I like the idea of the shallow well. Thinking on that one and trying to find a solution to remove unwanted water and freezing issues.
Pond/drain tile - I had thought about that, and that sounds like the most legit reasoning behind all the water. But, I don't want assume anything. If it is not that, it is ground water.
I'm going to do some bore holes and fill testing/emptying along the east side. If I were to do a shallow well there, I have a bunch of runoff in that area. I think I would need to have the well casing 12-18" above grade to prevent filling from runoff. At least that's what I'm reading should be done. Nice and sealed up to prevent any contamination.
Right after the flood here, I designed a number of simple shallow de-watering wells that several agencies still use. It's a deliberately simple and inexpensive design for disaster areas, but has proven very durable. I'll explain it in detail and you might want to use it or some version of the same idea.
MATERIALS FOR A SIMPLE SHALLOW WELL:
The most basic version uses three ten foot sections of 4" diameter PVC pipe all glued into a single central T connector to form an a PVC "T". The two opposing legs are capped and many holes drilled into them to allow the water to flow in. These opposing legs are then covered with 10 foot lengths of corrugated&perforated 6" black drain pipe which is in turn covered with a soil sock or geotextile wrap.
The well's vertical upright "casing" is not perforated.
I originally chose these sizes because all the materials are available at Home Depot for about $100 total, and the size is adequate for either a a submersible or suction pump. The inflow rate will vary with the water table of course. The original sized above was designed for use in sandy soil or flood debris with a 6 foot deep water table and a draw of 15 gallon/minute.
However, any well is improved if the vertical leg is a larger diameter, and this one is no exception. If larger pipe is available, consider making the vertical leg from 6" diameter PVC. A standard 4" to 6" adapter can be used so that the inexpensive and readily available 4" "T" can still be used. Remember, the well's vertical upright leg is NOT perforated.
INSTALLING THE SIMPLE SHALLOW WELL:
To install the well, a backhoe digs a 25 to 30 foot long by ten foot deep slot style hole in the ground, and the inverted PVC "T" is lowered into the slot until the horizontal legs are resting on the bottom. Use ropes as slings to support the horizontal legs while lowering. After this well T is in position, six to twelve inches of clean gravel is dumped into the slot right on top of the horizontal legs and the slot then backfilled using native soil. The vertical leg can be extended above ground with a collar if extra height is needed.
That's all there is to the well itself.
PUMPING A SHALLOW WELL:
To pump from this well - or any shallow well - use either an above ground suction pump or a small diameter submersible well pump. Which one is used may depend on the the flow rate of the well.
A simple 1/2 to 1 hp suction pump is what most people use to start or to prove the well flow rate, although at least one of the wells locally has enough flow for a standard submersible well pump to run continuously. Hardware store 110v suction pumps are less expensive and easiest to install, but are lower flow and pressure than submersible well pumps.
To feed a suction type pump, a length of 1.5" to to 2" diameter suction hose with a filter on the end is dropped down the vertical leg of the well and connected to the pump above ground. Suction pumps usually need to be primed before they are run, and then are run continuously. To help with initial priming and then to maintain prime when the pump is turned off, I like to put a PVC ball valve between the pump and the suction hose. A one-way "flapper" valve can also be used. Or both.
Submersible well pumps are more efficient and offer much higher flow and pressure. Submersible well pumps are lowered directly into the vertical leg of the well and pump up to the surface via a 1.25" dia. PVC pipe. This type of pump is high flow, but they also cost more initially and most (not all) also require 220v, a controller, and pressure tank.
Good luck!
rScotty
