Dug a small well this weekend

[shvl73]

I got a deal on a 24" plastic culvert. Had some ideas on where I was going to use it and never got a round to it. I've been thinking of a small dug well ever since I built the little barn for her cows. This weekend was time for action. I used my backhoe and got down about 7' before I hit some real hard stuff. That was close to max depth anyway so I stopped there. Cut the culvert to 10' and stuck it on end in the hole. The water comes up about 4' from the bottom. I wired in a switched outlet (GFI protected) and used a small submersible utility pump. I put some washed stone in the bottom to keep the pump out of the muck. Works well so far, the water seems really clear and recovery is good. If it doesn't freeze this winter, it'll be a success. It sure beats hauling water from the house.

 

[VABlue]

I need a backhoe...

 

[shvl73]

I am absolutely satisfied with mine. Good power, handy as heck. To me, it's better than renting. Renting can get you a nice little excavator that will outdig these little hoes but, when you own, its there waiting for any little job that comes up. No waiting, no rush to finish before it goes back. You'll find you use it for things you'd most likely not bother renting one for. Sure, I could make a list of all the little projects and rent one for a weekend and try to get them done, but it would never get done. Constant interruptions, other things come up. My backhoe doesn't care if I go off and do something else, it just sits and waits for me to start again.

 

[Slacker]

I'd like to see some pics if you have any. How big was the pipe? Did you backfull around it? Does it fill only from the bottom or does the pipe have holes in the sides?

 

[shvl73]

I'll try to remember to take some pics tonight. The culvert was a 24" x 20' that I cut to 10'. roughly 3' above ground with just a piece of plywood on top for now. No danger of something falling in and the culvert is made to be driven over so, no danger of a collapse. I didn't drill any holes in the side so, it fills from the bottom. I counted on the water find its own level. Now that its done, I'm thinking I could have excavated around the hole 1'-2' down to give the hoe some more depth and to get more reserve water but, it should work fine for what we need. If not, I'll just re-do it.

 

[dtd24]

Nice,
I really need to do the same thing. Really sick of water buckets.

 

[shvl73]

Some pics for Slacker:

 

[dtd24]

There you go, what do you plan to do when the "W" word comes to keep from freezing?

 

[shvl73]

There you go, what do you plan to do when the "W" word comes to keep from freezing?

I'm waiting to see if it does freeze. I most likely will make an insulated permanent cover. The pump doesn't have a check valve so, it drains back to the source. The hose will be open ended with no slack, so it will drain also. If it does freeze, oh well.

 

[gotcha]

Some pics for Slacker:

By the looks of the attached picture of the BH you need to make another purchase. Say a pressure washer. LOL
The Gotcha Man