Where the wells are
Bentonville proper is on city water, and so are most new subdivisions. The wells are on the acreage around them: the small farms toward Centerton and Highfill, the wooded lots along the creeks, and new homes on land just past the last water main. That’s where a private well still makes the most sense.
Drilling the Boone at home
Under the red clay is the Boone limestone, layered with hard chert. Water sits in fractures and dissolved openings in that rock rather than in a sand layer, so the depth of a good well depends on where the bit finds those openings. Records from neighboring wells are the best predictor.
Growth and runoff
Every new rooftop and parking lot changes where storm water goes. In karst, that matters: water that used to soak into pasture may now run toward a sinkhole or a low spot near an old wellhead. If drainage around your well has changed, keep the casing high and dry and test after big rains.
Rules and permits
Arkansas wells are built only by licensed water well contractors under the state’s well construction rules (Arkansas Department of Agriculture, Water Well Construction Committee). The contractor files a construction report with the well’s coordinates within 90 days. Bacteria testing for private wells goes through the Arkansas Department of Health’s lab via the local health unit, and septic systems are permitted by the Health Department. Cities may have their own rules about private wells inside city limits, so ask your city if you’re inside one.
Bed 05Questions from Bentonville
Local answers.
Can I drill a well inside Bentonville city limits?
Ask the city first. Most of Bentonville is served by public water, and cities can restrict private wells or require them to be kept separate from the public system. Outside the city, a licensed contractor can drill under the state’s well rules.
Why is my Bentonville-area well water so hard?
It comes from limestone. Groundwater in the Boone dissolves calcium and magnesium, so hard water is normal here. It’s a nuisance rather than a health issue; a water test tells you how hard and what treatment fits.
Is a new well cheaper than hooking up to city water outside Bentonville?
It depends on how far the nearest main is and the provider’s tap fee. Get the connection cost from the water provider and compare it with a well; on many acreage lots past the end of the line, a well is the practical choice.
Bed 06Nearby