Overview:

In The Driller Newscast #151, Brock Yordy wraps up the season with a heat-soaked episode that digs into the summer's biggest challenges and headlines. From extreme temps scorching the U.S. to the growing water war between Colorado and Nebraska, Brock connects the dots between climate extremes, policy shifts, and the mounting threat of “Day Zero” cities running dry. He also shares what The Driller has been up to this summer.

Read on for a more detailed recap of our discussion this week.

 

As summer winds down, the drilling industry finds itself reflecting on months marked by record-breaking heat, pressing water crises, and a renewed appreciation for family and heritage within the profession. For Brock Yordy, host of The Driller Newscast, the season has been a reminder of both the urgency of water stewardship and the enduring bonds that keep drilling professionals grounded.

“This summer has been wild,” Yordy opened in a recent episode, explaining why the newscast had been on hiatus. “We’ve been at conferences, working projects, teaching, and spending time with family.” From New York to Washington D.C. to Myrtle Beach, the season was filled with professional milestones and personal reflections.

Climate Realities and Policy Battles

Early in the season, Yordy joined industry colleagues in Washington to push for support within the Inflation Reduction Act. Despite progress on certain energy-efficiency measures, the bill eliminated the 25D residential tax credit for geothermal systems, a blow to advocates of sustainable home heating and cooling. “We still have to diversify and get it,” Yordy said, stressing the importance of keeping geothermal technologies viable.

That urgency is underscored by the weather. The past two summers rank among the hottest ever recorded, with 2024 surpassing 2023 for the top spot. “Without water, we’ve got a lot of smelly people,” Yordy joked, before noting the severity of drought across the United States. By late August, 25% of the country was in severe drought, affecting 66 million acres of crops and 65 million people.

Global extremes reinforce the seriousness. On the same June day this year, Iran recorded 126.9°F while Summit, Greenland, dipped to -15.9°F. In the Southern Hemisphere, Brazil hit 101.1°F as Antarctica plummeted to -110.6°F. The contrast illustrates both volatility and the increasing strain on water resources.

Yordy pointed to Princeton and Arizona State research showing that aquifer recharge can take decades—or even millennia—while groundwater depletion accelerates. A glacier in the Cascades vanished this summer. Nebraska is suing Colorado over South Platte River water, echoing similar disputes across the West. “We are depleting water faster than ever,” Yordy warned.

Industry Growth Amid Uncertainty

Despite environmental and political headwinds, the drilling industry is thriving. U.S. water well drilling revenues hit $10.3 billion in 2024, up 8% year over year. Fewer than 8,000 companies are left, but demand for wells and geothermal projects is strong. Michigan, with more than one million private wells, remains a bellwether.

Still, Yordy cautioned, “Day Zero”—the moment when a city or region can no longer supply water—is no longer hypothetical. From Bangalore to Mexico City to Cape Town, global case studies show how quickly crises can escalate. Even U.S. cities like Phoenix and San Antonio are appearing on risk lists.

Family and Faith at the Heart of the Trade

Amid the heavy news, Yordy found inspiration at the industry’s Jubilee conference in Myrtle Beach, where Duck Dynasty’s Willie Robertson spoke on family, faith, and tradition. For Yordy, who grew up hearing drilling stories around the dinner table, those themes resonated. “That’s how I ended up as a third-generation driller,” he reflected.

The family connection carried into his feature conversation with longtime friend Chris Adkinson of DJ Pump Service and Green Water Wells. Adkinson, who entered the industry through a church connection two decades ago, now runs a multi-rig operation with his children stepping into the business.

“I never thought I’d own a drilling company,” Adkinson admitted. “But the folks who brought me in treated me like family.” Today, his son Hank, turning 21, is learning the ropes on a Drill Max 250 rig, while his daughter eyes the business and marketing side of operations.

The Adkinsons’ story is emblematic of the industry’s generational pull. “It’s spiritual,” Adkinson said of drilling wells, whether for households or municipalities. “You think about all the lives that water is going to touch.”

Balancing Growth and Responsibility

Adkinson and Yordy also discussed the challenges of scaling in a labor-tight market. DJ Pump has added rigs and even acquired another company, inheriting both equipment and headaches. Still, Adkinson sees opportunity everywhere. “If you’re not busy in our area, you just don’t want to work,” he said, noting that younger workers are finding satisfaction in the profession’s hands-on and family-oriented culture.

Yordy underscored the nobility of the trade. “We have the privilege and the responsibility to bring water to people,” he said. From ancient wells to modern geothermal systems, the work has always been about sustaining life and civilization.

As the industry looks to fall, challenges loom: depleted aquifers, interstate water lawsuits, and mounting climate pressures. But there is also resilience, innovation, and community. Yordy closed his podcast with a reminder to peers: “Drink a bottle of water, drink two bottles of water. We have to be smart. It is sad to believe that three individuals under 40 had heat strokes in June.”

For Yordy, Adkinson, and countless others in the drilling world, the message is clear. Protecting water means protecting people, livelihoods, and legacies. And as this hot summer fades, the industry continues to dig deeper—literally and figuratively—in pursuit of solutions.

Thanks for joining us. Tune in each Monday morning for the latest video or podcast. Whether you’re at your desk or on the way to the jobsite listening in the truck, start your week with us. You can also find our show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

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Brock Yordy, Global Drilling SME, Anchor, and lead content creator at TheDriller.com, wants you to contribute to TheDriller.com. Send news, tips and interview suggestions to questions@askbrock.com.