# Desmond Well Drilling **Trade:** Demolition & Excavation · **Address:** 5 Rayber Rd, Orleans, MA 02653 · **Phone:** (508) 240-1000 · **Website:** https://desmondwelldrilling.com/contact-us/ · **Languages:** English **Rating: 3.7/5** (medium confidence) — from 9 reviews across 4 sources. 89% of sentiment-scored reviews read net-positive. Last 6 months: 1 reviews, 0 negative. ## The honest read Desmond Well Drilling has been putting water wells into Cape Cod ground since 1979, and the story that keeps repeating in its reviews is speed under pressure: one homeowner went from a dead well and no water on a Monday to a new well, tank and pump running by Thursday afternoon. Based in Orleans, the family-run company drills and services domestic, irrigation and open-loop geothermal wells, replaces pumps and storage tanks, and, through a division it calls Cape Cod Test Boring, runs environmental test borings and monitoring-well installations, as the company describes its own work. BBB's own records show it incorporated in Massachusetts in 1988, matching the 1979 start date the company states for itself, and list Thomas E. Desmond Jr. as president and Sally C. Desmond as treasurer. On Google, nine ratings average 4.6 stars, and the pattern across the positive ones is consistent: fast dispatch, hands-on updates by text and photo while a crew works, and praise for the office staff by name — one staffer comes up repeatedly for keeping customers informed on urgent calls, whether it's a dry well, a broken well line flooding a yard, or a leak at a retail store fixed within four hours of the first call. Several reviewers independently describe it as a family business that treats customers personally, echoing what the company says about itself. The one sour note, from 2023, is worth knowing before booking a pump job: a customer says a replacement well pump came in at half the original's power, never supplied enough pressure for their irrigation system, and cost about $2,500. It's a single account against eight detailed, positive ones spanning 2023 to 2026, and BBB shows no complaints or government actions on file for the company, which carries a BBB letter grade of A+ despite not seeking accreditation. The well driller license and rig permit numbers on the company's own site haven't been checked against a state registry, so treat them as the company's own claim rather than a verified credential. For anything beyond a straightforward well or pump job — the environmental test-boring and monitoring-well work in particular — it's worth confirming directly that this side of the business covers your specific scope, since it has no reviews of its own to go on. **Strengths:** - Fast emergency response — dead well replaced with new well and pump within days - Hands-on communication — texts, photos and calls kept customers updated on urgent jobs - Family-run reputation — reviewers and the company alike describe it as family owned - 47 years on Cape Cod — drilling wells since 1979, carries a BBB A+ grade **Concerns:** - Underpowered pump swap — 2023 review says replacement lacked power for irrigation, cost $2,500 - License numbers unverified — well driller licenses and rig permits are self-reported only **Where sources disagree:** - The company's own services page lists 'Stone chimney installations' among its water-well services -- an apparent stray line, since nothing elsewhere on the site or in any review mentions chimney work. ## Claims & citations Every claim below is backed by real evidence rows — uncited claims are dropped in code before publication. - Family-owned water well contractor based in Orleans, drilling and installing domestic, irrigation and geothermal wells and servicing pumps and tanks; its Cape Cod Test Boring division performs environmental test borings and monitoring-well installation. _(confidence: medium)_ - [Official Website](https://desmondwelldrilling.com) — “A family-owned water well contractor on Cape Cod that drills and installs domestic, irrigation and geothermal wells and services pumps and t…” - Operating on Cape Cod since 1979 (47 years); BBB independently lists the same 1979 start date, shows the firm incorporated in Massachusetts in 1988 with 4 employees, and names Thomas E. Desmond Jr. as president and Sally C. Desmond as treasurer. _(confidence: high)_ - [Official Website](https://desmondwelldrilling.com) — “Company history (self-reported): Proudly serving customers since 1979; has served the water well needs of Cape Cod and the Islands and South…” - [Official Website](https://desmondwelldrilling.com) — “Self-reported 47 years in business” - [Better Business Bureau](https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/orleans/profile/water-well-drilling/desmond-well-drilling-inc-0021-49594) — “BBB