How we work: Santechnikas iš Žemaitijos installs shallow boreholes using compact drilling equipment and does not use metal pipes driven into the ground. Driving is discussed in this article only as an alternative method found on the market.
A driven water needle is lowered by transmitting impacts to a purpose-designed construction. At the bottom are a strong point and intake screen, with connected pipes above. This is not an ordinary water pipe that merely needs sharpening: the screen, joints and column must withstand the intended loads. T01
Driving is attractive because of its compact working setup. Suitability depends on the ground, however. Water-bearing sand and an unobstructed route present different conditions from boulders, hard inclusions or a long low-permeability layer.
What is the work sequence?
The location and proposed construction are assessed first. The column is then prepared and lowered using the selected method, and the reached position and water availability are checked. After installation, the source is developed, supply-tested and connected. This describes the work sequence, not DIY driving instructions or an impact specification.
If drilling was used initially, subsequent driving is only one possible next method. It is wrong to claim that all pre-drilled water needles must be completed with impacts. The construction should determine the decision, not habit alone.
Advantage – a small working area
Under favourable geological conditions, wide excavation as for a dug well is not needed. This may be convenient on an already landscaped or hard-to-access plot. Customers should nevertheless know beforehand where pipes will be stored, how paths will be protected and who will restore damaged surfaces.
A small hole must not obscure responsibility either. Electricity, communications, water or drainage services may lie underground. The work location is checked before inserting the tool, not only after an obstruction is struck.
Disadvantage – the construction is subjected to impacts
Deformation of the pipe or joints can compromise tightness. Drilling service providers discussing this subject also describe loads on threaded joints during driving. Tightness therefore needs assessing after installation, not assuming merely because a joint looked sound beforehand. R02
If water does not appear, drive deeper is not the only possible conclusion. The suction side may leak, startup conditions may be incorrect, the water level too low or the layer insufficiently permeable. Blind deepening does not distinguish these causes and can complicate a later solution.
What should you agree with the contractor?
The contract or quotation should specify what happens when an obstruction is encountered: whether work stops, the method changes, additional work is agreed and who handles an unsuccessful location. Success should also be defined clearly: reaching a depth or demonstrating water supply.
A useful acceptance question is: at what flow, for how long and under which conditions was the source tested? This says more than a photo of water flowing from a hose. Read more in the article about work acceptance and estimates.
Information sources
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- T01
- R02
Sources checked on 2026-09-30. If the manufacturer has changed the product or documentation, follow the latest technical information for the specific model.