Advancements in drilling practices and well construction over the past 20 years have been influenced largely due to a better understanding of the drilling-fluids program and improved product technology.Drilling fluids have been successfully used for decades in the water-well industry to remove drill cuttings from the borehole while providing well-bore stability with little concern as to formation damage, impacts to the environment, and impact to public safety.

Potential contamination of the aquifer and well efficiency are both affected by the drilling-fluids program that is used for a particular well. Over the past two decades concern over water quality and well productivity have brought an increased awareness to the problems associated with past practices in well construction especially with drilling-fluids programs.

In 1985 the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) in cooperation with the US Environmental Protection Agency initiated a drinking-water additives program to provide laboratory testing to assure that products used in the water-well industry meet safe drinking water standards.  This program extends to drilling-fluid products.

Research and development have provided a new generation of drilling-fluids additives that can be used for water wells.  With the support of a well designed drilling-fluids program, increased penetration rates with minimal well-bore damage and increased well efficiency are obtained.  Now NSF certified products can provide the assurance the water-well industry needs to provide safer drinking water for future generations.