diff --git a/api/thing.py b/api/thing.py
index b65672880..367237f58 100644
--- a/api/thing.py
+++ b/api/thing.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 from fastapi_pagination.ext.sqlalchemy import paginate
 from sqlalchemy import select
 from sqlalchemy.exc import ProgrammingError
+from sqlalchemy.orm import selectinload
 from starlette.status import (
     HTTP_200_OK,
     HTTP_201_CREATED,
@@ -361,6 +362,7 @@ async def get_thing_deployments(
     """
     thing = simple_get_by_id(session, Thing, thing_id)
     sql = select(Deployment).where(Deployment.thing_id == thing.id)
+    sql = sql.options(selectinload(Deployment.sensor))
     return paginate(query=sql, conn=session)
 
 
diff --git a/db/deployment.py b/db/deployment.py
index 8f4aaf84e..0b2dc61df 100644
--- a/db/deployment.py
+++ b/db/deployment.py
@@ -50,6 +50,4 @@ class Deployment(Base, AutoBaseMixin, ReleaseMixin):
     # Many-To-One: A Deployment is for one Thing.
     thing: Mapped["Thing"] = relationship("Thing", back_populates="deployments")
     # Many-To-One: A Deployment is of one piece of equipment (sensor).
-    sensor: Mapped["Sensor"] = relationship(
-        "Sensor", back_populates="deployments", lazy="joined"
-    )
+    sensor: Mapped["Sensor"] = relationship("Sensor", back_populates="deployments")
diff --git a/db/location.py b/db/location.py
index fda4611f9..6376988f6 100644
--- a/db/location.py
+++ b/db/location.py
@@ -118,9 +118,7 @@ class LocationThingAssociation(Base, AutoBaseMixin):
     )
 
     # --- Relationship Definitions ---
-    location: Mapped["Location"] = relationship(
-        back_populates="thing_associations", lazy="joined"
-    )
+    location: Mapped["Location"] = relationship(back_populates="thing_associations")
     thing: Mapped["Thing"] = relationship(back_populates="location_associations")
 
 
diff --git a/db/observation.py b/db/observation.py
index 90971bc52..27fe70458 100644
--- a/db/observation.py
+++ b/db/observation.py
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ class Observation(Base, AutoBaseMixin, ReleaseMixin):
 
     # Many-To-One: An Observation measures one Parameter.
     parameter: Mapped["Parameter"] = relationship(
-        "Parameter", back_populates="observations", lazy="joined"
+        "Parameter", back_populates="observations", lazy="selectin"
     )
 
 
diff --git a/db/thing.py b/db/thing.py
index 286372242..9d73a8f98 100644
--- a/db/thing.py
+++ b/db/thing.py
@@ -207,7 +207,6 @@ class Thing(
         cascade="all, delete-orphan",
         passive_deletes=True,
         order_by="LocationThingAssociation.effective_start.desc()",
-        lazy="joined",
     )
 
     contact_associations = relationship(
@@ -254,7 +253,6 @@ class Thing(
         back_populates="thing",
         cascade="all, delete-orphan",
         passive_deletes=True,
-        lazy="joined",
     )
 
     well_casing_materials: Mapped[List["WellCasingMaterial"]] = relationship(
@@ -262,7 +260,6 @@ class Thing(
         back_populates="thing",
         cascade="all, delete-orphan",
         passive_deletes=True,
-        lazy="joined",
     )
 
     links: Mapped[List["ThingIdLink"]] = relationship(
@@ -270,7 +267,6 @@ class Thing(
         back_populates="thing",
         cascade="all, delete-orphan",
         passive_deletes=True,
-        lazy="joined",
     )
 
     # One-To-Many: A Thing (well) can have multiple measuring points over time.
@@ -279,7 +275,6 @@ class Thing(
         back_populates="thing",
         cascade="all, delete-orphan",
         passive_deletes=True,
-        lazy="joined",
     )
 
     monitoring_frequencies: Mapped[List["MonitoringFrequencyHistory"]] = relationship(
@@ -287,7 +282,6 @@ class Thing(
         back_populates="thing",
         cascade="all, delete-orphan",
         passive_deletes=True,
-        lazy="joined",
     )
 
