Stop paying city water rates to irrigate your lawn. A shallow irrigation well pays for itself — and Central Florida's water table makes it one of the best investments a homeowner can make.
📞 Call (407) 299-1077The Basics
A shallow well draws water from the unconfined aquifer — the layer of groundwater that sits closest to the surface. In Orange and Seminole Counties, this aquifer typically sits just 15 to 40 feet below grade, which makes it economical to access with a 2" or 4" PVC casing driven or drilled into the ground.
The water pumped from a shallow well is not treated or metered by the city. You install a pump, connect it to your irrigation system, and water your lawn entirely off the well. No tiered pricing, no drought surcharges, no monthly water bill for irrigation.
Shallow wells are specifically for irrigation — not for drinking or household use. The water quality is fine for grass, shrubs, and trees, but it isn't treated for human consumption.
In Central Florida, the typical shallow well yields between 2 and 8 gallons per minute — enough to supply most residential irrigation systems without issue. We assess your soil profile and zone count before drilling to confirm a well is viable on your property.
Why Homeowners Do It
Residential irrigation can account for 30–50% of a homeowner's total water bill in Florida. A shallow well eliminates that portion entirely. Most wells pay back their installation cost in 2–4 years at current OUC and utility rates.
City water restrictions — like Orange County's twice-per-week limit — don't apply to private irrigation wells. You water on your schedule, not the county's, which matters when you're trying to nurse a new sod installation or recover from drought stress.
During drought conditions, municipalities restrict outdoor watering further and sometimes issue total bans. A private well gives you a buffer. Florida's aquifer recharges from rainfall, and a residential shallow well draws a small enough volume that it remains reliable through most dry periods.
In neighborhoods where well irrigation is common, a properly installed and permitted well is a selling point. Buyers know they're inheriting a system that reduces ongoing operating costs.
The Process
We visit your property to evaluate the drilling location — ideally close to the irrigation system's main line but away from septic tanks, drainage fields, and property setback lines. We confirm the water table depth in your area from local geological data and our 25 years of experience drilling in Orange and Seminole Counties.
We handle the well permit with the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD). Residential shallow irrigation wells typically require a standard use permit. We prepare the paperwork and coordinate the approval before we schedule the drill date.
We arrive with the drilling rig and drive or drill a 2" or 4" PVC casing to the target depth — typically 25 to 40 feet in this area. The casing is screened at the bottom to allow water in while filtering out sediment. The top is capped and sealed to keep surface water out.
Once the well is in, we install and set a jet pump or shallow well pump sized to your system's flow requirements. We prime the pump, connect it to your irrigation system's main supply, and verify consistent pressure and flow through each zone.
We run every zone with the well as the water source, check for pressure consistency, and confirm GPM at the pump matches what your system needs. We walk you through basic pump maintenance, show you the shutoff and pressure switch, and leave you with a written summary of the installation.
Local Conditions
Central Florida sits on top of the Florida aquifer system, and the shallow, unconfined aquifer layer is remarkably accessible. In Orange and Seminole Counties, the water table typically sits between 15 and 40 feet below the surface depending on elevation and proximity to lakes.
Areas closer to lakes and wetlands — like Bay Hill, Windermere, and parts of the Dr. Phillips corridor — tend to have higher water tables and more reliable shallow well yields. Properties on higher sandy ridges may need to go a bit deeper to find the saturated zone.
Keeping It Running
Shallow irrigation wells in Central Florida are low-maintenance systems. There's no filter to change and no chemicals to add. Here's what to keep an eye on:
Inspect pressure switch settings, check for corrosion on electrical connections, verify pump motor amperage is within spec.
Every 3–5 years, check the pre-charge pressure on the pressure tank bladder. A waterlogged tank causes rapid pump cycling and premature motor failure.
If you notice sand in the sprinkler heads or drop in flow rate, the well screen may be partially clogged. We can pull and clean or replace the screen.
Some shallow wells in this area produce water with higher iron content, which can leave orange staining on concrete and driveways. We can recommend filtration if this becomes an issue.
Real Projects
Homeowner was paying $180/month in irrigation charges during dry season. We drilled a 32-foot well, installed a 1/2 HP jet pump, and tied it into the existing 6-zone Rain Bird system. Well yield tested at 5.5 GPM — plenty for the system. Year-one savings estimated at $1,800.
New sod installation required daily watering that wasn't feasible under twice-per-week restrictions. We drilled a shallow well before the sod went down, giving the homeowner irrigation control during the critical establishment window. Well depth: 28 feet. Yield: 4 GPM.
Large property with an 8-zone system and a $240/month irrigation bill. Water table at 22 feet. We installed a 3/4 HP pump and pressure tank sized for the system's flow demand. Well has been running without issue for three seasons.
Customer had an old hand-driven well casing from a previous owner that had failed. We pulled the old casing, drilled a new 35-foot well in a better location, and installed modern PVC casing with a stainless screen. Flow restored at 6 GPM.
FAQ
Yes. Florida requires a use permit from the St. Johns River Water Management District for any new irrigation well. We handle the permit application and coordination — you don't need to navigate it on your own.
Not always. Properties on elevated ridges may have a deeper water table that makes a shallow well impractical. We assess your specific property before recommending drilling. If a shallow well isn't viable, we'll tell you honestly rather than drill a well that won't produce.
No — this type of shallow irrigation well is not designed or permitted for potable (drinking) water use. The water is perfectly fine for irrigating grass, shrubs, and landscaping, but it is not treated or tested for human consumption.
The casing itself can last 20–30 years or more with proper installation. The pump is the component that will need eventual replacement — typically every 8–15 years depending on run time, water quality, and pump quality.
Shallow well drilling and pump installation in Central Florida typically runs $1,200–$2,500 depending on depth, pump size, and whether trenching is needed to reach the irrigation system main line. We quote each project individually after the site assessment.
Call us to schedule a site assessment. We'll tell you exactly what to expect before anything gets started.