Old Well

[PSDStu]

just got done clearing about 3 acres of my heavely forested land and discovered this old well head.

There was an old farm house there 50 or so years ago, but nothings left of it except some of the old block foundation.

I haven't had a chance to do much tinkering with this well yet, but I might see what type of shape it's in and see if there's any chance I could use it for an irrigation system.

If anyone can take a look at this picture and tell me anything about it that would be great.

Stu

 

[Slamfire]

You aren't going to get a whole lot of water out of that little pipe and you'll need a special pump as there doesn't seem to be a way to use a submersible. It was probably used with a hand pump and won't be more'n 30 feet deep. Investigatin' it is pretty cheap though find out the depth, amount of water etc. Then consult a provessional well driller. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[DannyD]

if you had the pump that used to sit there, my wife would make me offer you a fortune for it.

Were we used to live in KY, the state put in a road across our place. The contractor one day was looking over a pond of water that "grew" overnite. Looking at all his drawings etc he could not figure out where all the water was coming from.......I showed him a well pump, still working, clear water, good to drink..........and the place where 2 ponds "used" to be before the bulldozer done them in, and before he got there. He was not amused to say the least

 

[em14]

I would suggest that you talk with a local well driller or two.... This state is very involved when it comes to closing a well to the point I'm told they must witness any closing of wells. Also, you may be able to find out who dug this well and some information about the well from the local well driller. These guys can many times recognize the work / approach used by another driller. I would not expect that you can use this water because you may not be able to pump it, (failed casing ... sand infiltration) ... but you will never know until you try to drop a pump down and start pumping. Check with the county and the local well drillers for your best info. I was going to close one until a driller explained what was involved so I'm just going to keep it capped so that one day I may use it for yard irrigation like you! Florida now requires the casing be filled with concrete when you close it and as I said witnessed by the State. On the other hand openning a new well is not hard just must pass a few water test and meet certain location requirements.
Leo

 

[OkeeDon]

You shouldn't need a submerged pump or any lind of special pump to try your well. Just run to Home Depot and pick up a 1/2 HP well pump and a check valve and try it. They sell two types; one used for "normal" water use that includes a pressure switch and is designed to be used with a bladder tank; and an irrigation pump that is designed to run with a steady output. I just put a new pump and bladder tank on a well on my commercial property; the building is supplied by city water, but we used the well for things like pressure washing. The new pump and bladder tank came to around $275 if I recall correctly. Of course, you'll also need a source of power, but I think a 1/2 hp pump will run off most generators. They sell larger pumps also, but I find that a 1/2 hp pump will put out plenty of water for single use.

Your well may be shallow (around 30') if it was used for irrigation, or deeper if it was used for a house (65' to 100'). The pump I mentioned will work on either.

I do have a submerged 1 hp pump in a 6" well on my rural property, but it will be used for a house, a barn, gardening and irrigation and to keep the pond full. It puts out 25 gallons per minute; the well is capable of 75 gpm but is limited by the capacity of the 1 hp pump. My well driller said it was capable of supplying anything I would ever need.

 

[PSDStu]

Thanks Don!

My well driller will be out next week to put our house well in.

We don't have power yet to the property, but I think I may get a little pump and run a generator to see if the well is still useable.

I'd really like to be able to us this well for irrigation if possible.

I was surprised to find it out here..... we are pretty far off the beaten path!

Stu

 

[GeneD14]

I thought that the "fountain of youth" was supposed to be somewhere in Florida, and that a famous explorer spent years looking for it. This may be your lucky day. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[LAXPatrick]

Your wife collects old well pumps? We've got an Amish "store" back in the middle of nowhere that's got a slew of 'em. If I think about it, I'll take pictures next time we're out there. If it's old and rusty (not really), they've got it. Everything from old pulleys (wood and metal) to hay handling gear, to horse drawn gear, and much more.

PC

 

[woodlot]

I suggest checking the depth to water before you lay out any money for a pump. Just run a CLEAN small piece of pipe (or other weight) down with a CLEAN string and check the water depth. The single pipe pumps (jet pumps) can only "suck" up 25 feet. I know okee said they work much deeper than that, and I'll sure apoligize if I'm wrong, but I've never seen any kind of single pipe jet pump that will work at a depth greater than 25 feet. If the water is deeper than that there's not much your going to be able to do with that small pipe. If the water is less than 25 feet and you've got good flow, wow you got it made, a free source of water! Also be sure to have a lab test the water for microbes like cloroform.

 

[Highbeam]

Since 1 horspower is only 745 watts, it won't take much generator. However, the power needed to start the pump may be a bit higher. Most generators utilize a slow blow type circuit breaker that will allow for this start up draw so long as the engine can handle it.

 

[OkeeDon]

<font color="blue">The single pipe pumps (jet pumps) can only "suck" up 25 feet. I know okee said they work much deeper than that, and I'll sure apoligize if I'm wrong, but I've never seen any kind of single pipe jet pump that will work at a depth greater than 25 feet. </font>

You know, it's going to take someone a lot smarter than me to explain it. I've read all the same limitations on pumps, yet I've lived on wells in Florida for 33 years and have never had anything but a 1/2 hp or 3/4 hp jet pump. I know my wells have been deeper than 25'. We have an aquifer around 30' that produces low quality water suitable for irrigation, and another aquifer at around 65' to 115' that produces decent home use water. The submersible pump I have now is the first I've ever had. It's suspended about 40' down in a 115' deep well.

The only explanation I have is that in Florida, all of our wells are semi-artesian.

 

[DannyD]

she does not collect them, but I would bet the farm one would be near the pond in a second.......well ok soon as she told me where to put it.

 

[PSDStu]

Danny,

If I find anything when I get done cleaning the place up I'll be sure to give you a shout!

Stu

 

[penokee]

Thought I'd attach a picture of our "Local Hand Pump Inspector". Hope he doesn't think he's hiding. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
penokee /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[penokee]

A closer look at the "Inspector"
penokee /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[woodlot]

Okee, just to clarify, it dosn't matter how deep the well is... what matters is how far down the water level is in that pipe.