, by State 

[Based mainly on data supplied by the U.S. Geol. Survey and State water agencies. Modified in 

part by other data available to the authors. NC, no change] 

State 

Alabama-----------------------------

Alaska ------------------------------

Arizona Arkansas ----------------------------- ___________________________ _ 

California __________________________ _ 

Colorado Connecticut ---------------------------- _________________________ _ 

Delaware----------------------------

District F1orida _____________________________ of Columbia------------------_ 

Georgia ----------------------------- Idaho Hawaii _______________________________ ----------------------- __ -----_ 

Indiana Illinois ____ _____________________________ ------ __ ------------------_ 

I ow a _______________________________ _ 

Kansas------------------------------

Kentucky---------------------------- Louisiana ___________________________ _ 

Maryland Maine------------------------------- ___________________________ _ 

Massachusetts Michigan ___________________________ -----------------------_ 

Minnesota·-------------------------- Mississippi _________________________ _ 

Montana Missouri ____________________________ ----------------------------~ 

Nevadaebrska---------------------------- _____________________________ _ 

New Hampshire----------------------

New JerseY--------------------------

New Mexico--------------------------

New York --------------------------- ~orth Carolina----------------------

North Dakota-------------------------

Ohio -------------------------------- Oklahoma ___________________________ _ 

Oregon·----------------------------- Pennsylvania ________________________ _ 

Rhode Island-------------------------

South Carolina Dakota ________________________ -----------------------_ 

Tennessee--------------------------- Texas ______________________________ _ 

V~rmont Utah-------------------------------- ____________________________ _ 

W Virginia·---------------------------- ashington _________________________ _ 

West W Virginia------------------------ is con sin _________________ .. ___ • ____ • 

Wyoming _______ --- ___ ---------------

Estimated number of wells drilled 

1960 

4,000 

726 

1,400 

5,000 

9,100 

3,105 

6,500 

3,797 

12 

33,900 

10,500 

17 

1,400 

21,000 

17,700 

9,000 

4,700 

9,880 

974 

1,500 

4,022 

8,000 

25,000 

13,000 

5,300 

6,380 

1,900 

5,511 

824 

3,600 

3, 797 

2,287 

25,000 

20,000 

4,200 

17,137 

4,400 

3,500 

13,482 

200 

5,300 

6,077 

10,000 

19,000 

630 

1,240 

8,500 

1,396 

5,500 

11,000 

1,000 

1964 

4,500 

1,001 

1,520 

5,000 

10,000 

5,911 

6,500 

3,440 

12 

55,000 

10,000 

21 

1,400 

19,500 

15,000 

15,000 

5,500 

9,620 

2,620 

1,700 

6,902 

9,000 

25,000 

9,000 

5,900 

9,990 

2,000 

6,005 

825 

4,400 

3,440 

3,150 

25,000 

25,000 

3,760 

18,622 

5,'000 

4,500 

16,220 

250 

5,400 

5,426 

8,000 

25,000 

650 

1,460 

10,000 

1,700 

5,900 

12,000 

1,000 

Percent change 

196o-64 

+13 

+38 

+9 

NC 

+9 

+55 

NC 

-9 

NC 

+62 

-5 

+24 

NC 

-7 

-12 

+66 

+17 

-3 

+169 

+13 

+72 

+13 

NC 

-31 

+11 

+57 

+5 

+9 

NC 

+22 

-9 

+41 

NC 

+25 

-10 

+9 

+14 

+29 

+20 

+25 

+2 

-11 

-20 

+32 

+3 

+18 

+18 

+22 

+7 

+9 

NC 
NATIONAL TRF.NDS IN WELL DRILLING 3 

An estimated average cost per well of 

$1,500, which seems reasonable but is merely 

a guess, indicates that national investment in 

water wells is about one-half to three-quarter 

billion dollars annually. These figures do not 

include the pump and plumbing segments of 

the industry. High-capacity irrigation, municipal, and industrial wells may cost 5 to 100 

times the price of simply constructed moderate-yield domestic wells. Thus, the average 

value of a well in the West, where irrigation 

wells constitute a larger share of the total 

drilling effort, is higher than in the East, 

where domestic wells strongly predominate. 

