Well Water? Super Off Topic

[55 Fargo]

Hey all, my home is supplied with well water, 23 years galavinized casing, lots of water, super hard, very high TDS, and very high in Ferrous Iron(clear when drawn, then turns color, when it hits oxygen), some iron bacteria too.

WE are setting up to drill a new well, with PVC casing, and in a different location on our yard.

Has anyone done the same, am I gambling too much on this, we are hoping to get better water, not bottled water, but something better.

Any experience with similar please apply.... PS wells in my district run 60-140 feet deep, still expensive but not super crazy like some areas where they drill to 500 feet

[55 Fargo]

New well, probably same water table. Filtration or condition of some sort might be a solution.

Thanx Shel, yes and no, same aquifer, does not always predict 1 way or the other, at least according to those with mulitple wells on property.

I have spent and tried many different filtration equipment, iron removers and softeners etc.

I am now using a 100000 grain Culligan softener, with 2 pre-filters, it works, but for how long, this stuff is brand new, and has had issues already.

My well is cased with galvanized casing,121 feet deep pump is set down about 30 feet, with a high tds, high iron, what do you all think might have happened to its insides over 23 years.

My current water, 6 PPM Iron, this has actually fluctuated between 4PPM and 10 + PPM, Hardness 65-80 grains, like cement water.

We plan to live here a long time, so spending the $3500 -$4500 for a new well is prudent in the long term. PVC casing is almost exclusively used by well drillers in this province, steel and galavanized have a life expectancy of what 30-40 years, I am approaching that with my well.

I have baffled even Culligan experts from Illinois with my well.

Most neighbouring wells have much better water, a couple have lousy water, in again old steel cased wells.

My huge softener regens 4-6 times per month, at 48 lbs of solar salt each time, not cheap, plus the Res acid treatment and pre-filters.

In our case moving is not an option at this point.

Again anyone with knowledge and experience please share, also going to search for forums on this topic, I have spent hours researching this topic, and am still scratching my head....thanx

[knighthawk]

our well here in Texas, is high in chloride, due to the limestone, and high in Iron. The well is 350 feet,a submersable pump pumps it to an above ground storage tank, then it's gets pumped from there with a pressure pump to the pressue tank,,then on the house or whatever. BUT, back at the above ground storage tank,the water, as it comes from the well, goes in to the top of the storage tank, thru a peice of PVC, which has lots of small holes drilled in it. The PVC pipe goes from the side of tank, where the water comes in ,, and goes across the top of tank towrd the other side. And then, when the water is 'sprayed' out thru these holes in the PVC, the Iron in the water contacts the air as it passes thru it, oxidizes the Iron, and it settles in the bottom of the tank, and of course, it's drawn a few inches above the floor.......at least that's what they tell me. My wife says it.s still pretty hard. BUT, if this system in working,,it must be REALLY hard without it !

[randroid]

Fred,

My brother uses well water on his ranch in AZ and had nothing but trouble with the 70 yr. old well so he drilled another well right next to it. His water is still salty but he gets a lot more of it, meaning he does't run the new well dry before summer is over. Since you run a good risk of losing the pump to corrosion it might be a sound investment.

-Randy

[54Illinois]

I would take samples of water at different depths, when drilling. Also, get different estimates and opinions.

Culligan=$$$$

Mods, this post really belongs in the Plymouth Well Water Forum. Thanks...

[55 Fargo]

I would take samples of water at different depths, when drilling. Also, get different estimates and opinions.

Culligan=$$$$

Mods, this post really belongs in the Plymouth Well Water Forum. Thanks...

Hi and thanx, all drillers are within 100-200 bucks, I am using a very reputable outfit, we actually know the people, kids go to school together. THe owner has a good reputation in this area. GOing deeper, is not always better, according to the driller.

There are 8 to 10 wells in about a square mile where I live. The 3 newest wells, 1 has no iron, 2 have slight amounts, 2 old wells are loaded with iron, mine is by far the worst of all. We are 3 miles from The Red River of the north, most wells along the banks of that river are iron loaded, not sure why. 8 miles to the west, 1 well owned by folks I know, is crystal clear beautiful water, from a 50 year old well...

[55 Fargo]

Fred,

My brother uses well water on his ranch in AZ and had nothing but trouble with the 70 yr. old well so he drilled another well right next to it. His water is still salty but he gets a lot more of it, meaning he does't run the new well dry before summer is over. Since you run a good risk of losing the pump to corrosion it might be a sound investment.

-Randy

You know, my pump is new, it is Stainless steel, won't rust, but will get coated with iron and rust after sitting in well for a few years, just disgusting, have seen it myself.

The galvinized casing in water with super high conductivity, iron, and hardness, gets a coating, so all water from aquifer passes through this, can only imagine how coated everything is down there. This water smells as a result of iron and iron bacteria.

[randroid]

Fred,

I think you have answered your original question.

-Randy

[55 Fargo]

Fred,

I think you have answered your original question.

-Randy

I dunno, but it's driving me carazier then a bad flathead motor. My Wife will not be impressed if the new well is the same as the old well.

I apologize to the forum for this thread, really does not belong on here.....thanx all who have contributed

[Ricky Luke]

Rockwood (Fred?)

I've had a bit of experience working in town water authorities. It's amazing how water quality can vary in bores less than 100' apart.

My experience is PVC casing is the only way to go. Iron is really only good for 20 years. It will last longer but you get quality issues like you're having. If you have iron bacteria as you suspect DO NOT MOVE anything from the old bore to the new if you can avoid it. If you must, sterilise it with a strong chlorine bleach brew to kill any bugs.

Good luck!

Rick

[55 Fargo]

Rockwood (Fred?)

I've had a bit of experience working in town water authorities. It's amazing how water quality can vary in bores less than 100' apart.

