From David Beaulieu,
Your Guide to Landscaping.
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After reading my article on money-saving tips you can employ for landscaping on a budget, Vincent Iannelli, MD, our About.com Guide to Pediatrics, wrote to tell me of another tact homeowners can take to save money, while still keeping their landscapes green: digging water wells....

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If you do a lot of watering on your landscape, should you have a water well dug, to lessen your dependence on the public water supply? Well, that's what Vince did.

Cost of Having Water Wells Dug

This is, of course, just one example: depending on many factors, including where you live, the cost of having water wells dug will vary. But Vince reports that it cost him "about $1800" for a 60 foot x 2 foot water well.

Cost Savings From Water Wells

Vince has to water 2 1/2 acres (about 1 acre is covered by sprinklers) on his property in Texas, and he feels the cost of the water-well installation will be worth it, in the long run. "I think I will make up that money in water bills in just a year or so," he writes, adding, "In my old house, which was on 1/2 acre, my water bills were about $150 to $200 a month during the summer. They are about $20 now."

Private Water Wells: Another Advantage

But the benefits of private water wells go beyond saving money on your water bill. Even if you would gladly spend the money for town water to save your thirsty plants in the middle of a hot summer, sometimes, there's simply no water to be had! Yes, I'm referring to the dreaded water shortage and ban on "non-essential watering": who knows when your town government will turn off the spigot, leaving your landscape high and dry?

And on the subject of saving money, remember: if your plants (including the grass in your lawn) die from drought, it will cost you money to replace them -- assuming you don't care to live on a desert. Owning a water well as a backup supply improves the survival chances of your little oasis when drought strikes.

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