Developing a small Spring?

[CliffordK]

I don't have a backhoe now, and don't see one in the tea leaves for a while, so I'll probably be using a shovel.

I'm not quite sure what the dirt is like as I dig down. I think it may be a real crumbly sandstone, at least for a few feet.

Undoubtedly the tree that previously was there, and now the stump has broken through whatever layer holds the water, and is now providing a channel for the water to come out. Thus getting to the source would mean either digging out the stump, or moving about 6 feet uphill, and hoping to intercept the spring above the source.

I think at this point I'll start simple, and perhaps incrementally expand. That will also allow me to see how different components of the system work together, and what works, and what doesn't work.

About where the bucket is in the photo is fairly level. I think I'll dig out and bury half a barrel just below the spring. If I do bungs down, I should be able to put in a clean out valve in the bottom with a drain further downhill. Then a pump, solar panel, and battery, and I should be able to send the water uphill. Perhaps with an annual cleaning of my system.

I was thinking of using a float valve at both ends, but if I can generate enough solar power in the summer, I should be able to design an overflow and just pump all the water I can get.

 

[brin]

Think about digging a hole and using a Ram Pump....no electricity required...Check out his site and Google more..Home-made Hydraulic Ram Pump

 

[lew61]

Here's a shot of my spring "project." Our spring was at the end of a 90' tunnel that had caved on me a few years ago as I was doing a bit of maintenance. Solution: bye bye tunnel. As you can see, water is a scarce commodity hereabouts.

 

[Western]

May keep an eye out for windmill type pump too

 

[CliffordK]

Think about digging a hole and using a Ram Pump....no electricity required...Check out his site and Google more..Home-made Hydraulic Ram Pump

It looks like a most interesting design. The small elevation loss would be fine as this is on a hillside. However, the system is water wasting. According to the link, one would expect somewhat less than 20% of the water to be delivered uphill. So my 1 gpm suddenly becomes about 0.1 or 0.2 gpm uphill, which then becomes low enough that it probably wouldn't be worth it without trying to get more flow.

 

[CliffordK]

I'd like to experiment with a water pump windmill sometime. I already have some of the top end parts, but don't have the jack part.

However, I am not sure the power company would let me install a tower at a location close enough to the spring to be useful. Perhaps all the way at the bottom of the hill.

 

[Western]

I'd like to experiment with a water pump windmill sometime. I already have some of the top end parts, but don't have the jack part.

However, I am not sure the power company would let me install a tower at a location close enough to the spring to be useful. Perhaps all the way at the bottom of the hill.

I have seen all kinds of contraptions for generating wind, the old ones we have around here are great with the added height, but I bet there are many configurations that can be used to generate wind energy. I dont know why a wheel placed horizontally wouldn't work, like a roof vent design on steriods??

 

[MtHam]

Twenty years ago when I first developed my property I found a year round seep near a seasonal creek that I dug into with a backhoe and installed a perforated 3"PVC pipe with gravel. It supplied about 1gpm for the next 10 years, and then petered out in the dry months. Hired a horizontal well driller who drilled about 60' into the hillside and placed perforated PVC pipe. It continues today at about 1-3gpm, and supplies all our needs. Gravity fed to a 2500 gallon tank from where it is then pumped uphill (100') to another 2500 gal tank. Pressure pump then sends it on to various locations. Since then I have developed another source (creek) which is 600' lower and 1800' distant from the house and garden, but do use it occasionally at the end of the dry season to support additional agriculture that would otherwise not be possible. A 3 panel solar array pumps the water 1/2 the way up the 600' height, and then a 2nd grid tied pump does the rest.

 

[dave1949]

I have seen all kinds of contraptions for generating wind, the old ones we have around here are great with the added height, but I bet there are many configurations that can be used to generate wind energy. I dont know why a wheel placed horizontally wouldn't work, like a roof vent design on steriods??

There are several to chose from:
https://www.google.com/search?q=ver...8GLOQ0QHHs4CYBg&ved=0CE8QsAQ&biw=1440&bih=799

Some of these "vertical axis" turbines claim they can be close to the ground and still work. I would tread with caution and really understand what is there for site wind resources before jumping in.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

Chances are the spring is actually uphill from the stump, and it just daylights there. if you dig a horizontal trench uphill you may get a lot more water. My grandfather did that many years ago, and developed a spring from a seep like yours to a spring that filled a 4" pipe year round. You're probably losing most of your water into the ground before you see it. I would recommend putting in a few days on the end of a shovel rather than getting wild with a backhoe.