Inside the Oklahoma City limits most houses run on city water. Drive out toward Choctaw, Harrah, Jones or Luther, north to Guthrie, west to Piedmont, or south across the river to Newcastle, Blanchard and the east side of Norman, and a lot of homes still pull water from their own well. When that well stops delivering, there is no utility to call. This site lays out what usually fails on a central Oklahoma water system and puts you in touch with a pump installer licensed by the state.
What's under your yard
Much of this ring sits on the Central Oklahoma aquifer, better known as the Garber-Wellington. The U.S. Geological Survey describes it as roughly 3,000 square miles of Permian sandstone and mudstone laid down by an ancient river system, running under Oklahoma, Cleveland, Logan, Pottawatomie and neighbouring counties (USGS). Because the water sits in sandstone lenses separated by tighter mudstone, two wells a few hundred yards apart can differ a lot in depth, yield and water quality. Toward the west the aquifer is buried under the Hennessey Group shale, which changes both how deep wells go and what comes out of them. Our Garber-Wellington well water guide covers what that means for a homeowner, including the arsenic question around Norman.
Match the symptom to the job
| What you're seeing | Where to start |
|---|---|
| Nothing comes out of any faucet | No water from the well: the safe checks first, then what the installer will test. |
| Pump clicks on and off every few seconds | Usually the pressure tank has lost its air charge or the bladder has failed. |
| Pump runs and runs, or pressure sags in the shower | Well pump repair: worn pump, leak in the drop pipe, failing switch or control box. |
| Pump is old, burned out, or pulling sand | Well pump replacement and how installers size the new one. |
| Building on acreage, or the old well went dry | Well drilling: state rules, well records and questions to ask a driller. |
| Water tastes, smells or looks different | Get it tested; see the water quality guide. |
Dry taps or a pump that won't quit? One call gets you to a licensed pump installer near you. (405) 536-9841
Who is allowed to work on your well in Oklahoma
The Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) licenses well drillers and pump installers. Its licensing rules cover anyone who installs or repairs water well pumps and pumping equipment, windmills and solar pump setups included (OWRB). The state's minimum standards for pump installation apply to every installation, whether the person doing it holds a license or not (OAC 785:35-9-1). So a cheap fix that leaves an unsealed cap or a pump that was never disinfected is still out of code. When you hire, ask to see the OWRB license number.
Why rural OKC calls tend to be urgent
A well system has no backup. The submersible pump, the wire down to it, the pressure switch and the tank all have to work for a glass of water to come out of the kitchen tap. Lose any one of them and the toilets, the livestock waterer and the garden hose all stop together. Tell the installer whether you have animals on the system, since that often decides how fast they need to get out to you.
FAQ
Is OKC Well Pump a well company?
No. We are a referral line. We do not drill wells or work on pumps. We connect you with an independent pump installer licensed by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, and that contractor quotes and does the work.
What does a well pump repair cost around Oklahoma City?
It depends on what failed and how deep the pump is set. A pressure switch is a small part; pulling a submersible pump from a deep well takes a rig and a crew. Ask the installer for the price before they start pulling anything.
Which towns does this cover?
Rural homes on wells around Oklahoma City: Choctaw, Harrah, Jones, Luther, Piedmont, Guthrie, McLoud, Newcastle, Blanchard, east Norman and the unincorporated country in between.