Today, a deep well is one of the most practical solutions for homes, farms and plants that want to become independent from the water supply network. As a manufacturer of water pumps, Dambat has been supplying branded devices since 1999 IBO i IPRO to thousands of installations in Poland and abroad. In this article, we have collected practical knowledge about deep wells, the selection of a deep well pump and well equipment - from the head, through the hydrophore tank, to controllers and inverters.
What is a deep well and when is it worth drilling?
A deep well is a vertical borehole reaching into aquifers, from which water is extracted using a pump installed below the water table. Unlike a dug well, drilling a well allows you to reach deep water with usually more stable parameters and a lower risk of surface contamination. Your own deep well works wherever access to the water supply network is limited or expensive - on farms, single-family houses outside urban developments and in plants that need their own water intake for technological purposes.
Independence from the water supply network is one of the main benefits, but building your own well requires a carefully considered approach - from the location of the deep well, through the selection of drilling technology, to the selection of the appropriate deep well pump and accessories.
Types of wells – deep, dug, Abyssinian and artesian
Types of wells differ in the way they are made and the depth of reaching the aquifers. A dug well is the oldest, shallow form of water intake, which is less frequently performed today due to its susceptibility to microbiological contamination. An Abyssinian well is a simple structure driven into the ground, used when the water level is shallow. Drilled wells, or deep wells, are made mechanically and allow you to reach much deeper. An artesian well is a special case in which water automatically flows to the surface under natural pressure - however, such geological conditions are rare and require prior geological research.
The choice of technology depends on the aquifers on a given plot, so before starting the construction of a well, it is worth requesting the opinion of a hydrologist or a drilling company that will assess the actual depth of the well.
Drilling a deep well - stages of drilling
Drilling a deep well usually takes place in several stages: geological analysis of the area, selection of the drilling method (percussion or rotary), installation of a casing pipe protecting the walls of the well, and then installation of a filtration pipe in the aquifer. The well casing pipe protects the well against soil crumbling and the penetration of pollutants from the upper layers, while the filter pipe allows free water inflow while retaining solid fractions. Deep well drilling usually ends with a pumping test, which allows determining the actual water abstraction efficiency.
The depth of the well depends on the local geological conditions - in some regions a dozen or so meters is enough, in others it is necessary to go below 60-80 meters. Therefore, assessing the depth of the well at the design stage is crucial for the proper selection of the pump and the entire installation.
Legal regulations – notification, water permit and legalization
The regulations regarding the construction of wells are regulated primarily by the Water Law and the Construction Law. In practice, notification of the construction of a well requires a well with a depth of up to 30 meters if water consumption for own household needs does not exceed the annual average daily limit. A deep well requires a water law permit when water abstraction exceeds this threshold or the well is deeper. The provisions of the water law and the provisions of the construction law operate in parallel here, so it is worth consulting the design of a deep well with an authorized geologist or local office before starting work.
The topic of legalization of undisclosed wells is particularly topical in 2026 - work is underway on regulations that will facilitate the regulation of the legal status of existing wells. We wrote more about when reporting the construction of a well is mandatory and what legalization looks like in our entry: Does the well need to be reported? Legalization of deep wells in 2026.
Deep well depth, water table and abstraction efficiency
The installation depth of the pump depends on the dynamic level of the water table, i.e. the level that is set when water is drawn from the well. Manufacturers of submersible pumps recommend that the pump should operate at least two meters above the bottom of the well and, respectively, below the minimum dynamic water level - this way, dry operation is avoided. The efficiency of the well, i.e. the amount of water that can be withdrawn per unit of time, should always exceed the maximum demand of the installation, otherwise the well will dry out and damage the pump motor.
The capacity of a submersible pump should therefore be selected not "too much" but based on real data from test pumping. Excessive pump capacity in relation to the well capacity is one of the most common installation errors - we write about it in more detail in the article Submersible pump for a single-family house - installation and performance.
The principle of operation of a submersible pump
A submersible pump, also called a centrifugal pump, works fully submerged in water, below the water table in the well. The heart of the device is a multi-stage radial or diagonal impeller that creates a pressure difference between the suction and discharge sides, giving the liquid kinetic energy, which is then converted into pressure in the discharge pipeline. The monoblock design integrates the engine and hydraulic part in one housing, while the modular design allows you to combine individual stages depending on the required lifting height.
