installing a dug well

[psuedofarmer]

I started installing ~400+ ft of french drains to help divert water from my greenhouses. The field sits next to a 3 acre marsh, which is fed by more than 3 springs (none directly accessible from the greenhouse field).

I hit ground water at 3 feet - after talking to a few local farmers, I decided to capture that ground water for future use (if the rain continues in the Northeast I'll have water forever).

Here's my question(s):

I'm going to dead-end the drainage ditch into a dug well (and divert water runoff from the greenhouses into it). I intend to install a few "drainage tiles" which are basically 3x3 round preform cement units that fit on top of each other (holes in bottom to allow water to flow in).

If i install the 3 tiles (9 feet) and dig a large area around the dug well, then fill in the area around the drainage tile with stone, will that suffice to create my dug well?

Unfortunately, I'm limited by the backhoe.. it can only dig to 8'5".. I'm hoping that the surrounding springs (and the large hole I'll dig around the drainage tiles will help keep it full in the dry times).

Thanks in advance for any insight.

pf

 

[Cowboyjg]

There are a few too many unknowns to give you a definative answer.
*How far away to the well from the field?
*How deep to water at the well site.
*Hows the perk at the well site and how long will it hold water.
*How much water volume vs well volume do you figure and does the french drain disperse as well as transport?
*How big a drain field around the well do you plan?

The real question is how much water are you having to get rid of 'so to speak'? Unless you have some sense of that I don't think you'll know for sure till you do it.

I realize that wasn't much help and I apologize for that. Those were the first things that came to my mind after reading your post.

 

[psuedofarmer]

There are a few too many unknowns to give you a definative answer.
*How far away to the well from the field?
*How deep to water at the well site.
*Hows the perk at the well site and how long will it hold water.
*How much water volume vs well volume do you figure and does the french drain disperse as well as transport?
*How big a drain field around the well do you plan?

The real question is how much water are you having to get rid of 'so to speak'? Unless you have some sense of that I don't think you'll know for sure till you do it.

I realize that wasn't much help and I apologize for that. Those were the first things that came to my mind after reading your post.

----------------------
*How far away to the well from the field?

distance to greenhouses is less than 50 feet

*How deep to water at the well site.

hit water @ 3feet deep

*Hows the perk at the well site and how long will it hold water.

it's been holding water for 2 weeks

*How much water volume vs well volume do you figure and does the french drain disperse as well as transport?

good question! the drain will be used primarily to transport water to the well. as for water volume, don't have an exact answer. we're using drip irrigation over all greenhouses (10,000 sq. ft), so water usage will probably be minimized.

*How big a drain field around the well do you plan?

i was thinking about a 300 sq feet drain field.. this may not be enough.

thanks for the input!

pf

 

[Cowboyjg]

Just a few other thoughts:

Do you plan to use collected water for the green houses with well/marsh/some other source as a backup? If so this may be a way by which you can keep the well empty enough to handle water from the storms when they occur without the well necessarily overflowing which then presents you with additional to have to get rid of.

Not wanting to get too complicated here but theoretically.....you could run your drains to the well and run a supply back to a plastic container (55 gallon or so drum) in each green house which would supply the drip system for that particular green house. The containers can be closed so as to eliminate mosquitos and such yet provide you with enough relief volume to assist the well. You could filter the water at the well to keep sediment down. Not sure if you plan to augment the water with nutrients but again, theoretically, you could add right to the drums wich would also let you enhance on a plant specific basis. You could even do this on a multi container level for each greenhouse which would allow you to be even more specific with your water distribution.

 

[Egon]

What is this well to be used for?

 

[psuedofarmer]

What is this well to be used for?

i'll likely use it for irrigation - i'm somewhat hesitant to rely on this system for the greenhouses and will likely plan on a drilled well. having said that, if i can build a system that can be used for supplemental watering (especially the raspberries) it may be the way to go.

i need to be realistic about the well - i can only dig it 8.5 feet (limitation of the BH), so i don't think i'll be able to get a substantial amount of water (especially with many unknowns, like recovery rates, etc.).

thanks!
pf

 

[psuedofarmer]

Just a few other thoughts:

Do you plan to use collected water for the green houses with well/marsh/some other source as a backup? If so this may be a way by which you can keep the well empty enough to handle water from the storms when they occur without the well necessarily overflowing which then presents you with additional to have to get rid of.

Not wanting to get too complicated here but theoretically.....you could run your drains to the well and run a supply back to a plastic container (55 gallon or so drum) in each green house which would supply the drip system for that particular green house. The containers can be closed so as to eliminate mosquitos and such yet provide you with enough relief volume to assist the well. You could filter the water at the well to keep sediment down. Not sure if you plan to augment the water with nutrients but again, theoretically, you could add right to the drums wich would also let you enhance on a plant specific basis. You could even do this on a multi container level for each greenhouse which would allow you to be even more specific with your water distribution.

excellent input.. thanks very much. you've just given me a few more ideas to pursue..

cheers!
pf

 

[Cowboyjg]

I as much as you can only go down 8.5 ' you can increase the area you excavate. Why not use a septic tank and create a cistern? For that matter, another option would be to bury a collection of plastic drums say 20 and tie them together with plumbing. You were going to put in the drain field anyway. Why not just take up some of that area with containers? You could backfill around the containers or the septic tank with the drainfield stone.

 

[psuedofarmer]

Why not use a septic tank and create a cistern? For that matter, another option would be to bury a collection of plastic drums say 20 and tie them together with plumbing. You were going to put in the drain field anyway. Why not just take up some of that area with containers? You could backfill around the containers or the septic tank with the drainfield stone.

this is EXACTLY what i had in mind (hey, if you've got some free time, i'll provide lunch!). the cost of well tile (3x3 section) is $160/each. a full sized septic tank would probably work just as well, and may be cheaper in the long run. the plastic drums are cheaper.. will look into that tomorrow.

thanks again!

pf

 

[Cowboyjg]

PF....while I seem to be on a roll, another question I had was, for how long thru out the year does the ground water stay that high? My reason has to do with the ability to use this as your primary water source. I realize you questioned that earlier but let's take a look at that again.

With the tanks system you could run perforated drainfield pipe with the hole up to allow collection of the ground water and keep the tank/s filled. you can fabric the pipe to help with any sediment and stone around to also help with filtration.

Obviously, having sufficiant ground water year round is the key but, if the marsh is spring fed you may have something to work with.

As far as lunch is concerned.....I'll fly if you buy....LOL

I enjoyed this brainstorming session.