However, the total dollar value of wells in th~ 

eastern half of the country may be greater inasmuch as it accounts for about 80 percent of 

all well drilling in the Nation. 

Drilling activity in the 1960's, reported 

here, and estimates for the 1950's and earlier 

periods (Picton, 1956, 1959; Fiedler, 1957) 

show that the annual rate of drilling fluctuates 

but that the general trend is increased drilling 

from 1900 to the present. (See fig. 3.) The 

overall growth rate is 5, 000 wells per year. 

In 1900, about 155,000 wells were drilled, approximately one-third the number in 1964. 

Major swings in weil-construction activity relate to major events in American economy and 

history. The industry peaked during World 

War I, sagged during the following period of 

economic depression, recovered during the 

post-depression period as the accumulated 

backlog of well-drilling needs was erased and 

the value of irrigation with ground water was 

proved, accelerated following World War II, 

and peaked at about the start of the Korean 

war. It sagged again during and following that 

war, and as shown in figure 3, the industry 

currently is experiencing an upswing. Apparently the number of wells being drilled today ( 1966) equals or exceeds the highest peak 

period shown in figure 3. 

Water-well trade jorunals have generally 

stated larger annual well-drilling totals for 

the Nation than those compiled by Federal 

Government agencies. The difference is explained in part by the exclusion in Government 

tallies, including the present one, of blast 

holes, tremies, foundation borings, test holes, 

and other holes not drilled specifically for 

construction of production water wells. 

NATIONAL TRENDS IN WELL DRILLING 

Intensity and distribution of water-well 

drilling are dependent on the vicissitudes of 

man and nature. As a general rule, it may be 

said that large numbers of wells are drilled 

where ground -water supplies are naturally 

abundant or adequate and that few wells are 

drilled where they are sparse. However, it 

does not necessarily follow that ground-water 

pumpage is heaviest where well density is 

greatest. In many parts of the Nation, the number of wells drilled may bear little relation to 

ground-water withdrawals because domestic 

supply wells constitute by far the greatest proportion of new wells, yet account for only a 

relatively small part of the withdrawals. Irrigation and industrial wells, though smaller 

in total number, are responsible for most of 

the ground-water withdrawal. Municipal and 

housing -development well fields, too, are characterized by large withdrawals from a moderate number of high-capacity wells. 

Figure 3 indicates little net change in well 

drilling during the last 15 years, but groundwater withdrawals over the same period have 

increased appreciably. As knowledge of hydrology of the Nation's water resources expands and as competency in water-supply 

development and well technology increase, the 

trend seems to be toward a limited number of 

efficient wells located on the basis of technical 

knowledge of aquifer behavior rather than large 

batteries of wells as a means of increasing 

water supply. This trend is evident inArizona, 

Nebraska, and some of the other States heavily 

tapped for ground water. A single modern 

irrigation well in Nebraska may yield as much 

water as 500 or more domestic or stock wells. 

New rural and outer fringe suburban housing 

accounts for an appreciable share of the upward trend in well drilling throughout much of 

the country in the 1960's. Centrally supplied 

municipal water systems are expanding into 

suburbs, but suburbs are expanding into the 

countryside. New irrigation and industrial 

wells in the South and West account for part 

of the increased drilling. Regional population 

shifts between 1960 and 1964 relate only vaguely to changes in drilling activity .. Middecade 

census data show greatest gains in population 

in Southwestern and Southern States and in a 

few Middle and North Atlantic Coast States 

(U.s. Department of Commerce Census Bureau, 

1966). Well drilling also increased in the 

South, but in only parts of the Southwest. and 

in nearly every State along the Atlantic coast 

(fig. 1). 

Natural phenomena account for part of the 

recent increase, too. The current severe 
4 REGIONAL TRENDS IN WATER-WELL DRILLING IN THE UNITED STATES 

drought in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic 

States has stimulated drilling. as did the 1932-

37 drought in the Midwest. Ground-water reserves are depleted more slowly than streamflow and surface reservoirs during drought. 

but the multiyear drought in these regions has 

necessitated widespread construction of new 

wells. Following imposition of restrictions on 

public -supply water use on Long Island, N.Y .• 

drilling of private wells to overcome the inconvenience of the water ban has increased 

several hundred percent over the normal rate. 

In Alaska, water-well replacement drilling 

jumped 2 8 percent following the Alaska earthquake of March 1964, which ruined many wells. 

Nearly static agricultural economy, such as 

in the Northern Great Plains States, maturing 

++ 

or leveling of industrial development. extension 

of municipal distribution systems, and local 

favored development of surface water account 

for the small change or decrease in drilling 

activity experienced in some parts of the country in recent years. 

For the Nation as a whole, the net change 

between 1960 and 1964 was an increase of 14 

percent in drilling activity. 

REGIONAL TRENDS 

Grouping of contiguous States with similar 

trends in well-drilling activity (fig. 2, table 2) 

reveals substantial differences in water -well 

construction trends throughout the Nation. 

E X P L A N A T 0 N 

+32 

Regional eha11.ge in number 

of wells drilled, in percent 

INCREASE OR DECREASE IN WELL DRILLING, BY STATE 

Increase 10 percent or 

more 

Leu than 10 percent 

increase or deerease 

Figure 1, -changes in well-drilling activity 1 1960-64, 

~ 

~ 

Decrease 10 percent or 

more 
c 

L&JQ:: ....Jc( ....Jw 

ii:>-

Ca:: 

cnw _Jil. 

....J 

wen 

~c z ~< 

ocn => a::o 

W:J: m....., 

~z 

~-

REGIONAL TRENDS 

(hCE:> <;:)!a 

HAWAII~ 

\?' 

Figure 2, -Number of water wells drilled in 1964, by State, 

EXPLANATION 

~ 

~ 

5 

Less than 1,000 wells 

1,000-10,000 wells 

:More than 

-

10,000 wells 

500.--------.--------~------~--------~------~--------~------~ 

400 

z 

0 

en 

(f) 

L&J 

a:: 300 ll. 

L&J 

c ....-! 

a:: a:: < < 3: 3: 

c c z 

200 < ....J ....J L&J a:: a:: a:: 

~ 0 0 3: :::.::: 

100 

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 

Figure 3.-Number of water wells drilled in the United States between 1900 and 1965 and relation to major events 

in American history. Graph adapted largely from Picton (1956), 

1970 
6 REGIONAL TRENDS IN WATER-WELL DRn.LING IN TilE UNITFD STATES 

Table 2.-Regional trends in water~well construction in the United States, 1960- 64 

Region Number of wells 

drilled, 1960 

South- central _______________ . 54,800 

Southeast ------------------. 95,300 

Pacific Northwest (includes 

Alaska>------------------- 5,600 

Southwest (includes Hawaii) ___ 12,000 Northeast ___________________ 63,300 

Northern Rockies and northern 

Great Plains -------------- 20,100 

Great Lakes and central 

Appalachians-------------- 130,200 

Totals------------------ 381,300 

1Comparison of national totals. 

Three regions exceeded the national increase of 14 percent. Major numerical and 

percentage increases in drilling are centered 

in the Southeast and South-central States. 