profile for Desmond Well Drilling, Inc. is not BBB Accredited but carries a BBB letter grade of A+; the page shows no customer reviews, …” - Explicitly self-described as family owned and operated, echoed independently by multiple reviewers. _(confidence: high)_ - [Official Website](https://desmondwelldrilling.com) — “Stated ownership (self-reported): Family-owned” - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sCi9DQUlRQUNvZENodHljRjlvT2xGVmFEUjFSblZWUnpSRGQxRlJjSEZVZFhRemJtYxAB!2m1!1s0x0:0xc5dc183a2c21d2c0!3m1!1s2@1:CAIQACodChtycF9oOlFVaDR1RnVVRzRDd1FRcHFUdXQzbmc%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ We had Desmond install a well to provide irrigation water and could not be happier. They were prompt, great communication, scheduled and…” - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sChZDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUM1bk9EM1B3EAE!2m1!1s0x0:0xc5dc183a2c21d2c0!3m1!1s2@1:CIHM0ogKEICAgIC5nOD3Pw%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ Desmond Well Drilling was the only bright spot in a big unexpected project. We’ve had our house for about 5 years and had fully taken our…” - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sChdDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUNwM2VLR3pBRRAB!2m1!1s0x0:0xc5dc183a2c21d2c0!3m1!1s2@1:CIHM0ogKEICAgICp3eKGzAE%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ Family owned and operated. The best. Always busy though.” - A 2026 review describes a dead, dry well replaced with a new well, tank and pump within four days of the first call. _(confidence: high)_ - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sCi9DQUlRQUNvZENodHljRjlvT2pJNGRHbHpVR3BzWnpaa1J6ZHhZelJ3UkRVMVJGRRAB!2m1!1s0x0:0xc5dc183a2c21d2c0!3m1!1s2@1:CAIQACodChtycF9oOjI4dGlzUGpsZzZkRzdxYzRwRDU1RFE%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ Monday morning: no water. Well is dry, pump's kaput. Thursday afternoon: new well, new tank, new pump, plenty of water and way better qua…” - Reviewers repeatedly credit proactive communication -- calls, texts and photos keeping customers updated through urgent jobs. _(confidence: high)_ - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sCi9DQUlRQUNvZENodHljRjlvT2pCRWFqQjNORTB0TjBGclJXNHdNMnMxTTJaaWIxRRAB!2m1!1s0x0:0xc5dc183a2c21d2c0!3m1!1s2@1:CAIQACodChtycF9oOjBEajB3NE0tN0FrRW4wM2s1M2Zib1E%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ The entire team at Desmond was so helpful. I called them Wednesday morning with a leaking pipe at my retail store. Within 4 hours they we…” - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sChZDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUNMeGZhQVBREAE!2m1!1s0x0:0xc5dc183a2c21d2c0!3m1!1s2@1:CIHM0ogKEICAgICLxfaAPQ%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ We were not an existing customer, but had a significant problem where we were only getting intermittent water from our 20 year old well. …” - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sChZDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUNKOEpQMlVREAE!2m1!1s0x0:0xc5dc183a2c21d2c0!3m1!1s2@1:CIHM0ogKEICAgICJ8JP2UQ%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ Our well line broke underground and left us without water and with a washed out yard. Michelle B. and the Desmond team walked me through…” - Google shows 4.6 stars from 9 ratings; eight of nine reviews (2023-2026) are detailed and positive, with one 2023 account describing a replacement pump too weak for irrigation use. _(confidence: high)_ - [Google](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Desmond%20Well%20Drilling&query_place_id=ChIJVVWlPM5r-4kRwNIhLDoY3MU) — “Google: 4.6★ from 9 ratings” - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sChZDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUR4a09qOVRREAE!2m1!1s0x0:0xc5dc183a2c21d2c0!3m1!1s2@1:CIHM0ogKEICAgIDxkOj9TQ%7C%7C?hl=en) — “1★ This company came to our home to replace a faulty well pump. They replaced the faulty pump with one that was 50% of the power of the ori…” - BBB carries an A+ letter grade for the company though it is not a BBB-accredited business; BBB's profile shows no customer reviews, complaint count, or government actions on file. _(confidence: high)_ - [Better Business Bureau](https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/orleans/profile/water-well-drilling/desmond-well-drilling-inc-0021-49594) — “Better Business Bureau grade: A+” - [Better Business Bureau](https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/orleans/profile/water-well-drilling/desmond-well-drilling-inc-0021-49594) — “BBB profile for Desmond Well Drilling, Inc. is not BBB Accredited but carries a BBB letter grade of A+; the page shows no customer reviews, …” - A 2023 Google review reports a replacement well pump at roughly half the original's power that never supplied enough irrigation pressure, at a stated cost of about $2,500. _(confidence: high)_ - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sChZDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUR4a09qOVRREAE!2m1!1s0x0:0xc5dc183a2c21d2c0!3m1!1s2@1:CIHM0ogKEICAgIDxkOj9TQ%7C%7C?hl=en) — “1★ This company came to our home to replace a faulty well pump. They replaced the faulty pump with one that was 50% of the power of the ori…” - Lists self-reported Well Driller Licenses (#299, #764, #877) and Well Rig Permits (#024, #0089, #0551) on its own site; none of these have been verified against a state registry. _(confidence: low)_ - [Official Website](https://desmondwelldrilling.com) — “Self-reported license/registration number (NOT verified against any registry): Well Driller License #299” - [Official Website](https://desmondwelldrilling.com) — “Self-reported license/registration number (NOT verified against any registry): Well Driller License #764” - [Official Website](https://desmondwelldrilling.com) — “Self-reported license/registration number (NOT verified against any registry): Well Driller License #877” - [Official Website](https://desmondwelldrilling.com) — “Self-reported license/registration number (NOT verified against any registry): Well Rig Permit #024” - [Official Website](https://desmondwelldrilling.com) — “Self-reported license/registration number (NOT verified against any registry): Well Rig Permit #0089” - [Official Website](https://desmondwelldrilling.com) — “Self-reported license/registration number (NOT verified against any registry): Well Rig Permit #0551” - Core work is water well drilling, pump and tank replacement, and irrigation/geothermal well installation. _(confidence: high)_ - [Official Website](https://desmondwelldrilling.com) — “A family-owned water well contractor on Cape Cod that drills and installs domestic, irrigation and geothermal wells and services pumps and t…” - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sCi9DQUlRQUNvZENodHljRjlvT2pJNGRHbHpVR3BzWnpaa1J6ZHhZelJ3UkRVMVJGRRAB!2m1!1s0x0:0xc5dc183a2c21d2c0!3m1!1s2@1:CAIQACodChtycF9oOjI4dGlzUGpsZzZkRzdxYzRwRDU1RFE%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ Monday morning: no water. Well is dry, pump's kaput. Thursday afternoon: new well, new tank, new pump, plenty of water and way better qua…” - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sCi9DQUlRQUNvZENodHljRjlvT2xGVmFEUjFSblZWUnpSRGQxRlJjSEZVZFhRemJtYxAB!2m1!1s0x0:0xc5dc183a2c21d2c0!3m1!1s2@1:CAIQACodChtycF9oOlFVaDR1RnVVRzRDd1FRcHFUdXQzbmc%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ We had Desmond install a well to provide irrigation water and could not be happier. They were prompt, great communication, scheduled and…” - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sChZDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUNMeGZhQVBREAE!2m1!1s0x0:0xc5dc183a2c21d2c0!3m1!1s2@1:CIHM0ogKEICAgICLxfaAPQ%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ We were not an existing customer, but had a significant problem where we were only getting intermittent water from our 20 year old well. …” - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sChZDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUNKOEpQMlVREAE!2m1!1s0x0:0xc5dc183a2c21d2c0!3m1!1s2@1:CIHM0ogKEICAgICJ8JP2UQ%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ Our well line broke underground and left us without water and with a washed out yard. Michelle B. and the Desmond team walked me through…” - Specializes in Demolition & Excavation _(confidence: medium)_ - [Official Website](https://desmondwelldrilling.com) — “A family-owned water well contractor on Cape Cod that drills and installs domestic, irrigation and geothermal wells and services pumps and t…” - [Better Business Bureau](https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/orleans/profile/water-well-drilling/desmond-well-drilling-inc-0021-49594) — “Services offered (Better Business Bureau): Water Well Drilling” - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sCi9DQUlRQUNvZENodHljRjlvT2pJNGRHbHpVR3BzWnpaa1J6ZHhZelJ3UkRVMVJGRRAB!2m1!1s0x0:0xc5dc183a2c21d2c0!3m1!1s2@1:CAIQACodChtycF9oOjI4dGlzUGpsZzZkRzdxYzRwRDU1RFE%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ Monday morning: no water. Well is dry, pump's kaput. Thursday afternoon: new well, new tank, new pump, plenty of water and way better qua…” - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sCi9DQUlRQUNvZENodHljRjlvT2xGVmFEUjFSblZWUnpSRGQxRlJjSEZVZFhRemJtYxAB!2m1!1s0x0:0xc5dc183a2c21d2c0!3m1!1s2@1:CAIQACodChtycF9oOlFVaDR1RnVVRzRDd1FRcHFUdXQzbmc%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ We had