Casing problem in artesian well

I have a new artesian well that has 60' of 6" steel casing and 100' of 4" pvc liner inside. The steel casing sticks up approx 20" above grade and the pvc liner is approx 30" below grade so that there's 4'+ of exposed steel casing at the top of the wellhead.

Since it's artesian i've had a siphon hose to divert the overflowing water to an area where it doesn't cause a problem while i've been attempting to come up w/ a system to control the Iron & Manganese indicated by the lab test. While researching the water treatment problem I came across a suggestion that perhaps the acidic water (ph=6.3) was leaching iron and Manganese **from the steel well casing**.

So I got a longer 1" PE pipe and siphoned the well down to the creek. The well end of the pipe sticks about 25' down the well so that the water no longer contacts the steel well casing. I let it run for 24 hrs.

I went down and tasted the water this AM. Before it had a very metallic taste and a nasty aftertaste. That's gone. The water is now drinkable as is although it does have sort of a background "mineral" taste. So my iron & manganese problem - or at least the bulk of it - is the steel well casing - not the aquifer! I sent a sample to the lab and, depending on the results, I may still have to do some sort of treatment but the situation has changed and I have a new problem to solve: How to keep the water in an artesian well *away* from the steel casing at the top of the well.

Is there a (food grade) paint or coating that I can use on the inside of the steel casing to isolate it from the water?

Any other suggestions?

TIA

Tom

Since an artisien well is always flowing up, I don't see how that casing is adding to your problem below. You could just extend the 4" PVC casing above the steel casing.

Thanks for replying VM

valveman said:

Since an artisien well is always flowing up, I don't see how that casing is adding to your problem below. You could just extend the 4" PVC casing above the steel casing.

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Well, I was hoping to use 2 pitless adapters - one at 24" below grade to drain the top of the well casing when necessary - and one at 18" below grade for the pump. I suppose I could take the pump out through the well cap but i'd much rather use a pitless and run the pipe underground.

Tom

Cut the steel casing out of the way, extend the PVC casing, and attach your pitless's to the 4" PVC.

Duh!

valveman said:

Cut the steel casing out of the way, extend the PVC casing, and attach your pitless's to the 4" PVC.

Click to expand...

DUH!

I guess that's why you make the big bucks here by answering lame questions like this. <grin> Thanks again.

Tom