Well I know this is dangerous because there is a company going through our land looking for Natural Gas Reserves underground. I will not let them test or even drill till they Promise me in writing they will not hurt our drinking water. I have a well that I drink out of and we have never had city or county water hook-up. We have to be very careful on our water table. RTR!
You may want to allow them. Here is why. You probably do not have mineral rights, but you can make them lease the land to access the minerals. You could be set for life. I know they pay 1500 to 2000 per month for each well you allow, at least, in addition you could easily negotiate them to run you a water line. Honestly, it's just not safe to be on well water.
Here is why. Way out in the country you
might be ok, but there is no licensing in Alabama for drillers. Meaning every single well into your aquifer is probably not properly constructed, furthermore, there are probably hundreds that are not properly abandoned and allow surface drainage to your aquifer. ALL of these old wells I find at peoples homes are not deep enough to be used safely, you just have to go too deep and its too costly for the individual.
If you need a geologist to represent you I will do so pro bono.