A bit of advice
Dec 11th 2009, 10:12 pm
#16
Slightly Canadian
Joined: Jul 2005
Location: St. John's, Newfoundland
Posts: 10,129
Re: A bit of advice
The flow rate is OK but the depth is a bit shallow. A 8" diameter well will hold approx a gallon of water for each foot of length. Bear in mind that a) your pump will not be right at the bottom of the hole and b) the static water level will not be right at the top of the bore. So you are going to have say 50-60 gallons in the well.
When you come to draw it down, your pump is likely to be drawing at 6-10 gpm. You are going to use 30 gallons for a shower, 50 gallons for a top loader washing machine (less for a front loader) etc etc. Even with a 5 gpm replenishment rate, I suspect it wouldn't take much use - several showers, washing machine, dishwasher etc to run it dry, even if it is only for a short period of time.
I'd budget for a trickle tank and possibly drilling a new well if it proves to be an insurmountable problem. Trickle tank in the basement is simplest and a 200 gallon tank needn't neccessarily take up that much room. I did some research into the products offered by these people: http://www.wellmanager.com/ Essentially trickle tanks with some 'smart' plumbing and control electronics.
I've posted before about our well - 300ft deep and a mere 1/2 gpm flow rate. We did have problems as a family of two, but since replacing the top loading washer with a front loader we've not had any issues, and we're now a family of 3. We are planning to create a storage room in our basement (currently one big family room with a bar we don't use) and one driver to do this is to give us somewhere to put a trickle tank should we need one.
In summary, I'd be happy with 5gpm flow rate but less so with 75ft deep.
HTH,
AX
When you come to draw it down, your pump is likely to be drawing at 6-10 gpm. You are going to use 30 gallons for a shower, 50 gallons for a top loader washing machine (less for a front loader) etc etc. Even with a 5 gpm replenishment rate, I suspect it wouldn't take much use - several showers, washing machine, dishwasher etc to run it dry, even if it is only for a short period of time.
I'd budget for a trickle tank and possibly drilling a new well if it proves to be an insurmountable problem. Trickle tank in the basement is simplest and a 200 gallon tank needn't neccessarily take up that much room. I did some research into the products offered by these people: http://www.wellmanager.com/ Essentially trickle tanks with some 'smart' plumbing and control electronics.
I've posted before about our well - 300ft deep and a mere 1/2 gpm flow rate. We did have problems as a family of two, but since replacing the top loading washer with a front loader we've not had any issues, and we're now a family of 3. We are planning to create a storage room in our basement (currently one big family room with a bar we don't use) and one driver to do this is to give us somewhere to put a trickle tank should we need one.
In summary, I'd be happy with 5gpm flow rate but less so with 75ft deep.
HTH,
AX
Dec 11th 2009, 10:16 pm
#17
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,710
Re: A bit of advice
Firstly
1. By redrilling are you looking at having to wells or are you drilling a replacement? If its just a replacement how do you know you will acheive better yield?
The depth of the well may be governed by the aquifer depth- eg drilling deeper may take you out of the aquifer. But a local well man could tell you the aquifer details.
I would read up on gas and oil well drilling and the fracturing chemicals they use to maximise revcovery and whether they are likely to use them near your well. Have heard some very nasty water quality stories and as a rural properties value is determined by having a working well supply, I would look at the risk of that going down.
Gryph
1. By redrilling are you looking at having to wells or are you drilling a replacement? If its just a replacement how do you know you will acheive better yield?
The depth of the well may be governed by the aquifer depth- eg drilling deeper may take you out of the aquifer. But a local well man could tell you the aquifer details.
I would read up on gas and oil well drilling and the fracturing chemicals they use to maximise revcovery and whether they are likely to use them near your well. Have heard some very nasty water quality stories and as a rural properties value is determined by having a working well supply, I would look at the risk of that going down.
Gryph
Dec 11th 2009, 10:21 pm
#18
Banned
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2005
Location: In Limbo
Posts: 15,706
Re: A bit of advice
Firstly
1. By redrilling are you looking at having to wells or are you drilling a replacement? If its just a replacement how do you know you will acheive better yield?
The depth of the well may be governed by the aquifer depth- eg drilling deeper may take you out of the aquifer. But a local well man could tell you the aquifer details.
I would read up on gas and oil well drilling and the fracturing chemicals they use to maximise revcovery and whether they are likely to use them near your well. Have heard some very nasty water quality stories and as a rural properties value is determined by having a working well supply, I would look at the risk of that going down.
Gryph
1. By redrilling are you looking at having to wells or are you drilling a replacement? If its just a replacement how do you know you will acheive better yield?
The depth of the well may be governed by the aquifer depth- eg drilling deeper may take you out of the aquifer. But a local well man could tell you the aquifer details.
I would read up on gas and oil well drilling and the fracturing chemicals they use to maximise revcovery and whether they are likely to use them near your well. Have heard some very nasty water quality stories and as a rural properties value is determined by having a working well supply, I would look at the risk of that going down.
Gryph
Definitely given me something to think about there.
Dec 11th 2009, 10:47 pm
#19
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Aug 2005
Location: South of Calgary
Posts: 13,378
Re: A bit of advice
Dec 11th 2009, 11:47 pm
#23
Sawdust making harpy
Joined: Sep 2007
Location: Alberta
Posts: 11,291
Re: A bit of advice
sits back and waits for Butch's new blog about living miles from anywhere
Ps i'd love to give you well advice, but I know nothing aside from we have one, it works and the iron content makes everything a lovely rust colour.
Ps i'd love to give you well advice, but I know nothing aside from we have one, it works and the iron content makes everything a lovely rust colour.
Dec 14th 2009, 3:46 am
#28
Sawdust making harpy
Joined: Sep 2007
Location: Alberta
Posts: 11,291
Re: A bit of advice
I know you guys are open minded enough to deal with it. Sometimes its hard, tough, lonely, downright bloody annoying - but its ultimately f****g awesome and you'll love it 
Dec 14th 2009, 3:50 am
#29
Banned
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2005
Location: In Limbo
Posts: 15,706
Re: A bit of advice
In the words of Piaf 'shit happens wether you sit still or run head long into the future'.
