From Bare Ground to Finished Water: A New Well, Filter and Softener from One Contractor

How McCandless Well Drilling drilled a new water well and installed a whole house water filter and water softener for a local homeowner, and delivered the whole system on schedule

Project Overview

Location: Western New York & Northwestern Pennsylvania service area

Services: New Water Well Drilling, Water Filtration, Water Softening

System Installed: Drilled well, Well-Rite pressure tank, whole house water filter, water softener with brine tank

Completed: Summer 2026

Customer Rating: 5 stars on Google (August 2026)

Verified By: Homeowner’s Google review with photo of the finished system, plus McCandless’s public reply

When homeowner Allen Warner needed a private water supply, he didn’t just need a hole in the ground. He needed water he could actually use for drinking, showering, laundry and appliances from the first day. That meant a new well, a pressure system, and water treatment, all working together.

McCandless handled every piece of it. The crew drilled the well, set up the pressure tank, and installed a whole house water filter and water softener. In Allen’s words, the team was “fast, friendly, and there when they said they would be.”

The Challenge: Starting From Scratch With No Reliable Water

A New Well Is Only Half the Job

For any property without a working well, the first question is obvious: where will the water come from? But anyone who has lived on well water in Western New York or Northwestern Pennsylvania knows there is a second question right behind it: what will that water be like?

Wells across Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Warren and Erie Counties commonly produce hard water, and many also carry iron, manganese or sulfur. Untreated, that water can leave scale on fixtures and inside the water heater, stain sinks and laundry, and wear down appliances long before their time. Learn more in our guide to hard water, iron and sulfur in Chautauqua County wells.

The Risk of Splitting the Job

Many homeowners end up hiring one company to drill the well and another to treat the water. That approach creates real problems:

Two schedules to juggle: treatment has to wait until a second company can come out
Gaps in knowledge: the treatment installer may not know the well’s pump flow or the equipment already in place
No single point of responsibility: if pressure drops or the water changes, it’s unclear who to call
Weeks of untreated water: the home runs on raw well water in the meantime

What the Homeowner Needed

Allen needed a contractor who could take the project from bare ground to finished water: drill the well, install the pump and pressure system, and treat the water so the house was ready to use. He also needed a crew that would show up when promised, because every day of delay is a day without usable water.

Our Solution: One Contractor, One Complete Water System

The McCandless Approach

McCandless treated the project as one system, not three separate jobs. The same company that drilled the well also designed the pressure system and the water treatment around it. That meant the filter and softener could be matched to the well’s actual flow and the household’s water use, with no guesswork and no handoff to another company.

What Was Installed

The finished system, shown in the homeowner’s own photo, includes:

A new drilled water well: the source of the home’s private water supply
A Well-Rite bladder pressure tank: stores pressurized water so the pump doesn’t start every time a tap opens, protecting the pump and keeping pressure steady
A pressure switch and gauge: turns the well pump on and off at the right pressure
A whole house water filter: removes sediment and minerals before water reaches the softener and the home
A water softener with brine tank: removes hardness minerals and regenerates automatically using salt from the brine tank
McCandless-branded digital control valves: manage the filter and softener cycles automatically

Why a Filter and a Softener Together

A water softener is built to remove hardness, meaning calcium and magnesium. It isn’t designed to handle heavy sediment or significant iron. Placing a filter ahead of the softener protects the softener from fouling and lets each unit do the job it does best. The result is water that is both clean and soft throughout the entire house. For a deeper look, see water softener vs. water filter for well water.

Step-by-Step: From Drilling to Finished Water

Step 1: Site Evaluation and Estimate

Every McCandless well project starts on site. The team walks the property, checks access for the drilling rig, and chooses a well location that meets setback requirements from the house and septic system. The homeowner receives a clear estimate for the complete system, not just the drilling.

Step 2: Permits and Paperwork

In New York, water wells fall under the NY DEC Water Well Contractor Program. As a DEC-registered water well contractor, McCandless files the required preliminary notice before drilling and the well completion report afterward, so the homeowner doesn’t have to deal with the paperwork.

Step 3: Drilling the Well

The crew drills down to a water-bearing layer that can supply the household reliably, then sets steel casing to protect the well. Across Chautauqua County, NY and Warren County, PA, McCandless wells average around 115 feet deep, though every well is drilled to adequate yield and water quality rather than a preset number.

Step 4: Pump and Pressure System

With the well complete, the team installs a submersible pump sized to the well and the home’s demand, runs the line into the house, and connects a Well-Rite bladder pressure tank with a pressure switch and gauge. This is what turns a well into steady, on-demand water pressure at every tap.

Step 5: Water Filter and Softener Installation

Next, McCandless installs the treatment system on the incoming line: the whole house filter first, then the water softener and its brine tank. Both units run on digital control valves that handle cleaning and regeneration cycles automatically. As the homeowner’s photo shows, the plumbing is laid out neatly and clearly, so every component is easy to reach for future service.