The submersible pump is usually started automatically - by a pressure switch, pressure controller or inverter - when water is drawn into the installation. Our IBO i devices IPRO are equipped with protection against dry running and overheating of the motor winding, which directly extends the life of both the pump and the well itself. We described in detail the principle of operation and application of submersible pumps in the article Deep well pumps – how they work and where they are used.
How to choose an IBO or submersible pump IPRO to the well
The installation of a submersible pump should start with three data points: the dynamic level of the water table, the intake capacity and the required pressure in the installation (usually 3–6 bar for typical single-family houses). Installing a submersible pump in a well of smaller diameter requires compact devices - that is why the offer includes 3", 3.5", 4" and 6" models adapted to various diameters of the casing pipe. Our IBO line is dedicated to domestic and light industrial wells IPRO are solutions with a higher construction class and a longer warranty, intended for utility wells, large-area irrigation and continuously operating installations.
A full overview of our offer of pumps - from submersible, through circulation, to hydrophore - can be found in the article IBO Dambat pumps – circulation, hydrophore, submersible, and a practical step-by-step assembly guide in the text Submersible pumps – a complete assembly and installation guide.
Well equipment - heads, expansion tanks, valves and pressure gauges
A complete deep well installation is much more than just a pump. For proper and safe operation of the system, it is necessary to equip the well with:
- Well head – hermetically closes the casing pipe and suspends the pump on a supporting cable, protecting the well against external contamination. Our offer of heads and other well equipment can be found in the collection Well equipment, including, among others: plastic well head 160 mm.
- Hydrophore tank (diaphragm) – stabilizes the pressure in the installation and limits the number of pump starts, which extends its life.
- Check valve – protects the pump against water hammer and maintains the water column in the discharge pipe after the pump is stopped.
- Pressure switch or controller – turns the pump on and off depending on the pressure in the installation.
- Pressure gauge – enables ongoing pressure control and quick diagnosis of system faults.
- Inverter – regulates the engine speed, maintaining constant pressure regardless of the current water consumption. This solution is especially recommended for variable demand, e.g. on farms or irrigation installations. Our offer of inverters is presented in the collection Inverters for water and submersible pumps and Inverter accessories.
Proper well infrastructure is an investment that has a real impact on the well's operating costs - a well-selected set of automation reduces energy consumption and the number of failures resulting from dry running or overvoltages.
Filtration and quality of water from a deep well
The quality of water from a deep well depends on the aquifer we use and the technical condition of the well itself. It is worth performing water quality tests before opening the well - the laboratory will assess physicochemical parameters and the presence of microbiological contaminants. Depending on the result of the water quality analysis, appropriate filtration systems are selected: mechanical filters to remove sand and suspensions, carbon filters to improve the taste and smell of water, and in some cases, water softeners to reduce hardness. Additionally, microbiological filters and periodic disinfection of the deep well are recommended for drinking water from deep wells, especially after service work or long-term shutdown of the installation.
Disinfection of a well usually involves rinsing the well and dosing an appropriate disinfectant, and then rinsing it repeatedly until water that meets quality standards is obtained. Water contamination that appears sporadically, e.g. after heavy rainfall, is a signal to perform additional water quality analysis and check the tightness of the head and the casing pipe.
IBO motor pumps – complement to the well installation
In addition to deep well pumps, Dambat's offer also includes IBO BZP series combustion motor pumps, which can be used as a supplement to a permanent well installation - e.g. for emergency drainage of the excavation around the well head, flushing the well after service work or temporary irrigation in places without access to electricity. The principle of operation of the motor pump is based on an internal combustion engine driving the rotor of a centrifugal pump - unlike a submersible pump, the motor pump operates on the surface and sucks water through the suction hose, which makes it independent of the electric power supply.
It is worth choosing an IBO motor pump for several reasons: a solid metal frame that facilitates transport in the field, a design adapted to work with both clean and slightly polluted water, as well as service facilities and the availability of spare parts in Poland - which is of real importance for equipment used occasionally but in difficult conditions. More information about parameters and application can be found in the article IBO BZP diesel motor pumps – pumps for clean and dirty water.
