Hand digging water well

[bcbull378]

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.

tex sounds like youd be a good ome to supervise this project.

 

[skeets]

Well??? ok bad pun,, So how far have ya got?? Pictures man pictures!!!

 

[bcbull378]

Well??? ok bad pun,, So how far have ya got?? Pictures man pictures!!!

havnt started yet , wont start till after deer season everything goes on hold during hunting season here. Archery season opens 7/14/12 so Ill be busy hunting till I kill both my bucks , then lets not forget elk season

 

[skeets]

Hunting season huh,, well I guess there are things in life that take priorities over other things, it’s good to know you have them in the right order,, Now pictures man pictures,, if not of the well DEER and ELK,, man does not live by well digging alone,,
It's almost 10 EST by now you should have at least one hangin in the barn

 

[bcbull378]

M y wife and daughters hired a guy to drill a well while I was gone hunting for my retirement gift ( 12/1/2013 ) I thank them very much but I was looking forward to the challenge guess Ill have to find another project, Thanks girls .... Headed to New Mexico next week elk hunting Ill have time to think of another project there

 

[bosshogg]

You would be wasting your time and energy. It is far better to draw your water from deep within the aquifer for water quality then taking it from its surface. The surface elevation can also sesonally change so while it may seem like you are well within the water table, a year later it may be dry. Most contaminates will lie near the surface. The days of digging wells by hand are over with the invention of well drilling rigs. Do yourself a favor and pay to have a reliable, good source of water for you and your family.

 

[bosshogg]

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.

You need to talk with me about a bridge I have for sale cheap!

There is water below every spot on the planet. The tough part is it may be 2 feet or 20,000 feet in depth. I wouldn't put to much credance it water witching or utility locating with wires.

 

[skeets]

Well I never believd in it my self untill we needed a well I got tired of hauling water, and having it trucked in was getting way out of hand,, I called several drillers and they all told me there was no water on this ridge, then a Brother told me about an old timer thats been doing drilling forever, and this guy is old close to 90 now. Anyways he use 2 brazing rods and i thought ohh this is gona be good he came from several directions and marked the same spot 4 or 5 times. He said theres water here not a lot but its here this will make about 3 gallons a minuet. I asked how much and he said if i dont get you a good well you dont pay,, Good deal, hit water 2 times 50 feet and 110 feet the well is 140 and it only make about 3 gallons a minuet,and have never gone dry. I figuer if a man is willing to drill a hole and not charge you if he dont find any water he must be sure,, I think there are things in this life that cannot be explained and as kids we except them and dont question, but we grow up and question everything,even our selves.

Nice hogs, nice mule deer too!

 

[aquaforce]

Anyways he use 2 brazing rods and i thought ohh this is gona be good he came from several directions and marked the same spot 4 or 5 times.

Technically those are called "divining rods". So divine that I can't do it. LOL


I know a man that can work metal rods or wood sticks too. He has shown me some methods but I don't have something that he does.

 

[skeets]

I just rememberd some thing he told me,,, He cannot wear a watch of any kind cause they all quit, he said everyone he has ever met that found water like this couldnt wear a watch either.. my watch runs just fine so I guess Im o uta the water findin busness,,lol

 

[bosshogg]

Folklore...water doesn't exist in discrete vertical shafts lying deep wthin the ground. Generally, it is within a granular material deposit that may travel for hundreds of yards or miles horizontally. The surface may go up and down slightly but is basically uniform for the sake of this discussion. My bridge goes on sale this week!

 

[bcbull378]

You would be wasting your time and energy. It is far better to draw your water from deep within the aquifer for water quality then taking it from its surface. The surface elevation can also sesonally change so while it may seem like you are well within the water table, a year later it may be dry. Most contaminates will lie near the surface. The days of digging wells by hand are over with the invention of well drilling rigs. Do yourself a favor and pay to have a reliable, good source of water for you and your family.

We have 2 other well on the ranch neither deeper than 55 ' one was installed in 1922 and has never sucked airand its sweet water.

 

[bosshogg]

We have 2 other well on the ranch neither deeper than 55 ' one was installed in 1922 and has never sucked airand its sweet water.

There are a multitude of potential contaminants that can be lethal if ingested over an extended period of time. Furthermore, I don't know what "sweet water" is as pure water is oderless and tasteless.

Anyone who is using well water needs to have the water tested to make sure it is fit for human consumption. There are far to many naturally occurring contaminates that can kill you or your children to blindly think it is "good" water. Testing isn't as expensive as paying for a funeral or dealing with learning disabilities.

 

[bcbull378]

There are a multitude of potential contaminants that can be lethal if ingested over an extended period of time. Furthermore, I don't know what "sweet water" is as pure water is oderless and tasteless.

Anyone who is using well water needs to have the water tested to make sure it is fit for human consumption. There are far to many naturally occurring contaminates that can kill you or your children to blindly think it is "good" water. Testing isn't as expensive as paying for a funeral or dealing with learning disabilities.

My family has been on this piece of property for 112 years now and know one has gotten sick off the well water , nuff said dont over think it