Hand digging water well

[bcbull378]

Ok call me crazy but Im thinking of digging my own water well I only have to go 50 to 60 feet to water. I just wanted to know have any of you taken on a task like this ? The gorund we have here is heavy adobe for the first 10 feet then some rock mixed with it that rest of the way. My great grand father hand dug the first well here on the ranch in 1900 and I thought it would be good excersize and save myself $3500 let me know what you think and do you have a ny cost savings ways of digging a 50 to 60 ft well.....Dan

 

[Profnohair]

You may want to check out YouTube. I know there is at least one video on hand digging a well. Also, you may find a drilling rig for rent in your area. They usually bring out the rig and have a person that stays there and gives you directions on operating it. Less expensive than them doing with with several workers.

 

[hodge]

You may want to check out YouTube. I know there is at least one video on hand digging a well. Also, you may find a drilling rig for rent in your area. They usually bring out the rig and have a person that stays there and gives you directions on operating it. Less expensive than them doing with with several workers.

And certainly safer. There is always the risk of cave-in when hand digging a well.
If you do it, take pictures.

 

[bcbull378]

Im planning on installing shoring on my way down and using a oxygen , gas tester as I work, as for the riggs you can rent I need something that will drill at least a 24" hole , knowone around here rents those and it would be around $3500 just to punch a hole . Im planning on having at least one person at the top at all times. Ive worked for the Southern Ca Edison company for the last 36 years and there all about safety , its just something Id like to do like my Dad use to say hard work builds character.....Dan...... just a thought I think I should be able to dig 8' a day with no trouble

 

[cabu]

Some of my friends dug a well by hand, but only 30ft. They used rings of concret with a diameter of 4ft and steps inside. They started with a 3-4 ft hole, put the first ring in it and dig inside of it down so the ring slide down. Then they added another ring at the top and so on. In the end you have a tube of concrete all the way down. It was hard work, but after that one of the cheapest and best wells they could get.

Please make some pics of your solution.

der carl

 

[Dennis T.]

I knew a local city worker who was a victim of a cave-in while digging on a very deep trench for a sewer& water project. Rescuers got him out alive, but he still suffers from some brain damage from being buried for too long. So be careful !

 

[bcbull378]

I knew a local city worker who was a victim of a cave-in while digging on a very deep trench for a sewer& water project. Rescuers got him out alive, but he still suffers from some brain damage from being buried for too long. So be careful !

Thank you Ill be using shoring consisting of 4x4s and 2x12s then after 8' or so Ill be wearing a safety harness atached to a rope at all times

 

[skeets]

BC,, I am assumeing that you have a BH for your tractor if so may I sujust diggin as deep as you can and then setting a piece of 6 or 8 foot culvert pipe like maybe 10 foot down and then fill around it solid,, and then as you muck your way down set some smaller pipe like 4 footers,, 60 feet is a long way down and remember about working in a confined space air gets a little scarce pretty quick so some type of air handler might be a good Idea.. This should be a rather ineristing project,,, yes yes lots of pics,,,
oh and ya might want to check with the local building zoneing board first, some of them guys aint got no sence of humor

 

[bcbull378]

BC,, I am assumeing that you have a BH for your tractor if so may I sujust diggin as deep as you can and then setting a piece of 6 or 8 foot culvert pipe like maybe 10 foot down and then fill around it solid,, and then as you muck your way down set some smaller pipe like 4 footers,, 60 feet is a long way down and remember about working in a confined space air gets a little scarce pretty quick so some type of air handler might be a good Idea.. This should be a rather ineristing project,,, yes yes lots of pics,,,
oh and ya might want to check with the local building zoneing board first, some of them guys aint got no sence of humor

All good points Skeets I have worked in confined spaces for years with the power company if Im not climbing poles we are working in underground vaults. I will be useing a fresh air bolwer, I dont think Ill check with the local yolkeles what they dont know wont hurt them , seams like the county gets involved all things go to pot. The wife says sale a few head of cattle and have the hole drilled, I say itll be a good exsperence and excersize , she says have it drilled and take up jogging, we'll see.....Dan

 

[B7100]

Is there any reason why if you had it drilled it would need to be 24", the wells I know of in the UK for private use are drilled to suit a 4" linner and screen?
Dave
Edit: also wells should not be within 50m of any septic system!

 

[Eric McCarthy]

Have you had the land perk tested to see where you need to stick the well? Like B7100 said you dont want a well anywhere near you septic tank. It wouldnt be too tasty drinking shitty water!

 

[bcbull378]

Have you had the land perk tested to see where you need to stick the well? Like B7100 said you dont want a well anywhere near you septic tank. It wouldnt be too tasty drinking shitty water!

Rest assured Eric it wont be anywhere near a septic tank close to 1 1/4 miles from the house. I know theres water the my uncle witched it for us and he's know for his water witching abilitys.

 

[Kytim]

While good in theory, to me, it seems like an unnecessary exercise in risk.

 

[bcbull378]

While good in theory, to me, it seems like an unnecessary exercise in risk.

I dont drink or smoke so I have to have a little risk in life

 

[Eric McCarthy]

I dont drink or smoke so I have to have a little risk in life

You may find you'll be drinking and smoking by the time you strike water LOL

 

[hodge]

It sounds like you have it well planned, and that your mind is set. Take pics of your progress, be careful, and maybe you'll hit water sooner than 60 feet!

Too bad you live across the continent- OTT members could drop in, dig for a while, and shoot the breeze! It could be a community project!

 

[skeets]

Hell yeah a couple cases of ADULT BEVERAGES and food,, we might not get much well dug but we would have a good time anyway,,lol

 

[bcbull378]

It sounds like you have it well planned, and that your mind is set. Take pics of your progress, be careful, and maybe you'll hit water sooner than 60 feet!

Too bad you live across the continent- OTT members could drop in, dig for a while, and shoot the breeze! It could be a community project!

How about I fly ya out here and we can share tractor stories while you and I dig.

 

[hodge]

How about I fly ya out here and we can share tractor stories while you and I dig.

Sounds good!

 

[texasgeezer]

About 55 years ago my brothers & I dug a well about 40' deep. Our dad had purchased concrete pipe (seconds) similar to what was mentioned previously. Diameter about 40", lipped, 5' long, & 4" thick.

Used a rope & bucket. No rock layers, good soil, then about 4' of sand, gravel including petrified wood, then clay. Stopped with about 4' of water. Served the house until some leaking propane gas tainted the taste over time. Also started testing for some farm related chemicals due to fertilizer & '-icides'.

About 10 years ago a neighbor bought an old drilling rig for about $2500, used it to drill a well then sold the rig. Must have been a good well, the local water company bought the well & tied it into their system.