     # One-To-Many: A Thing can be associated with many AquiferSystems via the ThingAquiferAssociation join table.
@@ -296,7 +290,6 @@ class Thing(
         back_populates="thing",
         cascade="all, delete-orphan",
         passive_deletes=True,
-        lazy="joined",
     )
 
     # Many-To-Many: A Thing can penetrate many GeologicFormations.
@@ -306,7 +299,6 @@ class Thing(
             back_populates="thing",
             cascade="all, delete-orphan",
             passive_deletes=True,
-            lazy="joined",
         )
     )
 
@@ -348,9 +340,6 @@ class Thing(
     # Full-text search vector
     search_vector = Column(TSVectorType("name"))
 
-    # for temporary backwards compatibility
-    well_construction_notes = mapped_column(String(1000), nullable=True)
-
     @property
     def current_location(self):
         """
diff --git a/db/thing_aquifer_association.py b/db/thing_aquifer_association.py
index cca5758a9..d9a3e6ac4 100644
--- a/db/thing_aquifer_association.py
+++ b/db/thing_aquifer_association.py
@@ -34,12 +34,12 @@ class ThingAquiferAssociation(Base, AutoBaseMixin, ReleaseMixin):
     # --- Relationship Definitions ---
     # Many-To-One: This association links to one Thing.
     thing: Mapped["Thing"] = relationship(
-        "Thing", back_populates="aquifer_associations", lazy="joined"
+        "Thing", back_populates="aquifer_associations"
     )
 
     # Many-To-One: This association links to one AquiferSystem.
     aquifer_system: Mapped["AquiferSystem"] = relationship(
-        "AquiferSystem", back_populates="thing_associations", lazy="joined"
+        "AquiferSystem", back_populates="thing_associations"
     )
     # One-To-Many: An association can have multiple aquifer types.
     aquifer_types: Mapped[list["AquiferType"]] = relationship(
@@ -47,5 +47,4 @@ class ThingAquiferAssociation(Base, AutoBaseMixin, ReleaseMixin):
         back_populates="thing_aquifer_association",
         cascade="all, delete-orphan",
         passive_deletes=True,
-        lazy="joined",
     )
diff --git a/db/thing_geologic_formation_association.py b/db/thing_geologic_formation_association.py
index 0707df269..71d393404 100644
--- a/db/thing_geologic_formation_association.py
+++ b/db/thing_geologic_formation_association.py
@@ -51,10 +51,10 @@ class ThingGeologicFormationAssociation(Base, AutoBaseMixin, ReleaseMixin):
     # --- Relationship Definitions ---
     # Many-To-One: This association links to one Thing.
     thing: Mapped["Thing"] = relationship(
-        "Thing", back_populates="formation_associations", lazy="joined"
+        "Thing", back_populates="formation_associations"
     )
 
     # Many-To-One: This association links to one GeologicFormation.
     geologic_formation: Mapped["GeologicFormation"] = relationship(
-        "GeologicFormation", back_populates="thing_associations", lazy="joined"
+        "GeologicFormation", back_populates="thing_associations"
     )
diff --git a/schemas/contact.py b/schemas/contact.py
index d43cd4aaf..eeecd6bfd 100644
--- a/schemas/contact.py
+++ b/schemas/contact.py
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@
 
 from core.enums import Role, ContactType, PhoneType, EmailType, AddressType
 from schemas import BaseResponseModel, BaseCreateModel, BaseUpdateModel
-from schemas.thing import ThingResponse
 
 
 # -------- VALIDATORS ----------
@@ -199,6 +198,15 @@ class AddressResponse(BaseItemResponse):
     address_type: AddressType
 
 
+class ThingResponseForContact(BaseResponseModel):
+    """
+    Response schema for thing details related to a contact. All that is needed
+    are the id and name
+    """
+
+    name: str
+
+
 class ContactResponse(BaseResponseModel):
     """
     Response schema for contact details.
@@ -212,7 +220,7 @@ class ContactResponse(BaseResponseModel):
     emails: List[EmailResponse] = []
     phones: List[PhoneResponse] = []
     addresses: List[AddressResponse] = []
-    things: List[ThingResponse] = []  # List of related things
+    things: List[ThingResponseForContact] = []
 
