Oconee Well Drillers

We’ve been helping Northeast Georgia customers with water systems since 1945, when Robert D. “Jack” Elder, Sr. founded Oconee Well Drillers in Watkinsville. Jack had already helped shape local water service as a member of the Watkinsville City Council in 1938, when the city secured funding for its first surface water filter plant, and he later managed the municipal water plant for a time. His first drilling rig was a military-surplus cable tool rig acquired at the end of World War II. That beginning grew into a family-owned operation with a three-generation legacy and deep roots in Oconee County.

Although equipment and methods have changed, our commitment to professional service has remained the same. Dan and John Elder introduced more modern air-rotary drilling rigs in the late 1970s, and during the economic slowdown of the early 1980s, we sent a drilling crew to Kentucky to drill oil exploration wells. Today, our experienced staff continues to strengthen its skills through ongoing education in well-drilling technology, techniques, and regulations. Many of our employees have been with us for years, and we work together like a family. At every job site, we assess the situation, offer honest advice, arrive ready to work, minimize disruption to the property, and maintain the site.

Our services cover the location and drilling of municipal, farm, residential, commercial, and irrigation wells, along with residential well installation, inspection, and repair. We also install and service customized water-treatment systems based on water testing and analysis, and we install geothermal systems that use the earth’s natural heat for energy-efficient heating and cooling. Because an interruption in water service can require prompt attention, we provide 24-hour emergency service. Our prices may not always be the lowest, but we bring more than 75 years of drilling experience to each project and remain focused on quality, service, and doing the job right within the agreed time frame and budget.