new sandpoint

mahza · Nov 24, 2008

My old sandpoint well (in basement) lasted till now (40years) Good water,,,not to hard, no taste smell etc..excellent results when tested! We installed new pump on it and it collasped the well. So my question is can we install another sandpoint close to old one in basement and what are my chances are getting water. The sand that the old sandpoint brought up when collasped is a very very fine sand,,,my old sandpoint, bare in mind worked for 40 years.....apparently when it was put in long ago it did 5gpm and we tested it just before new pump went on and it did 2.5 gallons per minute! I'm hoping new well gives more!

Speedbump · Nov 24, 2008

That's a long time for any well to last. Especially one with a screen.

If it only did 5 gpm when originally installed, I would assume that the screen was a very fine mesh. Like 100 gauze or so. This would have been done because of the sand size. You want to be sure to filter it out once the well has been installed. Problem is, you don't know this for sure. So unless you pull the old one and inspect the sand stuck to the screen and try to determine what screen size to use for the new well, you may always have a sand problem. You can also, pull the old one, install a new screen and put it in the same hole. It will again pump water if put back where it was.

Edit: I just saw your other post. I wouldn't call those guys again unless they will take the pump back. The pump didn't cave in the well. That isn't possible, but if those guys turned the casing, they could have torn the screen. If you don't have the ability to pull the well, try to find someone who can or look for a new drilled well out in the yard somewhere by a pro.

bob...

Sponsor · 2022-01-29T12:20:58-0800

mahza · Nov 27, 2008

Wow!

New well driller came and says we have a 50 feet wide and 20 feet aquifer running under us! So he put in new well...and do we have water! New pressure system everythig! The first guys that changed the well pump before the well collasped came back and unplug all my lines (cut off elbows and replaced) took out water softner to get it cleaned nad cleaned out hot water tank and all lines including laundry lines!

I am still getting some sand or silt in water but well driller told me that will clear up and to keep flushing the lines!

Speedbump · Nov 28, 2008

New well driller came and says we have a 50 feet wide and 20 feet aquifer running under us!

Egads, where do they come up with these ideas? There is water under you everywhere and I don't know anyone including a Well Driller who can make any sort of blanket statement like that. Does he have X-Ray vision?

bob...

Masterpumpman · Nov 29, 2008

Drillers usually know!

Quote: There is water under you everywhere and I don't know anyone including a Well Driller who can make any sort of blanket statement like that. Does he have X-Ray vision?

There isn't always water under you everywhere! I've drilled many places in my 60 years of drilling where there was NO water!

Most Well Drillers know their area and know where the water is and is not and some even know the approximate depth.

Speedbump · Dec 1, 2008

There isn't always water under you everywhere! I've drilled many places in my 60 years of drilling where there was NO water!

+

I didn't mean that to sound like there is water everywhere - everywhere. What I meant was if he had a well already in his yard, he could move over and do it again the right way without worrying about getting into water.
I know many wells in North Caroline that are over 600 feet deep that barely make humidity.

I have heard too many of those stories where the Driller comes out with the Peach Bough and witches the yard while telling the homeowner; "there is no water here, but after a few more steps the bark is magically twisted off the branch in his hands as the forked stick points downward with the force of a powerful locomotive and he states that; he will drill right here". OK?

bob...

mahza · Dec 7, 2008

one week wh new sandpoint......lots of silt and sand still coming up! the water also has a slight yellow tinge to it nad a metallic smell.....ummmmmmm the new sandpoint is right beside old sandpoint (like less than one fooot away) and is in 3 feet deeper!

Any ideas on when the sand and silt will stop coming in and what the smell is?

Speedbump · Dec 8, 2008

I don't know about the smell, but what screen did you use?

bob...

mahza · Dec 8, 2008

the well driller who installed it is coming back today I am not sure what screen he used but he knew we had fine sand and lots of silt......

mahza · Dec 8, 2008

I dont know what to think.......there is more sand and silt coming up today than when he first installed sandpoint,,,then it seems to clear up and only a bit of sand comes up....could my presurre tankl or bladder be filled up with sand....the fellow installed a brand new tank,,,,actually everything was brand new!

Speedbump · Dec 8, 2008

I don't know too many Well Drillers who install hand driven wells in Basements.
So that makes this guy a Weekend Warrior. I sure hope he isn't the one that made this statement:

Wow! New well driller came and says we have a 50 feet wide and 20 feet aquifer running under us!

bob...

mahza · Dec 8, 2008

There are a ton of sand point wells in basements in our area! They are not all installled by same well driller...
The fellow that put in well is from this area also!

Before technolgy came about just how did people find water? Sometimes going back to nature to find water is good.

Speedbump · Dec 9, 2008

Most Well Drillers are Professional, Licensed and own Equipment which cost a lot of money; so they can drill wells deeper than the one in your basement. I'm not saying that your water is contaminated or that it's bad for you. What I am saying is that a Pro with the bills that come along with being a Pro keeps most of us out of Basements.

The guy who put in your well either used the wrong screen or tore it in the process of installing it. Either way, the old one apparently didn't pump sand and the new one does. That tells me there is something wrong with it. With less than an hours pumping with a hand pump, the new well should have completely cleared and you shouldn't have any more sand or silt.

bob...

mahza · Dec 9, 2008

we just finished driving the well in 6 feet deeper...so far so good...

Speedbump · Dec 10, 2008

Hopefully it will stay clear. Keep us imformed.

bob...

mahza · Dec 10, 2008

Howdy all.. sandpoint well saga continues...day 2 with new well.....slight bit of swirling sand or silt in water other than that it is pretty clear! BUT when the pump kicks in u get a 15 seconds of cloudy sandy water, then it clears again! So maybe we just need to keep flushing it out perhaps! The installer said there was some sand in the pressure tank which needs to work its way out! So.....will keep flushing till pump cuts in with a burst of cloudy sandy water and hopefull it clears up in a day or two

mahza · Dec 10, 2008

still silt coming up....more so when pump kicks in,,,,,

it does clear up but if u look real close u can see a bit of silt.

Speedbump · Dec 11, 2008

It would be my opinion he used too coarse of a screen.

bob...

mahza · Dec 11, 2008

I am getting so frustrated......the well guy says he used the finest screen available.....

will the silt and sand ever stop! maybe there is only this fine silt and sand in the aquifer,,,,,

ok next step!

what really confuses me is when the pump is not on the water is good,,no sand but at about one minute or more AFTER pump cuts in all this sand and silt comes thru the tap for apx one minute or so then the water clears up and is good till the pump cuts in again! Do I just have to wait till courser sand or gravel comes around the point,,,or maybe all i have is fine silt and sand in aquifer

mahza · Dec 11, 2008

ok,,,we ran and ran and ran the water,2 1/2 hours),,,the water is now crystal clear,(it turned clear after about 20 minutes of running),,no smell no swirling sand or silt,,,clear as can be,,,,,,,,,,i will be shutting it off and let it rest for 1/2 hours and so.....keep your fingers crossed that when turned back on it will bring up no sand or at the least very little sand.....Any other ideas?

new sandpoint

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