Well problem need some help

[captaincrab55]

In my area the new specs for wells state that a 'bib' (think that is the term) is now part of a well system.
Essentially the well diggers pour about a yard or so of concrete around the well head to seal and prevent surface water from entering the well.
This concrete is sloped away from well in all directions.
Some soils (like sand) could allow easy seepage of surface waters.

Sounds like one would be forced to get the Pitless Adapter & Electric Stubbed out before the Well Driller could pour the bib..

When I had my well drilled 12 years ago in Baltimore County, Maryland, they required the casing to be Grouted in.. I paid for 90' of Grout. To me, it was worth it to protect my water supply...

 

[rekees4300]

Apparently, somewhere down there the rock had shifted side way.

If a new well is dug, what will stop this from happening again?

 

[arrow]

I think the well driller is honest. The problem is that wells are expensive.

I would check with a couple of others on re-drilling the existing well. While the drill is going to wander with the existing hole, the new hole only really has to be "straight enough" to drop a pump down.

Maybe even ask your existing driller to think about how straight a re-drilled well has to be.

If they cannot get the old casing out, redrilling will not solve his problem. The integrity of the casing failed allowing heaps of sediment dropping down his well. Either that or his rock strata was so soft, it just kept collapsing into the well over the years. That is the only reason I can think of for the driller to recommend casing all the way down. He should get a geology report of the area to be sure however.

 

[dodge man]

I agree with what Arrow says, you can have layers of very hard solid rock, and under it can be softer layers. The guy trying to fix the well said he got a lot of gravel out of the well, this kind of leads me to believe there is a layer of gravel or soft rock at some point, and either surface water or the leaking pipe washed a lot of crap in the well. This is probably why he tried to get a casing further down the well.

Another thing to keep in mind it they can't really steer the drilling bit in an exact straight line, so that is probably why there is a few bends in the well.

For a temporary basis, I'd set up a above ground tank and you can haul water to it. Come winter time, you will either have to put a heater in this tank or come up with a better plan.

 

[Egon]

If a new well is dug, what will stop this from happening again?

Not a thing!

In fact most of the old wells drilled in North America should show signs of becoming oval shaped.

 

[roamerr]

Where I ride ATV's in WV (near Bluefield) many people do not have wells or city water and truck there water in. The do it for years and basically have large storage tanks and a pump. That is a short term solution. Some have the local volunteer fire dept bring the water in.

Sounds like you will need a new well long-term. I've learned that well water is not free -- the set-up and long-term maintenance can easily cost more than the water available in most cities.

 

[rswyan]

Part of my extended family lived up in the mountains of VA .... they did not have a well (.... or an inside toilet for that matter ) ....

They had all their downspouts plumbed to a cistern that was used to provide household water .... including drinking water.

 

[CurlyDave]

They had all their downspouts plumbed to a cistern that was used to provide household water .... including drinking water.

How did they teach all the birds that landed on the roof to "hold it" until they stopped somewhere else?

 

[rswyan]

How did they teach all the birds that landed on the roof to "hold it" until they stopped somewhere else?

Honestly, I really have no idea what they did ..... it was over 40 years ago that I was down at the farm ..... but it sure was good tasting water ( ...... cant say I was quite as enthused about the outhouse tho' .....)

And I really have no idea of how many birds landed on their roof ... and out of those that did, how many did their biz .....

It is my understanding (currently) however that rainwater catchments do often use a bypass that allows the initial rainfall after a dry spell to avoid the catchment and "flush" the roof off before being caught and captured in the cistern .....

BTW - are you on a well out there on those 40 acres ?

If so, how do you teach all the various wildlife in your area to urinate/defecate outside of the watershed that serves your well ?

 

[marimus]

How did they teach all the birds that landed on the roof to "hold it" until they stopped somewhere else?

We have a dual filtration system followed by a UV sterilisation.

We have a summer dominant rainfall, and have to have enough capacity to store enough water to last through Autumn, Winter and Spring.

No problem filling the tanks once Summer rolls around again :thumbsup: