Owning your own water well is a fundamental aspect of living off the grid. It provides an ample supply of fresh water for both your house and livestock. However, digging your own well with a Well Digger can be a bit of a task. This task becomes especially challenging if you live in an area with plenty of groundwater beneath layers of rock.
Location
A well is an artificial hole dug into the earth that allows you to access subsoil water. It plays a significant role in creating safe and pure drinking water supplies. No matter if you plan to dig your own well with a Well Digger or hire someone else to do it for you, the initial step is finding a suitable location to begin the work. Finding an adequate spot can be tricky and getting it wrong could spell disaster for the rest of the project. Finding an ideal well site involves inspecting your property's soil type and assessing any contaminant sources nearby. Additionally, visiting your local county survey office can provide maps of groundwater and point out places where other wells have been successfully dug.
Once you have a general idea of where to begin, take your Well Driller for a walk around the site and assess its different conditions. Afterward, create a simple map of the property with your preferred well site location marked. When planning your well site location, it is essential to take into account the culture of the region. Some cultures are more sensitive than others when it comes to property ownership, so asking local leaders for their recommendations on where best to locate it may be beneficial.
For instance, a cemetery can be an especially sensitive topic for some individuals. Therefore, you may want to locate your well at a safe distance away from the graveyard. Additionally, you should avoid situating your well near septic systems or underground fuel tanks. These items can pollute the aquifer and lead to contaminated drinking water. It is recommended to keep wells at least five feet away from buildings and septic systems. This requirement can usually be found in most states and counties; check with your local regulations for more information.
It is also wise to locate your well on higher ground than septic tanks, marshy areas, and cisterns. Doing so prevents contamination of the aquifer from surface runoff and ensures the health of your family members by preventing water contamination.
Equipment
Well drilling requires a variety of equipment, from tools for finding the water table to pumps that push and collect it. Each state and county have regulations regarding well drilling, so be sure to consult the local health department website for what needs to be done before digging a well on your property. When drilling in soft or loose soils, the type of equipment you need depends on the location and ground condition. A hammer and drill are commonly used when working with soft soil or loose sediments while an auger, bucket rig, or cable tool rig should be utilized when working in more challenging drilling conditions such as hard rock.
An auger is a long metal tube with a bit attached at one end, spinning to loosen the soil. It can be used to create holes measuring approximately 1.2m long and 10cm wide - often used for installing wells but also digging pit-style wells. A bucket rig is another method for digging a hole, but it requires the use of a cylindrical bucket with cutting blades mounted at the bottom to repeatedly slice and lift sediments from within the borehole until you reach your desired depth. This process must be repeated as many times as necessary in order to achieve success.
If you're digging a well, the municipal and county health departments must grant permission. These will specify the location, depth, and other structural components of your well. Additionally, they might require a permit if it is near septic fields, sewer pipes, or other potential sources of contamination. Once you've secured permits, it's time to begin your Well Digging project. Be sure to select a site away from any septic fields or other wells on your property; this will help protect against contamination being drawn into the well.
Additionally, you'll require a settling pond to allow the clean water to return into the well after being drawn out. The pond must be at least 10 feet behind and no less than 4 feet across. Furthermore, make sure the connection between the pond and the well is made using PVC pipe for safety.
Safety
When digging a well, safety should always take precedence. A small mistake can have devastating results so take these simple precautions to help mitigate the potential hazards involved with this activity. The initial step in digging a well is selecting an area that is free from pit toilets, sewage pipes, garbage dumping pits, livestock feeding operations or other potential sources of contamination. Avoid digging near pit toilets, sewage pipes, garbage dumps or livestock holding areas as these could pose risks to your well. It is also essential to consult the local health department and learn what standards apply to water quality in your area. Water testing is usually recommended, especially if you plan on installing an expensive well.
Once you've identified an ideal location to dig your well, the next step is to collaborate with a licensed engineer who can design an efficient and secure structure. They guarantee that all regulations have been reviewed and met prior to construction starting. Engineers should also make recommendations for how deep to dig and whether or not pumps are necessary. Furthermore, water quality must be tested prior to beginning your project in order to guarantee it meets acceptable standards.
Furthermore, you should devise a strategy for how the water will be handled once in the well. This involves installing a cover, lining, windlass to raise it, and drainage platform. These components shield the well from contaminants and guarantee it provides healthy drinking water for you and your family. A hand-dug well can provide a safe, clean source of water. However, it must be dug properly and kept up with regular maintenance; this includes regular cleaning if it becomes dirty with soil or silt.
It is essential to make sure there is no bare ground surrounding the well, as this could allow pesticides and other contaminants to seep through into the ground and into the well. A dug well should have a protective shell made of concrete or masonry, as shown in the photos below. This could take the form of an iron cover or screen that deflects rainwater and prevents trash and other items from entering the well.
Preparation
If you're moving to a new property or simply want access to clean drinking water, digging your own well can be beneficial. But before you begin digging, there are several things to take into account. First and foremost, you must select an ideal location for your well. Selecting an unfavorable spot could cause issues in the future. Your choice of location will be determined by the aquifer beneath your land. Some areas are more fertile and produce more water than others, so it's essential to be aware of all potential options.
It is also useful to determine whether any utility companies are nearby. Utility companies may run cables underground, which could obstruct your drilling path. You can check with them to see if they have any objections to your plan or are willing to issue a permit for drilling. When digging, it's important to take into account both the soil and weather conditions. If it's raining when you begin digging, the ground is more vulnerable to collapse.
For optimal success, it is best to dig your well during dry weather. This will keep the ground softer and make it simpler to push and pull the pipe through. By testing the water for arsenic, radon, and other toxins before use, the soil becomes less likely to absorb chemicals from groundwater which could impact your well's quality.
Once your well is dug, it must be maintained. This includes clearing away any sludge or debris that has built up and cleaning the inside of the well. It's essential that the lining of a tank is strong enough to withstand water ingress. Concrete is ideal, but masonry or brick can also be employed. Your well lining should be replaced every ten to twenty years, and have it professionally cleaned periodically. This can be accomplished either through pumping with a special compressor or injection. Additionally, make sure your well is completely enclosed by a fence and cover to keep animals out. This is especially crucial if you have children or pets on the property.