need urgent advice on farm pond

[SmokyMtnMan]

I have well drillers here now. They're at 600 ft with only 2 gal. per minute flow rate now. They will continue on Monday. Although where pond is, there was several 'wet weather springs' and the pond itself was built over an underground stream (covered up due to dam height restrictions on permit,etc) we went down 150 ft before even hitting solid rock.
My pond is 1.25 acres with depth from 4 to 12 ft.
I am debating whether to tell them to stop with only 2 gpm or continue on down.....or.....pull it up and go to a different spot.
I drilled where well driller said he could get his truck comfortably....next time i want to drill where I want to drill, since i'm one paying.
any advice?

 

[SmokyMtnMan]

this is pond to be filled. well driller rig is currently parked in the right hand side foreground of pic..where road around pond disappears in photo

 

[Buck]

SmokyMtnMan,

1) Do you know for sure that the underground stream would produce enough water?

2) Do you have any evidence that drilling that deep on a hillside that high can produce water in you area?

3) You might want to call a hydrologist on Monday -- put the drillers at bay for a day or two.

Buck

 

[JJT]

I'm sorry but 2GPM is never going to fill that pond. If I did my math correctly, it will take 3+ months to get an acre foot of water at 2GPM. Any chance this pond will fill if you get substantial winter/spring rains? I will be a beautiful site when the pond is complete.

At what depth are the neighbors ' wells? Anything over 200' around here is extreme and you are more apt to get into sulfur, hydrogen and suspended clay. At what depth did you hit 2GPM? If it was relatively shallow you may want to consider several shallow wells rather than gambling for a deep high yield well. If the water wasn't hit early you will need a substantial pump to push the water 600'+.

 

[Mike_Dumond]

I'd have them move spot. At 600 feet, it's gonna be a logistical nightmare placing the pump, getting water up that high, (gonna need to ba a big pump). And if you ever need to service a pump that far down, you'd better have alot of friends who work cheap. Just my opinion.

 

[SmokyMtnMan]

My well for my house is on a ridge in the woods about 400 ft from where he's drilling for the pond. The well for the house was 480 ft with 22 gpm.
Neighbor about 1500 ft away hit 6 gpm at 215 ft, another one went down 540 ' and came up dry, another one just a month ago went down 240 and got 12 gpm, so it varies quite a bit. It's mostly red clay with some soft rock, maybe shale, then you go on down about 75' to 150' and hit granite....I'm not past the hard stuff (granite) and now into some softer stuff.
I had it figured that I needed at least 15 gpm to get it filled before Jan 1st
very rural area here....no hydrologist or anything like that....I can't even find a dowser

 

[Anonymous Poster]

<font color=blue>My well for my house is on a ridge in the woods about 400 ft from where he's drilling for the pond. The well for the house was 480 ft with 22 gpm. </font color=blue>

400 feet is far...but not THAT far...have you considered perhaps using that well at the house for both supply to the house and also as the feed to the pond?

Just an odd thougth perhaps...but with constant flow I would not think you would have to worry too much about freezing if you put the pipe a foot or so under the ground...

Using one well for two purposes could offer some cost savings...

Bill in Pgh, PA

 

[beenthere]

<font color=blue>I'm not past the hard stuff (granite) and now into some softer stuff.<font color=black>

Is there a 'typo' and that statement is that you are 'now' past the granite? or 'not' past the granite?

Just curious. I am wondering what the well drillers are saying? We should stop? We will hit water eventually? Better to move?

Sounds like some tough decisions to make. Good luck making them.

 

[SmokyMtnMan]

yes.....was a typo....I am past the granite. The last 80 feet have been much softer. As for the well drillers, the owner started drilling and he's a veteran well driller, highly regarded, but he was here only on Friday and went only to the rock (150 '), then Saturday, he didn't show up. Sent two young guys in their early 20's. They dont' say much and i have to twist their arms to even get them to talk to me.
as for running the water for the house down to pond...the pipe would have to go through a rather heavily wooded area on a steep slope. Would be a heck of a lot of digging and pretty hard. Cant get tractor in there.

 

[SmokyMtnMan]

Thanks for posts regarding my dilemma here with well drilling. I never knew building a pond would involve so much headache. I got a little time now since we had lots of rain and got things too muddy for them to come back. It's still sitting there at 540 feet and last i heard was 2 gpm. I called several folks today and about all anyone recommends is finding a 'witcher' or 'dowser'.