Step 6: Testing and Walkthrough

Before leaving, the crew checks the system for leaks and proper operation, confirms pressure, and walks the homeowner through how everything works, including how to add salt to the brine tank. The support doesn’t end there: Allen specifically praised McCandless’s “top notch service and support.”

Results: A Complete Water System, Delivered on Schedule

What the Homeowner Got

Scope	New well, pressure system, water filter and water softener
Contractors needed	One: McCandless Well Drilling
Schedule	Crew arrived when promised at every stage
Speed	Described by the homeowner as “fast”
Customer experience	“Friendly” crew and “top notch service and support”
Customer rating	5 stars on Google

Immediate Benefits

Water ready to use: treated water at every tap from the day the system went live
Steady pressure: the bladder tank and pressure switch keep water flowing evenly and protect the pump from short cycling
Protected fixtures and appliances: filtered, softened water helps prevent scale in the water heater and staining on fixtures and laundry
Low-effort maintenance: automatic control valves handle regeneration; the homeowner simply keeps salt in the brine tank
One number to call: the same company that drilled the well also services the treatment system

Living With Untreated Well Water vs. a Complete System

Well only, no treatment	New well with filter and softener
Hard water leaves scale on faucets, showerheads and glassware	Soft water keeps fixtures cleaner
Minerals build up inside the water heater	Water heater and appliances are protected
Soap and detergent don’t lather well	Normal lather, softer laundry
Possible staining from iron or sediment	Filtered water with no sediment
A second company to schedule for treatment	Everything done by one crew

What the Homeowner Says

“They drilled our well and installed the water filter and softener. Fast, friendly, and there when they said they would be. Just top notch service and support!!!!”

— Allen Warner · 5-star Google review · August 2026

McCandless Well Drilling Inc is a family-owned, third-generation company based at 789 Busti Sugar Grove Rd in Jamestown, NY, serving Western New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania since 1975. The company is a NY DEC-registered water well contractor and a member of the National Ground Water Association, the Water Quality Association and the Empire State Water Well Drillers Association. McCandless installs Franklin Electric, Goulds and Flint & Walling pumps, with a 5-year warranty available on water pumps and a 7-year warranty available on bladder tanks. The company holds a 4.9-star rating across 400+ Google reviews.

McCandless also offers reverse osmosis, UV purification and water testing when a home needs more than filtering and softening.

The finished system, photographed by the homeowner and posted with his review: a Well-Rite pressure tank, whole house filter and water softener with McCandless control valves, and the softener’s brine tank.

McCandless replied to the review, thanking Allen for trusting the team with his well drilling and filter and softener installation.

Read more from satisfied customers on our reviews page.

Builder notes: crop the photo to remove the Google header. Upload as mccandless-new-well-filter-softener-installation.webp with width and height set. Alt text: “Well-Rite pressure tank, whole house water filter, water softener and brine tank installed by McCandless Well Drilling.”

Why One Contractor Makes a Difference

One Crew vs. Two Companies

	McCandless (one contractor)	Separate driller + treatment company
Scheduling	One schedule, one crew	Two schedules; treatment waits for a second booking
System design	Filter and softener sized to the well’s actual pump flow	Treatment company may not know the well details
Untreated water	Treatment installed as part of the same project	Home runs on raw well water until the second visit
Accountability	One company responsible for the whole system	Unclear who owns a problem between well and treatment
Future service	One number: (716) 666-3708	Two companies to call

Backed by Nearly 50 Years of Experience

McCandless also offers reverse osmosis, UV purification and water testing when a home needs more than filtering and softening.

Need a New Well and Clean Water? Get One Free Estimate for Both

Whether you’re building new, replacing a failing well, or tired of hard water and stains, McCandless Well Drilling can take care of everything from drilling to treatment. We serve homeowners throughout Chautauqua County, Cattaraugus County, Warren County and Erie County.

Like Allen, you can have one crew that shows up on time and delivers a complete water system. A free estimate is the first step.

Have questions first? Visit our FAQ page or learn more about our team.

Frequently Asked Questions About New Wells & Water Treatment

Do I need a water filter or softener on a brand-new well?

Often, yes. A new well supplies water, but not necessarily soft or clean water. Wells in Western New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania commonly have hard water, and many also contain iron, manganese or sulfur. A water test shows exactly what’s in your water so treatment can be matched to it.

What's the difference between a water filter and a water softener?

A water filter removes particles and contaminants such as sediment, iron or sulfur. A water softener removes hardness minerals, calcium and magnesium, that cause scale. Many homes use both, with the filter installed first so it protects the softener.

Can one company drill the well and install the water treatment?

Yes. McCandless Well Drilling drills wells and installs filters, softeners, reverse osmosis and UV systems. Using one contractor means one schedule, a system designed around your actual well, and one company to call for service.

How much does a new well cost in this area?

Most complete new well projects in Chautauqua County, NY and Warren County, PA run $7,500 to $12,000. That covers drilling, steel casing, a submersible pump, a pressure tank and connection to the house. Water treatment is priced separately based on your water and household needs. Contact us for a free estimate.