Desmond install a well to provide irrigation water and could not be happier. They were prompt, great communication, scheduled and…” - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sChZDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUNMeGZhQVBREAE!2m1!1s0x0:0xc5dc183a2c21d2c0!3m1!1s2@1:CIHM0ogKEICAgICLxfaAPQ%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ We were not an existing customer, but had a significant problem where we were only getting intermittent water from our 20 year old well. …” - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sChZDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUNKOEpQMlVREAE!2m1!1s0x0:0xc5dc183a2c21d2c0!3m1!1s2@1:CIHM0ogKEICAgICJ8JP2UQ%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ Our well line broke underground and left us without water and with a washed out yard. Michelle B. and the Desmond team walked me through…” ## Ownership - Identifies as family-owned — the business's own statement, not independently verified. ## License Status: **not_found** — verified against the official MA state registry, never self-reported. Re-check at the official registry: https://madpl.mylicense.com/Verification/ ## Sources - [Google](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Desmond%20Well%20Drilling&query_place_id=ChIJVVWlPM5r-4kRwNIhLDoY3MU): 4.6★ from 9 ratings - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Desmond%20Well%20Drilling&query_place_id=ChIJVVWlPM5r-4kRwNIhLDoY3MU): Listed on this source - [Better Business Bureau](https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/orleans/profile/water-well-drilling/desmond-well-drilling-inc-0021-49594): Listed on this source - [Official Website](https://desmondwelldrilling.com): 47 yrs in business · Self-reported profile and service details ## Recent reviews - **5/5 · Google Reviews · David Arnow · 2026-08-03**: Monday morning: no water. Well is dry, pump's kaput. Thursday afternoon: new well, new tank, new pump, plenty of water and way better quality than before. They triaged us as an emergency and acted very quickly (coming to assess on Tuesday, got the paperwork done in the town on Wednesday, and drilled… - **5/5 · Google Reviews · David Tourigny · 2025-08-20**: We had Desmond install a well to provide irrigation water and could not be happier. They were prompt, great communication, scheduled and arrived on time every step of the way. The workmen that worked at the house were very professional and kept everything clean and organized. The office kept us inf… - **5/5 · Google Reviews · Helen Baptist · 2025-07-03**: The entire team at Desmond was so helpful. I called them Wednesday morning with a leaking pipe at my retail store. Within 4 hours they were on site and resolved the problem. Office staff was super friendly on the phone and made all efforts to get someone on site ASAP. When the crew arrived they quic… - **5/5 · Google Reviews · Skip Shaw · 2024-06-21**: We were not an existing customer, but had a significant problem where we were only getting intermittent water from our 20 year old well. Michelle was extremely responsive and worked us into their schedule within a few days. Sean came out and identified the problem quickly, explained the issue and th… - **5/5 · Google Reviews · Bill Weil · 2023-11-10**: Prompt service and did a great job in fixing my irrigation well. - **5/5 · Google Reviews · Colleen Cohen · 2023-10-11**: Desmond Well Drilling was the only bright spot in a big unexpected project. We’ve had our house for about 5 years and had fully taken our well and running water for granted, when we started to lose water pressure. Desmond had their sticker on our tank so I thought that was a great place to start. It… - **5/5 · Google Reviews · Clint Kershaw · 2023-08-08**: Family owned and operated. The best. Always busy though. - **5/5 · Google Reviews · Joseph Venturini · 2023-06-19**: Our well line broke underground and left us without water and with a washed out yard. Michelle B. and the Desmond team walked me through locating the issue with pictures, emails, texts, and calls while they put out the urgent call. Not only were they on-point with their assessments, but the custom… - **1/5 · Google Reviews · Libby Callahan · 2023-05-30**: This company came to our home to replace a faulty well pump. They replaced the faulty pump with one that was 50% of the power of the original. That one never gave enough pressure to accommodate our irrigation areas. The new pump is 20 gallon and cost us $2500 . The supplier wondered where anyone w… --- Data freshness: last scanned 2026-08-22T10:52:59.224Z. Cite as: Desmond Well Drilling — Tavlee (https://tavlee.com/contractor/desmond-well-drilling-orleans) Source: https://tavlee.com/contractor/desmond-well-drilling-orleans