Featured Local Provider
Butterfield Drilling & Irrigation Inc.
Somerset / St. Croix County, Wisconsin
A long-established Somerset drilling company whose current site publishes residential/commercial well drilling, pump work and multiple drilling technologies. For a replacement project, ask for a written diagnosis and scope that separates drilling footage, casing and grout, pump/pressure equipment, trenching/electrical coordination, testing, old-well filling and sealing, DNR notification/reporting and any property-specific SWCDA requirements.
Understand the Problem
Separate a pump-system problem from a failing well
No water, weak pressure or intermittent supply can start at the pump, electrical controls, pressure tank, drop pipe or well itself. Before approving a replacement borehole, ask the contractor to document what was tested, the measured yield or recovery evidence, the condition of the casing and pump system, known water-quality concerns and why repair or pump work is insufficient.
Information to gather before estimates
When a replacement well becomes the real project
A new well is more plausible when the existing source cannot reliably produce adequate water, the casing or borehole has a condition that cannot reasonably be corrected, contamination or siting requirements make the old source unsuitable, or the repair path no longer meets the property's needs. The exact threshold is property-specific. Compare the repair/reconstruction alternative and replacement alternative in writing rather than treating “low water” as automatic proof that a new well is required.
St. Croix County Rules & Replacement Options
Start with Wisconsin DNR notification and licensed-driller rules
Wisconsin DNR's current well-notification page says a Well Construction Notification Number must be obtained before constructing a new private well. The notification asks whether the well is new or replacement, and the current notification fee is $50.50. DNR separately lists reconstruction of an existing well as an exception to advance notification, so the contractor should identify whether your scope is replacement construction or reconstruction rather than using the words interchangeably.
Notification and constructor
DNR says wells must be constructed by a licensed water-well driller or a registered rig operator working under a licensed driller, subject to a narrow owner-drilled exception. The constructor is responsible for having the notification receipt before construction starts.
Well Construction Report
DNR says a Well Construction Report must be completed and submitted within 30 days after construction. The driller generally submits it for the owner. Keep the final report with the property's permanent well records.
The Hudson/Warren Special Well Casing Depth Area changes the project
Parts of the towns of Hudson and Warren are inside a Wisconsin DNR Special Well Casing Depth Area (SWCDA) created because TCE-contaminated groundwater affects the upper aquifer. DNR currently describes the comingled plume as roughly six square miles / 4,000 acres, with approximately 600 private drinking-water wells in the area and 121 wells currently or historically above the current TCE groundwater enforcement standard.
Replacement, reconstruction and old-well sealing
| Path | Questions to resolve before signing |
|---|---|
| Pump/system repair | Is the borehole producing adequate water and the failure limited to the pump, tank, controls, wiring or piping? |
| Well reconstruction | What work is performed on the existing well, does the DNR notification exception apply, and what reporting/inspection is required? |
| Replacement well | Where will the new well be located, what notification and construction rules apply, what target depth/casing is planned, and is the site inside an SWCDA? |
| Old well filling/sealing | Wisconsin DNR says a well removed from service must be properly filled and sealed by a licensed well driller or pump installer. Confirm who performs and reports that work. |
Cost
Use a complete-system planning range, then price the actual geology and casing scope
A per-foot drilling number is not the same as the final cost of a usable replacement water system. Depth, formation, casing/grout, pump and pressure equipment, mobilization, trenching/electrical work, testing, abandonment of the old well and special casing requirements can all change the total.
Current Wisconsin planning range
Use this to frame estimates—not as a St. Croix County quote.
DNR publishes this fee for the notification number required before new private-well construction; online convenience fees can be additional.
DrillerDB's current Wisconsin guide uses this range for a complete system depending on depth, geology and equipment. It is not a St. Croix County average, bid or guaranteed price.
The $7,000–$15,000 figure is third-party planning guidance, not a local market average. Properties inside the Hudson/Warren SWCDA can require deeper drilling, additional steel casing, neat cement grout and ongoing VOC sampling, so a property-specific written estimate matters more than the statewide range.
What moves the replacement-well price?
| Cost driver | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Actual depth | Drilling and casing are heavily depth-dependent, and the final producing depth is not known with certainty before drilling. |
| Formation and drilling method | Sand/gravel, consolidated rock and difficult formations can change equipment, time and casing/grouting requirements. |
| SWCDA requirements | Inside the Hudson/Warren area, DNR's deeper-well, steel-casing, grout and VOC-testing requirements can materially expand the scope. |
| Pump and pressure system | A quote may include or exclude the submersible pump, drop pipe, pressure tank, controls and electrical connection. |
| Trenching and hookup | Distance from the new well to the house, terrain and utility coordination affect excavation and connection work. |
| Water testing | Basic commissioning tests and property-specific expanded testing may be separate line items; SWCDA wells have additional VOC obligations. |
| Old-well abandonment | Licensed filling/sealing and reporting of a well removed from service should be priced explicitly rather than assumed. |
| Access and restoration | Rig access, tree/fence disturbance, lawn repair and weather conditions can affect mobilization and restoration. |
Compare the same scope, not just the total
Ask bidders to separate estimated drilling footage and overage rate, casing and grout assumptions, pump/tank equipment, DNR notification/reporting, testing, electrical/trenching, old-well filling and sealing, restoration and any SWCDA-specific work. A lower headline number can become the higher project if those items are excluded.