My experience is PVC casing is the only way to go. Iron is really only good for 20 years. It will last longer but you get quality issues like you're having. If you have iron bacteria as you suspect DO NOT MOVE anything from the old bore to the new if you can avoid it. If you must, sterilise it with a strong chlorine bleach brew to kill any bugs.

Good luck!

Rick

Hi Rick,plan to shock chlorinate, house, pump(it is only 6 months old), and all along, before hookup. Does that make sense?

[wayfarer]

Just curious...what is the per foot cost of poking holes in your area?

Do any of your neighbours have deeper wells? Since we can't see what we are drilling into we never know if one aquifer lays on top of another one with an impervious barrier between them.

FWIW, in my area, wells are 800-1000 feet...

As suggested, if you resue anything from the old well sanitize it.

[55 Fargo]

Just curious...what is the per foot cost of poking holes in your area?

Do any of your neighbours have deeper wells? Since we can't see what we are drilling into we never know if one aquifer lays on top of another one with an impervious barrier between them.

FWIW, in my area, wells are 800-1000 feet...

As suggested, if you resue anything from the old well sanitize it.

No shortage of water in a majority of this Province, land of 100000 lakes.

Average price $3200 for 120 feet including casing and grouting, $20-$30 a foot after the 120 basic charge.

Average wells in my district 60-120 feet, the odd is deeper, going deeper here does not mean better water necessarily

[knighthawk]

when we had a well in Wisc, we had to shock it every few years ot control the iron bacteria, which is different from regular iron

[Frank Elder]

You know, my pump is new, it is Stainless steel, won't rust, but will get coated with iron and rust after sitting in well for a few years, just disgusting, have seen it myself.

Don't fool yourself Fred my boy.....:)stainless steel does corrode, just over a longer period of time....of course with no salt water coursing thru the impeller I think it will last quite a while!

[55 Fargo]

New well was drilled today. 149 feet, cased with 5 inch PVC to 75 feet, this new well is 40 feet from old well.Well was pumpin 40 gpm. Water is pumping to clear, with portable pump.

Water has not been tested yet, not much if any iron or taste of iron, raw new water shakes in to soap bubbles in jar, but not sure how hard it is yet

. The water does not smell. The rock drilled up was nice clean limestone, heck maybe there is oil a bit further down, or diamonds...

The Pics

Edited October 3, 2012 by Rockwood

[Dan Hiebert]

Wells are "luck of the draw". The well on my Dad's place near Caballo, NM is "only" 200 ft. and produces good water, his next door (1/4 mile down the road) neighbor's well is same depth but has high alkalai content. A friends place near White Oak, NM has a well that makes good beans, but lousy coffee. His neighbor's well makes good coffee, but lousy beans (them's his descriptions). Some places in the area have to go 5-600 ft to get to "sweet" water, some just a hundred or so.

[55 Fargo]

Wells are "luck of the draw". The well on my Dad's place near Caballo, NM is "only" 200 ft. and produces good water, his next door (1/4 mile down the road) neighbor's well is same depth but has high alkalai content. A friends place near White Oak, NM has a well that makes good beans, but lousy coffee. His neighbor's well makes good coffee, but lousy beans (them's his descriptions). Some places in the area have to go 5-600 ft to get to "sweet" water, some just a hundred or so.

Manitoba for the most part has plenty of water, and not too deep, there are some areas that require deep wells, and some where the water is too salty to drink.

My well and 2 others right in a line about 1/2 mile apart, are around identical depths, and similar quality. This water is a bit hard, but much better than the old well so it appears....

[knighthawk]

Fred, now would be a good time to tell the drillers,, some thing like, I don't have any money, and you won't get paid till you find some oil. ( or gas). ....I find it amazing, that 'they' can find water at all.... It's like, here you go....you pick where you want the well and we'll drill it there.....gald you got 'good' water ! J

[Ricky Luke]

Hi Rick,plan to shock chlorinate, house, pump(it is only 6 months old), and all along, before hookup. Does that make sense?

Sure does. Iron bacteria is no different to any other bug - which also means be careful where you flush the chlorinated water to. Normally I'd say dump the water into a cheap plastic pool and let the sun boil off the chlorine, but that may not work for you at this time of year...

Age of the pump doesn't matter. If it was in contaminated water, it's infected. You dont want to ruin what sounds like a good bore.

Rick

[55 Fargo]

Got home from night shift, to get a phonecall from my contractor, to trench in water line to new well.

I then disinfected old well, every pipe in the house, and made a 30 gallon batch of water and bleach.

They pulled the pump, and it went in the solution, for 5 hours, cleaned it up, and all was well.

What a huge mess in the yard in the trench area, but next spring will deal with it. even had a visitor from Duluth Minnesota hangin around, my contractor's Brother-in-law....

[thrashingcows]

Glad things worked out with the new well...hope it stays as nice as it seems.

I grew up on a 150 foot well, pump sat at 125. We had a lot of heavy minerals in the water. But we had the water tested many times and it was great water. Our neighbours on either side of us used to run dry on hot, long summers...we would run a hose over to supply them with water off our well. We never once ran dry...cold and clear..always!!

[T120]

Good to hear you have a good well, Fred.I worked in some locations where the water smelled so bad, made a person think twice about having a shower,let alone drinking it or having a cup of coffee...also turned "stainless" plumbing fixtures gray...

[1950 Special Deluxe]

Our well was 10' deep. The water was tested annually, never found anything in it. We drank it straight from the tap, it was not treated in any way. We had about 100 head of cattle plus too many pigs and other associated livestock and all were watered from the same well, never ran short. At the time, I did not realize steak was a treat or that you needed a hunting licence to hunt wild game. Hot dogs and store bought buns were a treat if Dad wasn't home.