     @field_validator("incomplete_nma_phones", mode="before")
     def make_incomplete_nma_phone_str(cls, v: list) -> list:
diff --git a/services/thing_helper.py b/services/thing_helper.py
index fdd0424db..731db8429 100644
--- a/services/thing_helper.py
+++ b/services/thing_helper.py
@@ -16,13 +16,13 @@
 from datetime import datetime
 from zoneinfo import ZoneInfo
 
-from fastapi import Request
+from fastapi import Request, HTTPException
 from fastapi_pagination.ext.sqlalchemy import paginate
 from pydantic import BaseModel
 from shapely import wkb
 from shapely.geometry import mapping
 from sqlalchemy import select, func
-from sqlalchemy.orm import Session, aliased
+from sqlalchemy.orm import Session, aliased, selectinload
 from starlette.status import HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, HTTP_409_CONFLICT
 
 from db import (
@@ -33,9 +33,11 @@
     WellScreen,
     WellPurpose,
     WellCasingMaterial,
+    ThingAquiferAssociation,
+    GroupThingAssociation,
+    MeasuringPointHistory,
 )
-from db.group import GroupThingAssociation
-from db.measuring_point_history import MeasuringPointHistory
+
 from services.audit_helper import audit_add
 from services.crud_helper import model_patcher
 from services.exceptions_helper import PydanticStyleException
@@ -47,6 +49,22 @@
     "well_casing_materials": (WellCasingMaterial, "material"),
 }
 
+WELL_LOADER_OPTIONS = [
+    selectinload(Thing.location_associations).selectinload(
+        LocationThingAssociation.location
+    ),
+    selectinload(Thing.well_purposes),
+    selectinload(Thing.well_casing_materials),
+    selectinload(Thing.links),
+    selectinload(Thing.measuring_points),
+    selectinload(Thing.monitoring_frequencies),
+    selectinload(Thing.aquifer_associations).selectinload(
+        ThingAquiferAssociation.aquifer_system
+    ),
+]
+
+WELL_THING_TYPE = "water well"
+
 
 def wkb_to_geojson(wkb_element):
     if wkb_element is None:
@@ -74,6 +92,12 @@ def get_db_things(
     if thing_type:
         sql = sql.where(Thing.thing_type == thing_type)
 
+        if thing_type == WELL_THING_TYPE:
+            sql = sql.options(*WELL_LOADER_OPTIONS)
+    else:
+        # add all eager loads for generic thing query until/unless GET /thing is deprecated
+        sql = sql.options(*WELL_LOADER_OPTIONS)
+
     if name:
         sql = sql.where(Thing.name == name)
 
@@ -118,8 +142,7 @@ def get_thing_type_from_request(request: Request) -> str:
     return thing_type
 
 
-def verify_thing_type_correspondence(thing: Thing, request: Request):
-    thing_type = get_thing_type_from_request(request)
+def verify_thing_type_correspondence(thing: Thing, thing_type: str):
     if thing.thing_type != thing_type:
         raise PydanticStyleException(
             status_code=HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND,
@@ -135,9 +158,21 @@ def verify_thing_type_correspondence(thing: Thing, request: Request):
 
 
 def get_thing_of_a_thing_type_by_id(session: Session, request: Request, thing_id: int):
-    thing = simple_get_by_id(session, Thing, thing_id)
+    thing_type = get_thing_type_from_request(request)
+    sql = select(Thing).where(Thing.id == thing_id)
+
+    if thing_type == WELL_THING_TYPE:
+        sql = sql.options(*WELL_LOADER_OPTIONS)
 
-    verify_thing_type_correspondence(thing, request)
+    thing = session.execute(sql).scalar_one_or_none()
+
+    if not thing:
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND,
+            detail=f"Thing with ID {thing_id} not found.",
+        )
+
+    verify_thing_type_correspondence(thing, thing_type)
 
     return thing
 
@@ -261,7 +296,8 @@ def patch_thing(
 ):
     thing = simple_get_by_id(session, Thing, thing_id)
 
-    verify_thing_type_correspondence(thing, request)
+    thing_type = get_thing_type_from_request(request)
+    verify_thing_type_correspondence(thing, thing_type)
 
     thing = model_patcher(session, Thing, thing_id, payload, user)
     return thing