Septic Business Adds Residential Water Wells

Since the '70s, C&W Hanover Septic, Well & Plumbing focused solely on septic system repair and installation. But in 2024, owner Billy Shaw saw an opportunity to expand the business and tapped James Turner to lead a new venture into residential water wells.

“Not many companies around here are investing into drilling brand new,” James Turner, owner/operator, said. “I had come from running traditional water well rigs and started going down the rabbit hole to determine what was best for the dollar we were going to spend.”

Shaw trusted Turner to make the final call. After weighing his options, Turner narrowed it down to two rigs.

“The Geoprobe^® DM450 still had the old school feel with levers and valves you pull and push,” Turner said. “I also liked that Geoprobe^® had a service location in North Carolina and one in Pennsylvania. Being in Virginia, there’s a place close if I did have any problems.”

Easy Transition

Turner describes operating the DM450 as having an “easy learning curve” both as a veteran driller and for his novice crew.

“I’d been used to operating from the right side of the rig, so everything was backwards at first. Within three wells, we’d become pretty proficient,” Turner said. “Everything is laid out so my inexperienced crew can jump up there every now and again, and I can provide some training.”

Built for Residential Water Wells Performance

The DM450 quickly proved its value in the field.

“The DM450 excels at mud rotary with plenty of speed. I’ve taken it down to 500 feet with no problem. I was worried the winch wouldn’t be sufficient to pick up the 3.5-inch rods, but it did just fine,” Turner said. “It does exactly what it was designed to do, and does it easily.”

The DM450 is Turner’s first experience with chains instead of cables — a change that’s cut down on maintenance.

“With the cables you always had to adjust and maintain,” Turner said. “After 30 wells, I’ve yet to have to maintenance the chains on the DM450.”

Compact Power, Smooth Ride

Mounted on a Western Star chassis, the DM450 delivers a comfortable ride while maintaining a compact footprint ideal for residential water wells.

“It’s small and lighter than a conventional water well rig, so we’ve been able to squeeze into some tight places and haven’t been stuck – yet,” Turner said.

On a recent 4.5-inch, 450-foot mud well, the crew completed drilling 8.75-inch borehole, casing, gravel packing, and development in just two days — using less than half a tank of fuel.

“It’s fuel efficient. We spent two days on a hole, and burned not quite a half tank of fuel,” Turner said. “The rig operates easily, and the speed is nice.”

Confidence in the Field

What stands out most to Turner is the DM450’s consistency.

“In this trade, every job throws something different at you. The DM450 just keeps showing up and getting it done,” Turner said.