Cleaning dead snakes out of a dug well

[/pine]

I have never heard of anyone getting salmonella from spring fed water systems...however giardia is another story...it is the reason that holding tanks etc. should be covered...giardia is a parasite found in the feces of warm blooded animals...anything from squirrel or mouse poop to droppings from owls that have eaten said animals etc...

 

[Mat4644]

In our county many old shallow farm wells were forcefully shut down by the Health Department because of bacteria in the late 60s and early 70s. Many were artesian (spring).

 

[stuckmotor]

It seems that the snakes fall in, can't get out and drown. I think the cover should be fixed. As a stop gap measure you might install something the snakes could climb out on from the bottom of the well to an exit.

 

[two_bit_score]

It seems that the snakes fall in, can't get out and drown. I think the cover should be fixed. As a stop gap measure you might install something the snakes could climb out on from the bottom of the well to an exit.

Could snakes be going in for frogs?

 

[Valveman]

If a snake can get in so can the mice. Mice, rabbits and such will fall in wells trying to reach the water. The snakes probably just follow the mice. A spring needs to be sealed the same way a water well is sealed or even better. Concrete rings with sealant between them and a good sealing top is best. But a good tight lid and plugging even the smallest holes is the key. Just clean the gravel bed as best you can and chlorinate the heck out of it. But it will all be for naught if you don't get the lid and holes sealed.

 

[Egon]

The suggest comment of having a competent person do an evaluation may be the best way to start. Then go from there and have the new well drilled.

 

[MossRoad]

The suggest comment of having a competent person do an evaluation may be the best way to start. Then go from there and have the new well drilled.

Blasphemy!

Next we'll be reading assembly instructions.

 

[JamesHW]

Our well is about 26 foot in sand tapping a wide spread unconfined shallow aquifer. You can see in nearby ravines spring weeps (I estimate ten weeps actually on our place) around the property that feed year-round streams and that correspond with the water table our well point draws water from. The trend around us is to tap two deeper aquifers that reside below the obstructing features (60-100 foot around us according to drilling records). Our water is very clean and tasty and tests out very clear, but once many years ago the water developed a “tangy” flavor. We had a fellow open up the old 1930’s holding tank next to the house that had the old pitcher pump (unused then) above it and a dead possum was extracted. I think that was the year we put in an expansion tank, abandoning the old buried metal water tank. Many nearby folks who have deep wells get a soapy tasting water that requires a lot of treatment.

 

[Mat4644]

The problem with spring fed shallow sources the water quality will change with ground conditions. Flows change from wet to drought soil saturation and so will the water quality. The more ground filter material (deeper) the better for safety.

 

[Doofy]

Pump it down, shovel it out, chlorinate for 24 hours, pump until smell is gone and seal it up. The only thing that can get in my dug well are some pesty small ants.