These two regions account for the bulk of the 

national increase in drilling, about 54,400 

wells, between 1960 and 1964. In 1964, drilling 

exceeded 10,000 wells in five States in these 

regions (fig. 2). These are regions of growing 

irrigation-well use, industrial development, 

suburban sprawl, and rural population. The 

magnitude of drilling in these two southern 

regions is illustrated by the fact that in any 

recent year they have accounted for nearly 

half the Nation's total well construction. These 

regions include the Gulf and Atlantic Coastal 

Plains where the well replacement rate is 

higher than iri other parts of the country owing 

to corrosion, encrustation, and screen or wellpack failure. The high replacement rate stems 

from chemical characteristics and mineral 

constituents of the ground water and the complex well construction required by the unconsolidated multilayered materials of the Coastal Plains. Well life expectancy is especially 

short along parts of the gulf coast. In Louisiana, the drilling ratio of replacement wells 

to additional wells is 3:1, which apparently is 

the highest replacement rate in the country. 

In adjacent Mississippi, it is about 1 :1. By 

contrast, the replacement rate in Colorado is 

only about 1 in each 100 wells drilled. 

The Southeast region includes Florida, the 

State most intensively drilled in 1964, where 

approximately 55,000 wells were constructed 

as compared with the national average of 

Numb~r of wells Percent of total Percent change 

drilled, 1964 drilled in 1964 196G-64 

77,200 18 +40 

126,100 28 +32 

7,200 2 +28 

13,000 3 +8 

70,000 16 +10 

19,600 5 -2 

122,600 28 -5 

435,700 100 1+14 

a, 700 wells per State. Florida's economic and 

population boom and strong reliance on ground 

water are the reasons. 

Regions bordering on the Great Lakes seem 

to be undergoing "peaking out" of well-drilling 

activity. Decline or leveling of drilling in 

States bordering the Great Lakes is attributed 

to widespread extension of municipal and suburban distribution systems that derive water 

from surface~water sources, in lieu of ground 

water that lies undeveloped underfoot in much 

of the region, and maturity of industrial development. The Great Lakes and central Appalachians region experienced a 5 -percent 

decline between 1960 and 1964. The Northeast 

gained 10 percent, but this rise is explained 

by increases in drilling in New England Atlantic Coast States distant from the Great 

Lakes. These States are enjoying a moderate 

industrial reviv~l and new recreational and 

tourist economic stimulus. New York, the only 

State in the Northeast region bordering on the 

Great Lakes (except for a small part of Pennsylvania), experienced virtually no, net change 

in drilling during the 5 -year period. In the 

central Appalachians, retardation of drilling 

activity relates to loss of population, reduction 

in farming, and the readjustments of the economy now underway. 

However, despite these influences, the Great 

Lakes and central Appalachians region and the 

Northeast region together still constitute an 

important slice of the well-drilling industry; 

they account for 44 percent of all wells drilled 
REFERENCES CITED 

in the country in 1964. The Great Lakes are 

virtually ringed on the American side with 

States in which drilling exceeds 10,000 wells 

a year (fig. 2).' 

In terms of the number of wells drilled, 

regions of the far West account for less than 

5 percent of the total national industry. In the 

Pacific Northwest. an area of current industrial 

growth, drilling increased 28 percent during 

1960-64; but for the year 1964, it was only 2 

percent of the national total. For convenience, 

Alaska is included in this region. Alaska's 

population increased greatly in the last five 

years. and including a 28-percent boost in 

drilling caused by the destructive Alaska earthquake of March 1964, well drilling rose 38 

percent during 1960-64. 

The Southwest accounted for less than 3 percent of the national total drilling in 1964, despite the fact that every State in the region 

(Hawaii is included) experienced a population 

gain considerably above the national average 

in the first half of this decade. California is 

the only State west of the Rockies in which 

drilling in 1964 totaled as much as 10.000 

wells. Apparently the California advance of 

about 10 percent in drilling during the period 

covered by this tally resulted from suburban 

expansion, industrial growth, and a moderate 

increase in irrigation -well construction; but 

the data are in need of refinement. Other 

significant factors are replacements stemming . 

from well failure due to corrosion, faulty 

construction, or damage to wells from land 

subsidence. 

