• There are several ways to fix a dry well.well image by Tomasz Plawski from Fotolia.com
  
  Many people in the United States still get their water from wells. Well water is finicky because the water level depends on current water table levels for the area. When the area becomes dry, the well will also dry. Fortunately, there are several solutions for dry wells that well owners can employ to make their dry wells full of water once more.
  
  

Less Pumping

• One of the best solutions for a drying well is to pump water less often. Over-pumping the well can cause the water table in the area around your well to lower. This will cause the water level to fall beneath the level of the pump and you will no longer be able to access water. If this occurs frequently, then you are probably running your pump too often. You can identify this problem by frequent pressure drops in your water pressure in the house. Lower water pressure signifies that the pump is working too hard. Use practical water conservation practices, such as bathing rather than showering, until the next rain fall.
  
  

Drill Deeper

• If the water table has fallen throughout your area, there may be only one solution. The well may have to be deepened to find the next water level. Always consult with a professional about deepening any well. Make sure that there are no other solutions to your problem before proceeding. Typically, the well specialist will be able to tell if there are other ways to get water back in the well or if deepening the well is the only option. If you do make the well deeper, it is likely that you will have to lower the level of the pump.
  
  

Conservation

• Conservation is one of the best ways to restore water levels in a well. Wells are not infinite sources of water, so it is important to not waste any water. Always try to use as little water as possible for each task. When brushing teeth, turn the water off when not rinsing your mouth. Take short showers, or baths when possible. Run dishwashers and clothes washers as little as possible, and with the lowest amount of water. Consider purchasing water-saving models. You can even purchase bottled drinking water.
  
  

Rainfall

• Another way to return water levels to a well is to wait for the next rainfall. This is an option that many people are unhappy with, but it is the only way to return water to wells that cannot be deepened once they are dry. It is for this reason that water conservation is so important when the well is full. Not every year will have as much rain as previous years, which makes it vital to conserve the water when it is present in the well.
  
  

Storage Devices

• Another way to return water to a drying well is to collect water in external storage devices. These containers collect rain water, and water from other sources, and can be used as a water reserve to fill the well or to consume while the well is filling. These containers come in above ground tanks or in underground cisterns.