Help-to much Water...Well

[GEB]

We've had a very wet summer, fall & winter to start off with.
My well which I know very little about is flooded all around it.
I got out there and pumped the area somewhat dry,
come to find out I got water rushing out from around the outside of the 4.5in pipe that runs down...well pipe?
The pipe does not seem to be broken?
The water is running up right beside it though.
This is located maybe 25-30 ft from the house, needless to say
my crawl space is flooded also or was, been pumping it dry also.
Under the house I see no wire's running to the well to power
a pump, but do have a pump and tank under the house.
So I'm gussing I have one pump?
The pump under the house seems to be working normal,
it only runs when water is in use in the house.
I've never lost my prime either!
So whats with all this water running up the side of my well,
it is comming out fairly fast, maybe 5gal every 30 sec.
Keep in mind the whole area is very wet .....lots of rain.
Could it be it's so wet that the water needs to go somewhere?
And up the side of my well is the less restrictive route?
Today I also picked up a cheap0 water test kit from Menards.
All of the water test strips show safe or normal.
Anyone have a clue?
Thanks
Gene

 

[JASTN70D]

If I understand this correctly? You may for starters want to run a hose out somewhere away from the house and run it continuously this may get the water away from your well fast enough to stop the flooding. Most driven wells have the steel casing running down say 100 feet or so around this area. It does sound like it may be the path of least resistance. How deep is the well? I have never heard of this but I do know it is code now to leave the casing out of the ground higher than the flood plane. I was under the impression this was in order to keep flood water from entering the top through the cap and contaminating the well. I never imagined it could flood in reverse. Good luck.

 

[GEB]

I dont have a clue how deep it is or know how to find out?
The last owner is long gone...somewhere in RI?
The 4.5 in pipe is about 16in's above ground, it then does a U turn
reduced to about 1.5in back in the ground to the house.
The well has a cement foudation around it maybe 2ft sq by 1 ft deep.
I have my pump sittin in it, I got the pump in a 5gal bucket
which is full of small holes to act as a filter.
The cycle times seem to be getting a little longer between
run time of the pump, been running off-on for about 3 hr's now, yes the pump has a float switch.
So as of now thats all I know to do is pump off what comes out.
I'm hoping it's just really wet, hate to have someone come out here
and maybe take a dummy for his no have hard earned money.
Thanks again.........
Gene

 

[turnkey4099]

Sounds like your water table has reached the surface plus has pressure behind it trying to raise it even higher. Basically an artesian well type of condition. My neighbor punched a new well a few years back. When they struck water, the static level was above the well casing by 12". At least that is the height the water plume rose to and continued to run that way for a week before enough water had run off. I really hated to see that as I am on the same aquifer.

Harry K

 

[BB_TX]

I agree with Harry. I think your well has turned into a flowing artesian well due to a rise in the underlying aquifier. See <font color="blue"> here </font> for more info.

 

[GEB]

Yeah kinda what I was thinkin also ...somewhat.
So if I did have 2 pumps, one at the bottom of the well
it would have a power wire running down from the top
of the caseing correct?
Thanks guy's !
Gene

 

[JJT]

"So if I did have 2 pumps, one at the bottom of the well
it would have a power wire running down from the top
of the caseing correct?"

That's correct.

 

[BarryinMN]

My Uncle has had an artesian well for 50+ years. The thing is if you plug it the water will find cracks & start flowing elsewhere. His runs into the house underground, pump into pressure tank & continues back outside 150' to swamp & he makes certain outlet does not freeze over during winter.

 

[willywildes]

I have never seen an artesian i think they used to make Oly beer with 'em. I do have a well that has supplied 2 homes and ran over for over 75yrs with no sign of letting up

 

[Westonium]

Artesian well pretty much = spring. Its really just a spring with drinking water coming out, typically non-stop.

In down-town Prattville Alabama, there is a 3ish inch ancient steel pipe sticking out of the ground, water coming out non-stop and a small stream that runs a few dozen feet and then to a drain (If I remember correctly). It was fantastic water, and free for the taking. It was tested regularly and was considered safer than the utility water.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artesian_well

Bakc on topic - you would probably want to get your water tested once things calm down. more $$ of course, but it is better than getting sick.

 

[slydog]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Artesian well pretty much = spring. Its really just a spring with drinking water coming out, typically non-stop.

In down-town Prattville Alabama, there is a 3ish inch ancient steel pipe sticking out of the ground, water coming out non-stop and a small stream that runs a few dozen feet and then to a drain (If I remember correctly). It was fantastic water, and free for the taking. It was tested regularly and was considered safer than the utility water. )</font>

There are two like that in Crowder, Ms we used to walk to when I was a kid. Always COLDDD in the summertime, and we would stand under it to cool off and drink it by the quarts. It constanly flowed out of a 2 inch pipe, and has for at least 50 years that I know of. I've always wondered how common these types of artesian wells are across the country.

 

[BB_TX]

<font color="blue"> I've always wondered how common these types of artesian wells are across the country. </font>
Apparently fairly common. My father used to live near Cedar Creek lake (south east of Dallas). He used to go somewhere east of there (don't remember where, I only went one time and we made several turns on small roads) with several gallon milk jugs and fill them up. As others stated, there was a 2" or so pipe sticking up out of the ground just off the side of the road constantly running with cold spring water.

 

[GEB]

Artesian well seems to be the thing goin on here.
I even called a Well drilling Co. and was told I'm not
the only one in the area with this effect.
So I THANK YOU ALL for your replys!
All I can do is devert it away from the house.
The man said once summer rolls in and people run
their water more (well) the water level will go down and all should be good.
As of now I'm pumping the water out from around the well
with a elec pump.
Once the water tones down and the ground thaws out I
will put a drain in so there wont be a need for a pump.
Also my main line T's off before my pump under the house.
This T use to run a spicket out to my barn, anyway
I pulled the line apart and found I have enough natural pressure that I could very well even run without a pump..... for awhile....?
Found out my smaller back-hole dont like the frozen ground.
It least I kinda got things under control until weather permits
me to add the drain......which will be 200+ ft!

Back where I grew up there was a very small town just east of us,
very small and very poor!
No one their had running water, a few miles north of there
was a artesian well.
You could always see people at the well filling their jugs.
I'm sure the well still runs today even though havent seen it in a few years.
I know this one has ran for at least 40 years.
Thanks again & BTW I have free water for everyone, just come and get it /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
Gene