Hawaii is the only State in the Southwest 

well-drilling region in which drilling advanced 

more than 10 percent during 1960-64. 

The Northern Rocky Mountains and northern 

Great Plains constitute a well-drilling region 

of moderate activity in which. according to 

available data, drilling declined about 2 percent between 1960 and 1964. The Rockies remain thinly populated with little agriculture or 

industry. and the northern Great Plains is a 

region of mature and stable agricultural development with little or no change in production 

in the 5-year period covered by the tally. 

SUMMARY 

Growth trends of the well-drilling industry 

and numerical well counts, when analyzed by 

regions, relate in varying degrees to patterns 

and intensity of development of the Nation's 

ground-water resources. These trends indicate the following: 

1. Ground -water pump age is increasing 

about 4 percent (about 2 bgd) each year. As the 

use of ground water increases, the activity in 

well drilling increases, but at a slower proportional rate because of increased hydrologic 

knowledge and technical capability for locating 

and developing ground-water supplies. 

2. The well-drilling industry totals about 

one-half to three-quarter billion dollars annually. The overall industry is presently experiencing a sharp upswing in drilling activity, 

but activity varies from region to region. 

3. Grouping of States by increase or decrease in drilling activity delineates welldrilling regions whose boundaries are determined by regional changes in economy and 

development. p<;>pulation growth and shifts, 

changes in irrigation practice, and even natural 

phenomena such as earthquakes and drought. 

Study of the data indicates that the above 

changes account in large measure for drilling 

trends. The study also raises many questions 

related to their significance. Are the regions 

now experiencing uptrends in drilling the ones 

that warrant greatest planning effort? Are 

these the ground -water problem areas of the 

future? Are areal ground-water investigations 

and well technology in tune with water -well 

needs of the future? Knowledge of the groundwater resources of the Nation is advancing and 

is enabling improvement in scientific methods 

of ground-water development. These advances, 

coupled with improvements in well technology, 

are permitting greater withdrawals of water 

from fewer wells. 

The high replacement rate and the impact of 

drought on well supplies in some parts of the 

country indicate a need for additional technologic research directed toward better. but 

nevertheless moderately priced. materials and 

well design and toward greater compatibility 

of well materials and well design with the environment of the wells. 

REFERENCES CITED 

Ackerman, E. A .• and others. 1960. Water 

resources activities in the United States-the 

impact of new techniques on integrated multiple -purpose water development: U.S. 86th 
8 REGIONAL TRENDS IN WATER-WEL:L DRR.LING IN THE UNITFD STATES 

Cong., 2d sess., Senate Select Comm. Natl. 

Water Resources. Comm. Print 31, 97 p. 

Fiedler. A. G •• 1957, Importance of ground 

water in our national economy: Proc. Amer. 

Soc. Civil Engineers, Jour. Sanitary Engineering Div •• v. 83, no. SA3. June 1957. 

McGuinness. C. L •• 1963, The role of ground 

water in the national water situation: U.S. 

Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 1800, 

1121 p. 

MacKichan. K. A., 1951, Estimated use of water in the United States, 1950: U.S. GeoL 

Survey Circ. 115, 13 p. 

MacKichan, K. A •• and Kammerer, J. C .• 1961, 

Estimated use of water in the United States, 

1960: U.S. Geol. Survey Circ. 456, 44 p. 

Picton, Walter L., 1956, The water picture today--a national summary of ground water 

use and a projection to 1975: Water Well 

Journal. April 1956. 

---1959. How many wells are we drilling?: 

Water Well Journal. June 1959. 

U.s. Department of Commerce Census Bureau, 

1966, Americans at Mid-Decade: Current 

Population Series. P23-16 Rept •• 26 p. 

*U.S. GOYIIINMINT PIIINTING O,ICI: 1111 0-227-711