TVL
Member
I decided to begin another thread as the other was getting too long & too wordy .................. hope this is acceptable!
As of today, I have spoken with two different well drillers and have received similar options with a small twist and would like some guidance from you guys:
I first explained to each driller our well was 35 years old, 4 inch PVC pipe, 145 feet deep with a 1 HP 10 GPM submersible pump. It wasn't until a year or two later that I actually measured the distance the pump hung AND the distance to the bottom of the well. My notes then indicated the bottom of the well was at approximately 134 feet. My latest and MOST accurate reading shows it is just slightly over 132 feet. The three pumps I have used over the years have ALWAYS hung at about 130 to 131 feet (to the bottom of the pump).
I do remember when the original driller poured gravel between the hole opening and the well casing, a good amount also went down into the casing itself. I am assuming this is why the bottom measures less than the reported depth ........ there is possibly 12 to 13 feet of gravel on the very bottom of the well casing. Neither of my two neighbors are experiencing water issues (one has a well the exact same depth as mine and the other is shallower by about 40 feet.
Driller #1: Based on these facts, he is leaning towards a well issue and not a water issue (he does admit this is an educated guess). He feels he can clean the well with very, very high pressure which will open any possibly clogged strainer openings AND purge what is on the bottom of the well ....... if anything at all. He has indicated this may or may not resolve my issues and the cost is $1500.
Driller #2: He also feels I have a well issue and not a water issue. He has dug several wells in the surrounding area and knows one can't go any deeper at out location without hitting rock. He also states he does NOT believe any of the strainer openings are clogged as the water doesn't have any minerals that are famous for clogging up a well strainer. BUT, based on the water depth in this aquifer, he FEELS this well was primarily a bottom feeder. And, over the years, the bottom 12 feet of gravel packing as become clogged with sand .......... if the bottom 12 feet truly does have gravel in it?? Therefore, he wants to pressurize the well casing and PUSH/LIFT out any debris that may be at the bottom; gravel or whatever. He does not have a rig like driller #1 that can also utilize very high pressure to clean the strainer, but again, doesn't feel it is needed in my case. The cost will be $300 if I pull the pump myself. He states he will be using between 150 and 200 PSI to purge the well.
So, what do you guys think? $300 is a lot better than $1500, but can one use the lower pressure to clean out the debis from so far down?
As of today, I have spoken with two different well drillers and have received similar options with a small twist and would like some guidance from you guys:
I first explained to each driller our well was 35 years old, 4 inch PVC pipe, 145 feet deep with a 1 HP 10 GPM submersible pump. It wasn't until a year or two later that I actually measured the distance the pump hung AND the distance to the bottom of the well. My notes then indicated the bottom of the well was at approximately 134 feet. My latest and MOST accurate reading shows it is just slightly over 132 feet. The three pumps I have used over the years have ALWAYS hung at about 130 to 131 feet (to the bottom of the pump).
I do remember when the original driller poured gravel between the hole opening and the well casing, a good amount also went down into the casing itself. I am assuming this is why the bottom measures less than the reported depth ........ there is possibly 12 to 13 feet of gravel on the very bottom of the well casing. Neither of my two neighbors are experiencing water issues (one has a well the exact same depth as mine and the other is shallower by about 40 feet.
Driller #1: Based on these facts, he is leaning towards a well issue and not a water issue (he does admit this is an educated guess). He feels he can clean the well with very, very high pressure which will open any possibly clogged strainer openings AND purge what is on the bottom of the well ....... if anything at all. He has indicated this may or may not resolve my issues and the cost is $1500.
Driller #2: He also feels I have a well issue and not a water issue. He has dug several wells in the surrounding area and knows one can't go any deeper at out location without hitting rock. He also states he does NOT believe any of the strainer openings are clogged as the water doesn't have any minerals that are famous for clogging up a well strainer. BUT, based on the water depth in this aquifer, he FEELS this well was primarily a bottom feeder. And, over the years, the bottom 12 feet of gravel packing as become clogged with sand .......... if the bottom 12 feet truly does have gravel in it?? Therefore, he wants to pressurize the well casing and PUSH/LIFT out any debris that may be at the bottom; gravel or whatever. He does not have a rig like driller #1 that can also utilize very high pressure to clean the strainer, but again, doesn't feel it is needed in my case. The cost will be $300 if I pull the pump myself. He states he will be using between 150 and 200 PSI to purge the well.
So, what do you guys think? $300 is a lot better than $1500, but can one use the lower pressure to clean out the debis from so far down?
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