Drilling a well?

dummy · Jul 11, 2002

I need to replace a hand-dug shallow well with something a little deeper (30-50 feet) to irrigate a wildlife garden. Short of getting all the permits and calling out a drilling company, any ideas? I considered extension rods for my PHD, but am concerned with the torque effects.

wasabi · Jul 11, 2002

Got rocks? If not, you might consider just getting a drill point, pipe and put in a good workout with a sledge for such a shallow well.

dummy · Jul 11, 2002

"Got rocks?"
Only in the head according to wife. Didn't realize you all knew her! Actually, lots and lots of hard,red clay then into sodium bentonite, then a gravel layer. Not impossible, but I think drilling would be easier. Just looking for an inexpensive way out.

RobS · Jul 11, 2002

Here's some instructions for a <A target="_blank" HREF=http://weather.nmsu.edu/hydrology/wellpoint2.htm>driven well</A>. It does sound like a lot of work /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

DUMBDOG · Jul 12, 2002

Just pounded one to 25 feet for irrigation. After busting several pounding caps and wrecking a lot of threads, found that a post pounder, the kind that you find at you local home improvement store made out of pipe with the built in weight works the best. Did it in one afternoon.

Mrwurm · Jul 12, 2002

Dumbdog did it the same way I did, almost. Before I had my tractor I tried my hand at putting in a shallow well. I used a twist type human-powered post hole digger. I kept adding pieces of pipe untill I dug down to about 12 feet. I then got a well-point (sand-point) and some pipe. I drove it down to about 27 feet with a human-powered post pounder. It was'nt that difficult, it just took time. Oh yeah, I never did hit any water. /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

dummy · Jul 12, 2002

The no water scenario does make life worse. Dug a 12' deep hole last night with the backhoe and hit water, but I can pump it dry in 2 1/2 minutes. That's why I would like to go deeper and a little larger in diameter.

Mrwurm · Jul 12, 2002

yep, same here. You can dig a hole 3 ft deep anywhere on my property and hit water. So, I thought if I went deeper I would find a good flowing source. No luck.

dummy · Jul 12, 2002

Neat moniker. Just checked your bio. and still find it hard to believe people choose to live in ND. Know people in Bismarck and Fargo. Made a huge mistake by stopping for a visit in February one year. Now I know, for me, if I can't go between July 1 and 15 then I stay home.