easiest way for a hand-pumped well

[mad_misky]

I want a hand-pumped well out by my garden. The water table is pretty high (it's close to a pond) and the ground isn't too hard. Can I do this myself or do I absolutely need some kind of machinery?

[Wis Bang]

It is possible to drive a well point +/or jet w/ a waterhose in some soils. There has to be instruction on the net.

[watcher]

More info needed. What kind of soil, how high is the water table? A pond doesn't mean the water table is as high as the pond level.

As a kid we drove our home well and hit good water at 18'. Later we "washed down" a second well to 40' to water the garden.

[foxtrapper]

If you're really shallow, dig down with a post hole digger and set the pump pickup in the water once your down. This sort of well this shallow is more prone to going dry than a deeper one, but if you're needs are light, it will typically suffice.

[mad_misky]

The soil is very sandy, and the water table is quite high because there's an underground spring feeding the pond and some surrounding wetlands. I don't know for sure, I guess I'll have to just dig and find out if I can reach it. It seems like it might be shallow enough for me to get with a post-hole digger, so I'll try that. I just want it for the garden - no heavy useage.

Is there a way to test water level besides just digging?

[raymilosh]

if the soil is very sandy, look up How to drive a sandpoint well on the internet. You'll find directions and suppliers of the wellscreen you'll need.

The reason I'm writing, though is to suggest you mount a $ 30 pitcher type handpump on a sturdy something, get the fittings to attach the bottom of the pump to a garden hose and throw the other end of the hose in the pond with it tied to a soda bottle, so the end is just below the surface. Voila. hand pumped water at a bit under 5 gpm.
Lehman's has a brass cistern pump with a spigot that will enable you to pump the outgoing water uphill, in case that is necessary. The pump costs nearly $300, though.

Should you decide to dig a well, the handpump can be mounted to the top of the well casing just as easily. Actually, for that to work, the screen must be completely submerged below the water table. If the screen is no submerged, you'lll need to have a pipe leading from the bottom of the pump to below the water table.

[firegirl969]

Lehman's has the driver and the piping and some basic instructions in their catalog. It may be on their website as well.

[billfosburgh]

local farm stores carry well points, about 35.00. they are 1 1/4". if you have a hardware store they have them too. most places that sell them also have a well driver you can use or rent. iv`e driven many shallow wells. not hard to do. can put one in for around a 100.00.that wont include the pump

[Cabin Fever]

Originally Posted by billfosburgh

local farm stores carry well points, about 35.00. they are 1 1/4". if you have a hardware store they have them too. most places that sell them also have a well driver you can use or rent. iv`e driven many shallow wells. not hard to do. can put one in for around a 100.00.that wont include the pump

And these stores also sell pitcher pumps and the galvanized pipe you'll need for the well casing. Have it cut into 5 ft sections for easier driving. Also make sure you use the special "high strength" well couplings to connect the pieces of pipe together.