Well Drilling · Pahrump, NV
Irrigation Wells in Pahrump, NV
We'll connect you with a local contractor who drills and equips irrigation wells for pasture, orchards and larger properties around Pahrump Valley.
Pahrump was a farming valley long before it was a residential one. Irrigation still happens here, but the water-rights side is stricter than it was in the cotton days, so planning comes first.
Call (775) 208-0842Pahrump Well Drilling operates this website and connects local customers with independent local well drilling contractors. We don't do the work ourselves and we don't check any contractor's qualifications, so confirming that is up to you before you hire.
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Valley history
Irrigation in Pahrump Valley
Big ranches here once grew alfalfa and cotton on flowing artesian water. Irrigation wells with large pumps arrived in the mid-1940s, and the USGS estimated net pumping during 1959 to 1962 at about 25,000 acre-feet a year, roughly twice what the basin could sustainably yield. Cotton farming in the valley ended in 1983.
Total groundwater use has dropped a lot since. Reporting in 2017 put current pumping at roughly 13,000 to 16,000 acre-feet a year, down from about 40,000 in the 1960s. But the basin's sustainable yield is still estimated at about 20,000 acre-feet, while committed rights are far higher.
That's why anyone planning an irrigation well here needs to sort out water rights before thinking about rig size. For household-only wells, see our well drilling page.
The rules
Domestic Use vs. Irrigation Use
Nevada's domestic well allowance of up to 2 acre-feet a year covers household use for a single-family home, plus routine things like watering a lawn, a personal garden, or providing for pets. It doesn't cover irrigating crops beyond a personal garden, hemp, or supplying an office or home business.
Larger irrigation, such as pasture, hay or commercial orchards, generally requires a water right from the State Engineer. In the over-appropriated Pahrump basin, that usually means acquiring or transferring existing rights rather than getting new ones.
The contractor you're connected with can drill and equip the well, but the water right is between you and the Nevada Division of Water Resources. Getting this sorted first keeps you from drilling a well you can't legally use the way you planned.
Common projects
Irrigation Wells People Ask About
Horse property
Water for stock, arenas and some pasture, often split between domestic and permitted uses.
Small orchards
Grapes and fruit trees, usually watered by drip to make the most of every gallon.
Pasture and hay
Larger acreage that needs a dedicated water right and a higher-capacity pump.
Large landscapes
Big yards and windbreaks that outgrow what a household well comfortably supplies.
Watch
Irrigation Wells: What to Expect
A general video overview that helps explain irrigation wells before you talk to a contractor in Pahrump.
The process
Planning an Irrigation Well
Settle the water right
Confirm with NDWR what rights the parcel holds or what you'd need to acquire for your intended acreage.
Size the system
Crop water needs, acreage and delivery method decide flow rate, pump size and well diameter.
Drill and test
The well is drilled, cased and pump-tested to see what it can sustainably produce.
Equip and connect
The pump, controls, storage and irrigation lines are installed, and the driller files the required reports.
Budgeting
Irrigation Well Cost Factors
Irrigation wells are usually larger in diameter than household wells and need bigger pumps. National cost guides commonly put irrigation wells at roughly $30–$100 or more per foot, a general range and not a quote.
Power supply matters a lot on rural parcels. A three-phase pump needs three-phase service or a converter, and long runs from the meter add cost. Storage tanks, filtration for drip systems, and the price of water rights all belong in the budget too.
The contractor confirms actual pricing after reviewing your acreage and water source. Get the pump test results in writing. Ask how long the pump test ran and what the well produced at the end of it, since that number drives every equipment decision that follows.
Avoid these
Irrigation Well Pitfalls
Drilling first and figuring out water rights later is the costliest mistake. Another is oversizing the pump for the well's real yield, which wastes power and can damage the pump. Have the well tested before choosing equipment.
Drip and micro-spray systems clog fast on hard, mineral-rich groundwater. A water test helps pick the right filtration. For larger farm or business systems, see commercial and agricultural wells.
Pump sizing on irrigation wells also deserves a second look every few years. As water levels shift, a pump chosen for one depth can end up working outside its best range, wasting power and wearing out early.
Water budget
Planning Around a Desert Climate
Pahrump averages about 5 inches of precipitation a year, so nearly every drop on a pasture or orchard has to come from the ground. Summer heat drives evaporation hard, and crops like alfalfa use a lot of water per acre. That's part of why the valley's farming era pumped so much.
Before drilling, work out how much water your plan really needs across a full year and compare it to what your water right allows. If the numbers don't fit, scaling back the irrigated area or switching to drip may be cheaper than buying more rights. A contractor can then size the well and pump to match. For homes using a well mostly for household needs, see pump installation and repair.
Quick answer
Can I Irrigate From My Domestic Well?
Within limits. Nevada's domestic allowance covers household use plus routine watering of a lawn and a personal garden, up to 2 acre-feet a year. It doesn't cover irrigating crops beyond a personal garden or growing for sale. If you're planning pasture, hay or a commercial orchard, you'll generally need a water right from the State Engineer. Talk to NDWR about your parcel and a contractor about the well.
Related Services and Areas
Other well drilling and well service the local contractors we connect you with handle:
Irrigation Wells across Pahrump and nearby communities:
Back to the Pahrump Well Drilling homepage.
Irrigation Wells FAQ
How much water is 2 acre-feet?
An acre-foot is about 326,000 gallons, so 2 acre-feet is roughly 652,000 gallons a year. The average Pahrump domestic well uses about half an acre-foot.
Can I buy water rights in Pahrump?
Existing rights do change hands in the basin. Prices vary over time. Reporting in 2018 put them around $3,000 to $4,000 per acre-foot then. Confirm current transfers with NDWR.
Do irrigation wells need bigger pumps?
Usually. Flow rate needs for pasture or orchards are much higher than for a house, so pumps and wiring are sized up.
Is drip irrigation better here?
With about 5 inches of rain a year, drip and micro-spray waste less water to evaporation. Filtration is important on hard groundwater.
Do you drill irrigation wells?
No. We connect you with an independent local contractor who does. Confirm their license and insurance yourself before hiring.
Planning Water for Your Land?
Tell us about your acreage, and we'll connect you with a local contractor for an irrigation well quote.
Call (775) 208-0842We operate this website and connect local customers with local contractors. Pahrump Well Drilling doesn't perform well drilling and well service work, doesn't supervise contractors, and doesn't check any contractor's insurance, licensing, or credentials, so confirm those yourself before hiring.
Disclaimer
How This Website Works
Disclaimer: Pahrump Well Drilling operates this website to connect local customers and businesses in Pahrump, NV and nearby communities with independent local well drilling contractors. We are not a well drilling contractor, we do not perform, supervise, or warrant any well drilling and well service work ourselves, and we do not check, verify, or confirm any contractor's license, insurance, credentials, or qualifications. Confirming those things is the customer's responsibility before hiring. Any price you're quoted comes from the contractor, not from us, and any agreement and the work itself are strictly between you and the contractor you choose. Calls placed through this site may be routed to an available local contractor. See the full disclaimer.