one "hole" of a project

[banditbooker]

I would cut it into smaller pieces and sell them as post holes.

Now THAT'S funny!!

yes, that would be a good idea but i did the math and i would have too many partial holes left over. i try not to waste. :laughing:

on a serious note, thats a good idea HS, although i am on city water, but that would be all the better, i could just use the reservoir for the toilet until it went empty then switch back to city water until it filled up again.

 

[houstonscott]

Its easy to set up the system to supply toilets/garden/sprinklers. A float switch changes over to city water when tank is low so you don't have too. I don't know how much you pay for water but the idea is to use less of what you pay for and use what you have on hand to reduce costs, and conserve resources. Building that tank would be the major expense in a rain water recovery system, you have a spectacular start to that system.

HS

 

[leonz]

I hate to be a wet blanket about your dug well,
but as NYDEC certified but unregistered well d
riller and pump installer I will strongly suggest
that you fill it with stone and cover it with
concrete as you or your heirs wil be responsible
for any damages in the future as it is part of the
real estate of your home and any liability wil fall
back on you or your heirs.

You can always fill it and simply place a wishing
well planter on the slab.

The big issue is methane and its effects as it is
a huge liability even if the dug well is refilled.

Its not going to be aselling point for you and a
realtor wil not be cooperative in selling it if the
dug well is left open in any event.

 

[kebo]

What an interesting old well....and well-made, too.

Old wells often become trash dumps, or a treasure trove for
archaeologists. There may be some very interesting artifacts down
there, depending on how old it is. It is interesting that it is dry.

Bingo! I bet you a box of donuts there are several nice old coins at the bottom of that well. We have a 42ft deep hand dug well at my hunt club. I keep trying to think of ways that I can get a mechanical claw down in there to take small bites of the dirt at the bottom and pull the dirt up. No way I'm getting down in there, but would love to see what's at the bottom of it!

If I were the OP, I would certainly not fill it up, but at least cover it in a way that no one (or no pet) could fall down inside it.

 

[banditbooker]

i think what im gonna do is dig down about 1 foot or so and pour around the hole with concrete (to stabilize the hole) and bolt one inch plexiglass over it and incorporate it into my walk way. so it will be sealed off yet you can still walk safely over it and look inside it anytime. im also gonna hang some lights down it so i can hit a switch and turn the lights at night or day. but when the time comes, and i uncover it again i will lower a camera down and take pictures to see whats down there and possibly take some dirt samples like you said kebo. i never thought of the old coins being there. like you, i would never go down there, because working in construction and excavating i am well aware of the dangers of confined spaces.

 

[RippySkippy]

If you're going to top it, is plexiglass the "right stuff?" Won't it get all scratched up with foot traffic? I don't have an alternative suggestion, but if it were at my house, in about a day and a half, you would only have about 20% left not scratched...kids....

Around here, any known well (which this now is) must be either 1) brought up to potable water standards (which it cannot since it's dry) or 2) filled and capped as per state regs. before its allowed to change hands. I don't necessarily like the rules, but they is what they is...

As enticing as this is, it's also a terrific liability.

 

[banditbooker]

i've been doing some research on plexiglass and emailing a few companies that deal in plexiglass. i guess you can also polish some plexiglass to keep the fine scratches out. i don't ever plan on selling the place and if i do i'll cross that bridge when i come to it. i will definitely make sure its safe, they make walks like this in all sorts of applications, like on sky scrapers, the grand canyon has a walk that you can walk out over the edge and look through the walk. although they are on a bigger scale it's still the same concept.

 

[mdelmarcelle]

Very interesting post! And that thing creeps me out! If you've never seen the movie The Ring, you gotta see it now. Great horror movie that incorporates a well. After watching that, you may wonder if there's stuff other than coins at the bottom of that puppy.

 

[CaptPicky]

I wonder what the temp is at the bottom of the hole? I'm picturing a well and pully system. Raise of the bucket and find a six pack in it nice and cool..maybe the 100 degree heat is finally getting to me :confused2:

 

[RippySkippy]

i've been doing some research on plexiglass and emailing a few companies that deal in plexiglass. i guess you can also polish some plexiglass to keep the fine scratches out. i don't ever plan on selling the place and if i do i'll cross that bridge when i come to it. i will definitely make sure its safe, they make walks like this in all sorts of applications, like on sky scrapers, the grand canyon has a walk that you can walk out over the edge and look through the walk. although they are on a bigger scale it's still the same concept.

Well that should be good enough, I thought most of the see through walks were glass, not plexi. Regardless, with a small light in the well, it would be a neat affect....if not a tad spooky.