making a shallow well QUESTIONS

dennis60 · #1 02/27/10, 07:05 AM

We are trying to move some livestock padocks to an area on our farm that doesn't have water. I have done a little research on making a shallow well.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5923764_driv...oint-well.html

Any suggestions on how to proceed, where i get the "well point", pipes, fittings and hand pump?

Should I have the soil tested?
How to i find out how deep the water table is?

Any help would be much appreciated!

Thnx,
Dennis

geo in mi · #2 02/27/10, 07:54 AM

Tractor Supply Company has them. And driving caps, and the special strength couplings.

uncle Will in In. · #3 02/27/10, 08:45 AM

You could start by asking your neighbors how deep the well are in your area. That won't tell you how far it is down to a vein of water on your place, but it would give you an idea what to expect.

fishhead · #4 02/27/10, 08:56 AM

Your state might record wells and could be a good source of info for your area. Otherwise talk with your neighbors or local well drillers.

I've driven wells 60' before and consider that to be about my limit. Also the water has to be under pressure enough to bring it up in the pipe to within 25' of the pump height.

You can rent an electric driver. That's a lot easier than using a post driver but I think it may rattle the couplers loose faster than a hand held post driver.

Use lots of teflon pipe paste, heavy drive couplers, tighten really tight and stop at least every foot and retighten the pipe couplers and/or drive cap or the joint will vibrate loose and destroy the threads.

A 1 1/4" well is pretty common.

Bearfootfarm · #5 02/27/10, 09:58 AM

If your ground has much rock, you may not be able to "drive" a well

agmantoo · #6 02/27/10, 10:36 AM

I think you will find this article interesting
http://www.acresusa.com/toolbox/repr...n%20Method.pdf

dennis60 · #7 02/27/10, 02:21 PM

Thanks for the info. I found a well-point in a nearby town. $82.00 So i might order the parts online where they are less expensive. I think the University extension division near here will help me determine where and how deep to go. I will remember to tighten the fittings after a couple of whacks. I guess i will start this project in a few weeks.

dennis

**Cabin Fever** · #8 02/27/10, 03:25 PM

What type of pump are you planning on using? Hand pump or electric?

If you beleive that the depth to the watertable is around 20 ft or less, you will not be able to use a pitcher pump or an electric suction pump.

If watertable is greater than 20 feet you'll need to drive a minimum of a 2-inch well. You should be able to find a <2" well cylinder and a deep well hand pump (for a non-electric operation) or a narrow submercible pump (for electric operation) that will fit within a 2" casing.

fishhead · #9 02/27/10, 06:44 PM

I just bought a 1 1/4" sand point at Fleet Farm. It cost $40.

dennis60 · #10 02/27/10, 08:00 PM

We would like to use a hand pump. I've been looking/studying the hand pumps in "Lehman's Non-Electric Catalog". We believe the water table to be about 12-15'....
I will head over to Fleet Farm to check out what they have and the prices. Sure beats $82. great info, thnx all....

dennis

ET1 SS · #11 02/28/10, 10:34 AM

We have been looking at shallow wells too.

Our local hardware stores carry the sand-points.

You can only use the cheap cast-iron handpumps for water tables 20foot or shallower.

'Bison' makes a handpump that goes deeper.

I have no experience in doing it, but this is one of our projects for the coming summer.