Maintenance and operation of deep wells
The operation of a deep well requires regular inspection - both of the pump itself and the accompanying equipment. Deep well maintenance includes, among others: checking the head for tightness, checking the initial pressure in the expansion tank, cleaning mechanical filters and verifying the condition of the pump power cable. The long-term functioning of a deep well also depends on avoiding long downtimes - standing water in the discharge pipe favors the development of microorganisms, so when using the well seasonally (e.g. in summer houses), it is worth considering periodically starting the well outside the season.
Deep well cleaning is usually performed by high-pressure flushing or by repeated high-capacity pumping, which removes sediment from the bottom of the wellbore and the filter pipe. Regular fault diagnosis - checking the current consumed by the motor, checking the switch-on and switch-off pressure of the pressure switch - allows you to detect most problems before they lead to pump failure.
Cost of construction and operation of a deep well
The cost of building a deep well depends on several factors: the depth of the well, the diameter of the casing pipe, geological conditions and the scope of accompanying works (geological research, design of the deep well, obtaining the required notifications). Material costs include the casing pipe, filtration pipe, head and pump with accessories, while labor costs are related to drilling and starting the well. This includes the possible costs of obtaining permits and the costs of geological research, if required by the local authority.
The profitability of a deep well is most often revealed within a few years - by comparing the cost of water from the water supply network with the operating costs of your own well (electricity to power the pump, periodic maintenance, possible replacement of filters). For many farms and houses beyond the reach of the water supply, a universal deep well with a well-selected pump and automation remains a more cost-predictable solution than expanding the network connection.
Why is it worth choosing IBO i pumps? IPRO from Dambat
As a Dambat company, we design and distribute deep well pumps of the IBO and IBO brands IPRO for over twenty years, offering full technical documentation, support in device selection and access to spare parts in Poland. Ours Brand IBO includes a wide range of submersible pumps - from compact models for narrow-diameter wells, to multi-stage units with high efficiency - while the line IPRO is intended for applications requiring higher quality components and a longer warranty period. All our submersible pumps are equipped with protection against dry running and engine overheating, which translates into fewer service failures reported by installers.
Practical information on how to order IBO i pumps IPRO and where to look for technical support, we have collected in the article How to buy an IBO pump? Where and how to order IBO pumps and IPRO from the manufacturer Dambat. The full catalog of product collections - pumps, tanks, inverters, filters and accessories - is available on the website Dambat Collections, and we publish current technical and advisory entries on our website Dambat blog.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Does the construction of a deep well need to be reported?
A well with a depth of up to 30 meters must be notified if the water consumption for own household needs does not exceed the statutory average annual limit. In case of larger extraction or deeper drilling, it is necessary to obtain a water permit. Details are described in the article on the legalization of deep wells.
How deep should the submersible pump be installed?
The pump is installed below the dynamic (minimum, determined during sampling) water surface, maintaining a distance of at least two meters from the bottom of the well and an adequate headroom above the bottom of the well to avoid sucking in sediment and dry operation.
How much does it cost to make a deep well?
The cost depends on the depth of the well, the diameter of the casing pipe, geological conditions and the scope of formalities. The total cost includes the costs of materials, labor costs, and sometimes also the costs of geological surveys and obtaining permits.
Is the IBO submersible pump suitable for a ring well?
Yes, for larger diameter ring wells, both classic submersible pumps and models designed specifically for ring wells are used. The selection depends on the depth of the water table and the required installation efficiency.
How often should a deep well be disinfected?
Disinfection should be performed after drilling, after a long standstill of the installation and always after service work requiring opening the head. In the case of drinking water, periodic water quality tests are also recommended.
What is the difference between a submersible pump and a motor pump?
The submersible pump works fully submerged under the water surface and is electrically powered, while the combustion motor pump works on the surface, sucks water through the suction hose and does not require access to electricity - therefore it works as a temporary or emergency solution.
Why is it worth choosing an IBO pump instead of a cheaper alternative?
IBO pumps are manufactured by Dambat, a company with over twenty years of experience, with full technical documentation, declarations of conformity and the availability of spare parts in Poland. This limits the downtime of the installation in the event of a failure and facilitates service in the long run.
What is included in a complete pump set for a deep well?
The most important elements include: submersible pump, well head, pressure pipe, hydrophore tank (diaphragm), pressure switch or controller, non-return valve and control pressure gauge. The selection of individual elements should take into account the capacity of the well and the required pressure in the installation.
