Professional Agricultural Well Drilling in Hartland, WI

Since 1964. We have been drilling agricultural wells in Waukesha County — including the Hartland area and surrounding townships — for over sixty years under continuous family ownership. The company has never changed hands outside the Herr and Domres families.

Northern Waukesha County agricultural land sits over a combination of glacial deposits and bedrock formations. Sand and gravel aquifers exist at shallower depths, but bedrock formations—dolomite and sandstone units—provide more stable, higher-yield water sources for agricultural applications. We evaluate each site individually because formation depth and productivity vary across the township.

The answer depends on the yield capacity of your existing well and the flow rate your irrigation system requires. If the combined domestic and irrigation demand exceeds what your current well can sustain without yield decline, a dedicated irrigation well is the right investment. We conduct yield assessments on existing wells to provide a clear, data-based recommendation.

Our site assessment covers geology review, setback evaluation from contamination sources, lot configuration for drill rig access, permit requirements, and an initial discussion of the operational demands the well needs to meet. This process shapes the drilling plan before any commitment is made — it is how we avoid mid-project surprises.

Annual water quality testing, periodic pump inspection, and yield testing every few years are the core maintenance activities for agricultural wells. On high-capacity irrigation systems, we also recommend pressure system checks before the start of each irrigation season to confirm the system is functioning as specified. We are available for all of these services after project close.

Wisconsin DNR requires that all unused wells be properly abandoned — meaning grouted from the bottom of the casing to the surface and sealed to prevent contamination pathway formation. On farm properties with multiple legacy wells, abandonment documentation is often reviewed by the DNR before new well permits are issued. We handle the full abandonment process and file all required completion paperwork.

Sensitive features — wetlands, surface water bodies, and environmentally protected areas — can affect well location through DNR setback requirements. We evaluate all relevant setbacks during the site assessment phase. Where setback conditions restrict the optimal location, we work through the alternatives and identify the best compliant location for the drilling plan.

Look for documented agricultural well drilling experience in your specific county, current Wisconsin DNR licensing, and a clear explanation of how the well will be sized to your operational demand. Contractors who quote without a site assessment cannot account for local formation conditions. A contractor who has drilled agricultural wells in your county for decades has information that simply cannot be replicated by someone working from generic specifications.