Find & Compare Contractors
Use Wisconsin's DNR directories as the credential starting point
Wisconsin DNR publishes current drilling and pump-installing service directories and states that listed individuals and businesses are authorized for the activities designated by the directory. Recheck the current listing immediately before hiring; business names, personnel and authorization can change.
| Capability | What to verify |
|---|---|
| Well diagnosis | Yield/capacity testing, pump and pressure-system checks, casing condition and the written reason a replacement well is recommended. |
| Replacement drilling | Current DNR authorization, target formation/depth, drilling method, casing/grout scope and notification/report responsibility. |
| SWCDA work | Experience with the Hudson/Warren special casing requirements, DNR boundary/variance process and required VOC sampling. |
| Old-well abandonment | Authorization for filling and sealing, materials/method, reporting and whether the work is included in the bid. |
Other providers to compare
These are neutral research starting points based on current first-party and/or Wisconsin DNR evidence. They are not ranked or endorsed.
Steve's Well and Pump Service
A Somerset company whose current first-party site publishes well drilling, pump installation/repair, water testing and well abandonment. The site publishes Wisconsin DNR license #8260, and the current DNR St. Croix County roster lists Steve's Well and Pump Services LLC at the same Somerset phone and address.
Visit website ↗Dahl Well Drilling LLC
The current Wisconsin DNR St. Croix County well-driller roster lists Dahl Well Drilling LLC in Glenwood City with phone (715) 265-7403 and Wisconsin DNR license #6724. Confirm current service territory, replacement-well availability, insurance and exact scope directly.
Verify in DNR directory ↗Martell Well Drilling & Pump Repair Inc.
The current Wisconsin DNR St. Croix County roster lists Martell Well Drilling & Pump Repair Inc. in Somerset at (715) 247-5127. Confirm the current licensed individual/business relationship, service territory, replacement-well scope and insurance before hiring.
Verify in DNR directory ↗Provider information can change. Recheck Wisconsin DNR authorization for the exact work, then verify insurance, drilling/abandonment scope, SWCDA experience where relevant, schedule and warranty directly with each company.
Questions to put in writing before choosing an estimate
- What evidence shows the well itself needs reconstruction or replacement rather than pump/pressure-system repair?
- Is the proposed work classified as a new replacement well or reconstruction of the existing well?
- Who obtains the DNR notification number and who submits the Well Construction Report?
- What target depth and geology assumptions are in the estimate, and what is the price per additional foot?
- What casing diameter/material and grout are included?
- Is the proposed location inside the current Hudson/Warren SWCDA, and if so, how does the bid account for deeper construction, steel casing, neat cement grout and VOC testing?
- Which pump, pressure tank, controls, wiring, trenching and plumbing work are included?
- What water tests are included at startup and what additional tests are required for this property?
- What happens to the existing well after the new well is operational?
- Is licensed filling/sealing and reporting of the old well included or priced separately?
- What access clearing and lawn/drive restoration are included?
- What workmanship/equipment warranties and final records will the homeowner receive?
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a replacement private well in Wisconsin require DNR notification?
Wisconsin DNR requires a Well Construction Notification Number before construction of a new private well, and its notification process identifies the well type as new or replacement. Reconstruction of an existing well is listed separately as an exception to advance notification. Confirm with the licensed driller whether the proposed work is a replacement well or reconstruction of the existing well.
What is the St. Croix Special Well Casing Depth Area?
It is a DNR-designated area in the towns of Hudson and Warren where TCE-contaminated groundwater changes new-well construction requirements. The current DNR page says the plume covers about six square miles and contains about 600 private drinking-water wells.
How does the Hudson/Warren special casing area change a new well?
DNR says new drinking-water wells within the area must be drilled below the contaminated aquifer, generally require greater depth, and need enough steel casing and neat cement grout to isolate the upper aquifer. VOC testing, including TCE, is required after construction and annually until DNR determines continued sampling is no longer needed.
How much can a replacement private well cost in Wisconsin?
There is no single St. Croix County price. A current Wisconsin planning guide from DrillerDB places a complete private well system around $7,000–$15,000 depending on depth, geology and equipment. Treat that as a planning range, not a local average or guaranteed quote. Special casing depth requirements can increase scope and cost.
How do I know whether the pump failed or the well itself needs replacement?
Low pressure or no water does not automatically mean the borehole has failed. A licensed well professional can evaluate the pump, controls, pressure tank, well yield, casing condition and water quality before recommending a new well. Ask for the diagnosis and replacement rationale in writing.
What happens to an old well after a replacement is drilled?
Wisconsin DNR says wells removed from service must be properly filled and sealed, and only licensed well drillers and pump installers may perform that work. Ask the contractor whether old-well filling and sealing, reporting and any eligible grant paperwork are included in the proposal.
How should I verify a Wisconsin well driller?
Use Wisconsin DNR's current drilling and pump-installing service directories to verify the professional or registered business for the work being proposed. Also verify insurance, service territory, drilling method, testing, pump scope, abandonment work and written warranty before hiring.
Are the well contractors on this page ranked or endorsed?
No. The featured provider is an unpaid editorial selection based on current public evidence, and comparison providers are neutral research starting points. Verify current DNR authorization, insurance, exact project fit, service territory and availability directly.
Primary sources and verification links
- Wisconsin DNR — Well and heat exchange notification ↗
- Wisconsin DNR — St. Croix Special Well Casing Depth Area ↗
- Wisconsin DNR — drilling and pump-installing service directories ↗
- Wisconsin DNR — well filling and sealing ↗
- St. Croix County — Drinking Water Program ↗
- St. Croix County — Citizen Groundwater Monitoring Program ↗
- DrillerDB — Wisconsin private-well planning guide ↗